The daily union., 1852-10-13


prudent regard 10 economy.
In three instances, notwithstanding enormous acces
SONS OF territory and rapidly increasing population
there very large reductions IN The scale OF expend
In Is4s. the last year of Mr.. Polk's administration,
California and New Mexico were acquired, with Ter.
rtoy of more than five hundred thousand square miles
and this is the first instance III which an extension oil
our geographical boundaries has been followed by a
large increase 70 The public expenditures During The
ecuted at distance under circumstances The most un
favorable as 10 expense and continuing more Than two
years. the average annual expenditure exclusive OF Ae
payment OF The public debt, less than thrtyth
millions eight hundred thousand dollars When we con-
slider the OF transporting troops and mun
tons OF war 10 Mexico, and OF maintaining armies IN an
enemys county, at distance of thousands OF miles
from our commercial centre. this amount large il s,
will not seem excessive. How, then. will you be sur
prssd TO learn unless you know already, that during
the three years which have elapsed o the present admin
slraon the average public expenditure, in state OF
profound peace, has run up 10 thirtysx millions five
hundred thousand dollars per annum! exclude from
this statement the payment OF The public debt nsutng
the comparison between those objects only which fall
legmaely within the class of ordinary expenditures
With no extraordinary demands on the treasury, without
either with foreign nations the Indian tribes. with
nothing, IN short TO call Tor any large additional expen
ditures, they have actually increased the average
expenses OF Mr.. Folks administration more than Two
millions seven hundred thousand dollars per annum
state these facts CHIEFLY the authority of very able
speech made by Mr. Boand OF Arkansas in the Senate
OF the United States in May last | that at
empts have been made by The administration and lis sup
portes 10 throw the odium OF this additional expenditure
on their predecessors, by charging several millions 10
followed it. But think all these attempts have sig
nally failed Certainly nothing can be more fair than 10
take the whole war expenses OF Mr.. Polk's admnisa.
ton and compare them with the whole peace expenses of
the present administration excluding the payment OF the
public debt from both. The general accuracy OF Mr. Bor-
lands exhibit, far concerns this administration is
proved by the report OF Mr. Corwin, Secretary oil The
Treasury. the finances, in December last. II any
gentleman has this report and will turn to page 81 state
ment A. (Ex, Doc. No 49, H. r., sess 32d Congress,)
ne VII zee maj the aggregate expend'ares last year were
Deducting the payment OF the public debt, the Mex
lean indemnity, and the awards under the treaty
with Mexico, amounting together to nearly ten mil
lions dollars. (so,s77o77 2i,) there remains an ex
pendlture OF thirty EIGHT Millions ($3S ,02S,-
sol Al This balance will still bear a reduction
of more than four millions, and leave an aggregate
SURPRISING Mr.. Folks average expenditures, with
foreign on his hands for than hall his term.
Again Mr. Corwin states at page the "ordinary ex
penses OF the government for The current year, accord
ing his printed estimates at nearly thirty three millions
and half, (S333 07)almo,t up 10 The average
expenditures OF Mr. Polks administration and these
estimates will in a; probability be exceeded by the actual
disbursements Now, ii we add 10 this amount one third
OF more than nine millions and half, (S95i9,0s0 IL
which Mr. Corwn chooses to consider extraordinary.
and which he charges, think without reason, 10 the
acquisition OF territory lsee page 40 the balance OF
millions hundred thousand dollars slated by
Mr.. Boiland against the present administration. con-
pared with Mr.. Folks, is fully sustained-the smaller
Tor peace.
will only add on this branch Of the subject, that the
increased expenditure referred TO could be fairly carried
To the account OF the acquisition of tetory-a PROPOSE
ton not TO be admittedt would devove the admins
traon 10 show that this expenditure had been regulated
by reasonable economy and IN this would utterly
fail, ] beleye the records of the country would be
searched IN vain Tor disbursements reckles, and ar
rangemenis i'll judged those which connected
with the establishment and maintenance OF new posts IN
the Soulhwes-posts which Supplied with fuel trans
ported forty nifty miles, where hay has been pur.
chased forty. hy and sixty dollars ton, in the heart
OF country covered with grass and where the cost OF
maintaining mule has exceeded three hundred dollars
per annum. Write 10 your representatives. at Washing
ton, and ask them TO send you the speech oil Mr. Houston
OF Alsb una, you would know more OF these things IN
their minor details have no time now 10 enter into
them myself.
From this general view OF the fiscal administration OF
The government let me now turn 10 particular transac-
lions for these often Indicate clearly the principles
and policy by which administration is governed than
general results,
There is good reason to believe that when General
Tay or came into office the who surrounded him un
deftook 10 make the government subseven, 10 the most
selfish uses-especiay in the expenditure OF the public
money. acqun General Taylor OF all participation IN
these transaclons but the success with which enter
prses against the treasury carried during The FIRST
year OF his administration should be perpetual warning
TO The eouury not TO commit the management OF IL at
lair- 10 any man whose whole lie has been devoted 10
the profession OF arms, and who has practical know
edge OF civil government
The frs, case TO which wish to call your attention is
perhaps not much in detail-l mean the Gaphin claim.
as il is called. Let me stale TO you the particulars
Before the year 1873 the Creek and Cherokee Indians
in Georgia, then British proYnpe, became indebted 10
George Qsphn an Indian trader, 10 the amount OF about
s43.500. They unable to pay the debt and in the
year above named they ceded in fust Tor the purpose TO
George III, King OF Great Britain, tract OF country
containing about two million and half The King
accepted the trust and commissioners appointed 10
sell the land and pay the debt Very little progress
made before the OF the revolution broke out and
when The British scepre oyar her colonies broken
the State OF Georgia took possession OF these lands and
disposed o them or the greater part o them Tor the ben
eft OF her citizens She took them, uhder any equ.
table view qt the case subject 10 the condition OF The
trust That she so regarded is apparent IRON the fact
that she assumed the payment oil the debt II was not
paid and after long delays application was made TO the
United States 10 assume and pay II, In lS35, in negoa
ting treaty with the Cherokee Indians, provision was
inserted by the commissioners spulating Tor the pay
men by the United States, and il rejected by
the Senate But, fellow citizens perseverance, in mat
lers before Congress hope honorable friends who
are here will take M no exception 10 my remark) par
lakes very strongly oil the attribute which the aneenls
ascrbed 10 the tender passon-it eonques all things;
and IN 1913 an act passed authorizing and requiring
the Secretary OF the Treasury 10 examine and adnst the
claim, and pay the amount TO the executors OF Gaphn.
have not been able 10 discover any Just ground for the
assumption Of this debt by the general government
less u he upon the principle now, fear becoming too
common within the purlieus OF the Capitol at Washing.
ion among claim agents, at all eyenis) that II there
any antiquated clam, which nobody is willing 10 pay,
Is TO be sh0f of the United States, or in otter
words upon the people, and on you ~ a part OF tbs
people Tor wbaeVer s drawn from the treasury is so
much taken directly or indirectly from your pockets
On the al March, isi9, two days before Mr. Polk's
alton expired, Mr. Walker The Secretary OF the
Treasury paid the amount, (Sf3,5oOl as was his duty