Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-16
Democratic Retrenchment.

Democratic party had commenced their
pruised work of retrenchment and reform, by
rgely increasing the salaries of the Vice Pre-.
ent and heads Of Department, and of our
nisters to Great Britain, France, Spain and
assia. The Washington Union assails US in
usual strain OF coarse and laundering invective,
voting something more than column to our
ef paragraph on this subject. The tide of
Unions eoquence is shallow but muddy
cam, and the task of gathering up the very
" grains of sense and argument that lie at the
tsom, is wearisome and Improbable ia the ex-
me. We do not propose to enter into an ex-
hination of the reckless charges of fraud, mis-
Engagement, extravaganza, &C. which the Union
ais out with such volubility against she late
khig administration. We forbear on this occasion
contrast the practice of the Wings with that
their opponents. on the score of economy in
the administration OF the Government, for
is is subject which has been so often DISCUSS
ln our columns, that our readers would not
ank Us for the repetition. We advert to the
MONS article simply for the purpose of calling
tention to the fact that the official organ of
is retrenchment and reform party seeks to re-
il the very first charge of extravaganza that is
ought against it, by quoting Wing precedent
justification of its condnct. The Union en-
psvors to fxon Mr. Fllmore's administration
y responsibility for the late increase of sala-
es. And how! First, by quoting an extract
ON the report of the Secretary of the Interior,
which that officer recommends that suitable
puses be erected in Washington for the mem.
ers of the Cabinet aud secondly, by summoning
its aid Mr.. Webster's circular letter to our
fplomotic representatives abroad. The Union
Ays:
The insufficiency of the compensation of our
floors abroad has long been subject of complaint;
nd Mr.. Webster, as Secretary of State, directed
ur ministers to send to the State Department es-
mates of the cost of living in the various cap
pals to which they were accredited. with view
b an increase of salaries. Mr.. Fillmore knew
3 these and their object. and he of course sp-
|roved of it, or they would not have been given
We have not Mr.. Webster's circular before
g. but we have some recollection of TINT docu-
nent, and we do not believe that one syllable can
DO found in it to sustain the Unions assertion
Int his enquiries were made with view to an
Increase of salaries.' The object of the admin
slraton was to elicit information, and not, the
Onion absurdy and ridicuously argues, to fortify
! foregone conclusion. We have just as much
Hight to infer that Mr.. Fillmore aud Mr.. Web
Rssred an increase of salaries. But lie this as
Is may, the administration made no official re-
kommendation ON the subject, and the Unions
httempt to fasten upon it the responsibility of
what was done by its own party in Congress, sig
bally fails. But even admitting for arguments
bake, that the late Wing administration virtually
recommended and sanctioned an increase of saa-
Ties, yet does it not look strangely to the Off
eial ryan Of the new administration sheltering
Itself behind such plea Has it come to this
hlready, that the cry of reform is give place
10 that of 'sprecedent Is the example of the
late "Galphin and Gardiner Administrations to be
khe guide of Gen. Pierce9 We thought TINT
sreferm' was the word-that the Augean stable of
|Whig corruption and vilIany was to be cleansed
md that Wing maxims, Wing policy. and Wing
example were to be eschewed with holy horror by
Jour rulers. But the first act of the Democratic
party on resuming the reins of power, was to
plunge their hands into the treasury more deeply
than their opponents had done, and their official
organ pleads in justification of their conduct, tina,
the Wings contemplated doing the same thing
For years the Union has poured out upon the adj
|ninistration Of Mr.. Fillmore the coarsest abuse
|snd vtuperation denouncing it as the most extra
II and corrupt dynasty that the country was
Game administration that ttfss i il behind this
low skulks and vainly attempts to hide it's
head.