Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-08-09
POLITICAL.
From the National Intelligenccr.
Whig xtr0vAg z n q G .

cY ADAMS, whose annual expenditures aver
aged about fu'lre millions of dollars. But, so
soon as Change Of rulers took place. the
average annual Expenditures for the first term
Of General JACKSON was fourteen millions, for
his second term taccety-tro millions. and for
the four years of Mr. VA~ BUREN's admns,ra.
ton about thirty millions. The practice of
the Democratic party. whel. in power, in this
respect. has always differed very greatly from
their precepts when out of Office. Yet, not
withs,anding the notoriety Of III, fact ,ha, the
Wings have always administered Ge Govern
ment on more economical terms than their Cd.
ponents, the old charge is still continusd. and
is already made one Of the battle.cries Of the
campaign
We have on a recent occasion alluded to he
subject. but now propose 10 take il up more liz
detail as regards Mr.. FIL1MoRE's administra-
ton.
In Congress the assertion has recently been
made that the Administrator VAS spending
sirty millions per annum! One memb .r, lav
ing stated rather less sum, subsequently beg
gcd to correct his statement. acknowledged
that he had overrated the amount, and request
ed PERMISSION TO reduce his estimate TO mr.
three millions! We will not attempt to tx
plan why either of these assertions We're put
forward to the world, when the facts of the
case were so perfectly accessible, in the annual
Treasury Report ior the fiscal year ending the
30th June 1851. This. the lulest official doc
ument at the time these assertions weic grave
ly made, exhibited the exact amount 10 be
SIS 005 S1S.GS, with full details of the sums
under each separate head Of outlay.
This amount is only tuelre millions less than
stated by one member and only fire millions
less than what was stated by another. Thes,
handful of millions might have been considered
small amounts in the eyes Of the gentlemen re-
| ferred TO. but tue facts might as well have been
stated, particularly as correct information on
the subject was at the very time lying on their
own desks in tie printed Report Of the Secrc-
| lary Of tie Treasury
The accounts for the expenditures of the fs-
cal year whicl, closed on the @0th June. 1852,
have just been completed, and they amount to
about SIS, 5,75O.000. Of which sum 81 .S67, ,G39
was for redemption of the public debt. whilst
the amount for this object included in the ex-
penditure Of the preceding fiscal year was only
1921 ,265. being difference of Sl,34Gs374.-
To this should also be added 1875. 900 inter, s.,
paid on the new issue Of FIVE per cent. stock
to Texas. no portion of which was included in
| together Sl.72l,374, which being deducted
leaves for the year 1S5l-'2 the sum Of S44,
l25,000. being a reduction of nearly .tour mil.
hons of dollars upon the expenditure OF 1850
81.
But it is continually asserted by our oppo
nents. when comparing these expenditures
with those of Mr.. Polk's administration, that the
latter included the heavy expenses ofa war
whilst that Of Mr.. Fillmore has been in time
of peace. In making this assertion, however,
no allowance is made for the heavy items aris.
ing from that war; legacies which Mr.. Polk s
Administration has left as heavy burdens upon
| the Treasury, some to continue for years, and
some probably to be perpetual.
We ar willing. however, to compare the
present Wing expenditure, with that of Mr..
Polk. not during the war with Mexico, but
previous thereto, making due deductions from
the Wing expenditures for those items of in
creased outlay which the Polk Administration
has entaied en- the nation in consequence OF
that war and the payment Of which is unavoid-
able, and such other items have necessarily
become additional charges upon the Treasury,
which had no previous existence as such; or
Of sums which really do not form any portion
OF the usual and regular expenses Of the Gov
ernment. Or, in other words, TO compare the
expenditures of Mr.. Fillmore's administration
with those Of Mr.. Polk's for the same objects.
That there may be no mistake on the sub
ject, We will proceed to state them on the off
cial authority ofthe annual Treasury Report,
laid before Congress at the opening Of the pre-
sent session.
First letus observe, however, that the peace
expenditures under Mr. PoLK's administration
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876, previ-
GUS to the Mexican war, by official accounts
was 26 G90,77l. and we viii make the com
parison with the Wing expenditures for the fs
cal year ending June 80. 1851, though ,ha,
as already stated, Is nearly four miIlinos more
than in the last fiscal year. ending the 3oth ul
tmo. The preceding expenditure for the fis
cal year 1866 included no portion of the
payments for either principal or interest OF the
public debt. or for trust funds.
| Though hostilities cmmenced in Mexico q
few weeks prior 10 the end OF that fiscal year
and though arrangements for the war were i'm
mediately commenced. yet very little if any
actual payments for the war were made from
the Treasury previous to the then new fiscal
year; and ifa reduction is made on hat accoun.
and the real peace expenditure placed at the
reduced aud round sum Of $26 100000 it will
probably be very nearly or quite correct.
In the expenditures, then. Of the present
Administration for the fiscal year ending the
3Oih June. 1851, We find the follow ing war
items, viz:
1st. The fourth instalment Of the indemnity
to Mexico under the treaty of peace, amoun-
ting to S3.24240
Surely it is moi intended to make the Wings
accountable for this sum!
I'd. The next item is for indemnity to our cit.
izens for claims upon Mexico, and provided
for under tie same treaty, made and approved
by Mr.. Polk, amounting to s2,516,693.
We hope the Wings may be excused from
all responsibility, as an item Of expense, for OF
on account of this item.
Sd. Interest on the public debt SO 696,721
Ofth debt upwards Of s4S,O00,000 was
created by Mr.. Polk in prosecuting the Mex
ican war. but no portion Of the interest, even or
the debt which existed previous to the war, i:
included in the sum stated above as the annua
peace expenditure Of Mr.. Polk previous TO the
war. OF the above interest, about SO, 800 ,0Ot
is upon the war debt. which it certainly vii
no, be fair TO make the Wing Administration
accountable for.
4,h. For arreages paid to Mexican volun
teers, s635, 800.
From which the Wings should certainly, ii
like manner, be excused.
5th. Payments for Pensions granted in con
sequence Of the Mexican War form anothe
item amounting to the sum of about 5000, ,O00