The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-06-02
..Retrenchment and Reform Movements of the
min pistra


The experienced sailor upon the high seas
can often, in the dead calm of unclouded ho-
rizon, detect the infallible warnings of impend-
ing danger, and is thus enabled to ..make all
snug and tight" TO meet and ride out the gath
ering storm. 1t may be that there is some such
extraordinary prescience in this administration
it may be that General Pierce has been taught
by experience TO regard the present most remar-
kable and expansive prosper ity in the financial
world as somewhat freacherous and delusive,
and that the prevailing plethora Of the money
market, the still increasing imitation OF
real and fancy stock operations, and the un-
bounded public confidence in the resources OF
California and Australia, may possibly end in
some such terrible and sweeping financial lorna
do as that which signalized the pet bank admin
istration of Martin Van Buren,. Dubious OF
some such approaching catastrophe, one would
conclude that, like the prudent Jack tar, the ad-
ministration were making all snug and tight to
weather the anticipated shock of the elements.
But, whatever the causes or objects of these
movements, the public cannot fail to mark the
apparent earnestness with which Gen. Pierce
and his cabinet have proceeded to cut away with
When General Jackson supplanted John Quincy
Adams IN the White House, he numerically de-
ciared that in the catalogue of his official duties
the American people had ssinscribed in charac-
ters too legible to be misunderstood !" the para
mount duties of s.retrenchment and reform. -
There is no doubt in the world that Old Hickory
believed it. And good reason had he to make
the declaration; for the expenses of the govern
ment, under Mr.. Adams, had risen to thirteen
millions year; and Tobias Watkins, poor old
man, had been found guilty at Washington of a
oefaication of nearly four thousand dollars ,
Perhaps General Pierce may have concluded
that the time has arrived for restoring this old
Jaeksonian plank to the democratic platform
and to this simple judgment it may be, that we
are indebted for the initial steps which have
been taken to increase the efficiency and to cut
down the expenses of the several departments of
the government
Nor has the work been commenced n dav too
soon. What with the annual expenses of the
government, magnifed from thirteen to 6frv
millions per annum and what with Galphin.
Mexican, Florida, Chickasaw, Cherokee and 9TH
er claims, amounting up from two hundred
thousand to half million at single haul. it is
eeaiainly high time for closing UP some of the
leaks OF the public treasury. The retrenchments
therefore, of Mr. Guthrie, in the administration
OF the Treasury and the custom houses: of the
several other members of the cabinet in redu-
clDg the contingencies and in enforcing an addi
tionel quantity of work upon the clerks of their
several departments; and the reforms of Judge
Campbell, as far as he has gone, in the manage
rnent of the General Post Office, are all season.
able and judieious. We hope, although 'sa new
broom sweeps Clean" that the broom of this ad
ministFation viii not be worn out before the
work OF sweeping away all the old abuses upon
Inc treasury, OF every sort, is fully accomplish
Gu ana the government is clear of rogues and
sTindlers from stem to stern.