Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-02
Federal Extraxagance.

The debate which occurred in the Senate on Mon
day. with reference to the extension OF the Capitol,
/ is worthy of a passing comment. The discussion
was begun by Mr. Borland, who objected to the half
million appropriation not only because the work was
badly done, but on general principles. In word,
he opposed to the growing extravagance OF Con-
gress and thought this one of tie questions where
! that lavish expenditure should be met. MIR. Man
gum followed in a somewhat similar strain. He re-
collected he said when administration was turn
ed out for spending thirteen millions year. where
as now the expenditure had risen to hfty-two mil
lions. with every prospect OF its going still higher
The extravaganza on which these honorable Sena-
tors commented is indeed alarming fact. No re-
public can continue pure, which squanders money
ours has been doing lately and when republics be-
come corrupt they soon cease to be tree except IN
name. We glad, therefore to see two Senators of
opposite parties unite to deplore this departure from
the original economy of the government. Mr.. Bor-
! land, indeed, wishes to throw the blame on the
Wings and Mr.. Mangum, not to be outdone labors
to shift it the Democrats. But the truth is that
both parties are equally to blame and that. partly
in the endeavor to sustain what appear meritorious
objects and partly from sheer ostentation. the ex
travagance of the federal government has grown be-
yond endurance.
In fact period has arrived not unlike, in many
respects that which contemporary with John q
Adams election to the Presidency. The federal
treasury is regarded inexhaustible Fountain to
which everybody may resort, who has no tact in
making money. or who is too indoent to work. Does
Impoverished inventor wish TO De repaid LOT Ia
bors originally undertaken out of love of science E
he goes to Washington, and bores in Congress till
he obtains a grant which makes him a man of for
tune. Does princely merchant plan line ofsteam-
| ers by which to make him millionaire ?-he petit
tions Congress for appropriations under the plea
of carrying the mails and gains his end at once
Does covetous and grasping city become ambitious
| of being the Paris or London of America at sends
committee on committee to Washington to ask that
a sister city may be robbed of great national inst
I%,,kSa L. f.1, kno oSkSD 10
the wealthy municipality, everybody and everything
seeks to live the federal treasury and grow veal
thy without the trouble of work In this grand
scheme of plumber helps B, and assists both, on
the pledge of being supported in turn. 1t is only
! honest men and good republicans-those who scorn
to pilfer and those who think extravaganza uncon-
stitutionathat get nothing in this general scram-
BILE.
/ Had Senators Mangum and Borland, instead of
assang each others political principles inveghed
against the prevailing corruption and called on Con-
gress to refuse any and every private appropriation
we should have thought better of both of them. We
trust that when the subject comes up again they
will take this manly and patriotic ground. Neither
of them can have forgotten that Patrick Henry and
John Randolph with host of other early statesmen
foresaw this q evil day." Both must remember that
the objections which the first had originally to the
federal constitution were principally from these fears.
1t is certain that the most extravagant monarchies
of Europe fall behind the United States government
in squanderng money on private jobs; and yet it
was chief effort with the trainers of the govern
ment to tie up Congress so that economy would be
inevitable.
Let US return before it is too late to the original
principles of the republic. We want more patriot
ism both in and out of Congress. But we want also
a return to the far-reaching and statesman like
views of the early fathers of the Constitutions those
noble men who abhorred class legislation, and who
detected and exposed it, no matter how lovely the
disguise it assumed. Philadelphia Bulletin.
| !
of Saturday last. containing preamble and resOlu-
tons signed by the "passengers or a large portion
of them who came " in the regular Mail Railroad
Train which left Wilmington, N. c. at o'clock,
on the morning of the 18th March, inst charging
that they were " unnecessarily detained" by in
tention negligence' the part of the officers of
the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad" The
charge is gratuitous and unfounded to say the least
of it. And when the length of the road is taken in
to consideration-it being 100 miles long-instead
ing community" and the probable cause of many
of the failures of the mail-the & travelling commu-
nifty should award to it the credit being the most
regular in its operations of any road in the United
States. Instead of censure. the " Officers" and all
that we know ofin any way connected with the road,
deserving the thanks of the q community for
having faithfully discharged oil their duties
The schedule hour for the arrival of the Whining
ton Express Train of cars-the one (which so much
complaint is made in this instance-is3 o'clock P.
arrived at hiry-avo minutes past three! Now is it
a thing incredible that after making every ex-
erton to get here in time, the Wilmington train
should fail to do so, day in three hundred and
sixty five by thirtytwo minutes when running over
road 160 miles long
When the Petersburg train was yetin sight. (Which
left at 81 the whistle of the Wilmington Locomotive
could be distinctly heard-not, however, by the Con-
ductor or Eng ineer the Petersburg train. Their
hour for leaving had arrived and it was right that
4 they should do It was, perhaps, the close ap-
Proclamation to making the connection and fail
ure to do so, which so exasperated Messrs. "Sam'l
without ENDURING whether they right or wrong.
to vent their spleen upon the Wilmington and
Weldon Railroad" and its Is Officers
These gentlemen complainers would have the pub
lie believe that they greatly incony enienced'
by their detention at this place WELL perhaps they
were. But this the first time the g travelling
community "inconvenienced" Why,
them make so much unnecessary complaint about
this one failure to - meet the schedule 2" We reck-
on Messrs. g Sam'l E. Rice" and Company, were as
fit subjects for few hours detention as would
have been any other portion of the travelling
muniy,' and that their loss more than would
have been experienced by like number of other in
, dividuals
These gentlemen while here manifested DISPOSE
ton at fault finding which truly annoying. Not
only so their imputatons against gentlemen good
themselves were. to say the least, altogether
becoming. Should they be again " detained" at any
place. from the cause we hope they will not
in this give loose reign to passion, but be
governed by the dictates of common sense and refec
tion.-Weldon Patriot.
A MAN SHoT.-On Thursday night last young
man, supposed to be British sailor and about 10 OF