The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-30
.@ .. BlDDRFoRD, MAINE,FRIDAY, OCT oBER 80, 1887,

as Governor of that territory, the first thin
he did to, suggest the feasibility OF lars
land grants by the government to establis
monster railroad companies, Us an offset 10
the disturbances Of that territory upon tn
question of slavery. Wherever this polio!
has been adopted and carried out, it has ha'
the effect, more or less distinctly or general
Ily, ofsilencing and sitting the ccnfcienoc
Of the people Of the States in regard to tn
policy OF the administration in regard Z
free labor and slave labor. r..D r. q
Ofthis policy, as have said before, q
the principle Of the policy itself, l have moth
ing to say and no objection to make l only
speak Of Its origin-of its character-of ii
effect, and call the attention Of the people
Of our country to its political influence in
this regard. -
Igo step farther-I will speak of the
expenditures Of the country. Agreat. deal
Is said in our time Of the extravagance Of
the people-ofthe extravagance Of institu-
tions-of communities and States. I speak
of the extravaganza of the general govern.
ment. The general government is or should
be, power. 1t represents thirty millions
Of people. In its way and for its time, it
is a desrotic power. 1t moulds the customs
Of communities, 1t fashions the habits Of
men, it gives form and character to public
opinion, 1t controls the press, and it has
crowds and troops Of followers wherever it
goes. And asains. the policy to which it
directs its influence, seen and unseen, it is
almost impossible to array communities, and
quite impossible to array successfully indi.
viduals. Boo
Now in regard to the expenditures Of the
government, have to say that they have q
material and direct effect upon the charac.
ter Of the people, US well as upon the char.
uctcr of the government. If I remember
correctly, the average expenses Of tho nd
ministration for each of the four years pre-.
ocding 1852, was less than fifty millions Of
dollars. Tho average expenditures for the
four years last past was S72,OOO,OOO. In
some years It has ranged as high as S75,.
100000. Now this expenditure in time
of peace is wholly unwarranted, and 1t pro-
ceeds from one cause, and from one cause
alone. In these three years, when the OK.
penditures have ranged from sixty.four to
seventy.five millions annually, the country
has been rent with dssensions on tho slave
question 4; ani when man in Congress or
out of Congrcs, states his individual or po-
litical existence upon an affirmative or mega
tive vote on the question Of slavery, he has
no power to make an issue with the Admin.
istration upon question Of expenditure or
economy.
The government, the people and the coun.
try, have been blind, deaf and dead in these
four years to all considerations Of expendi.
lures or economy: and it is thus that our
exenditures have reached the enormous
amount of S72, 73 and S75.0OO, 900 year,
in the heat of discussion on the Nebraska
matter. ...
What has been the effect on the country.
Of tho extravagance and disregard of tho
General Government in the matter of ccono-
my? 1t affects the several States. and COIN.
munities, and individuals in the same way
and the government in its disregard totally
and entirely of oil economical considen.
tions, has set an example, that not only
with this age and with our people, but lin
any age, and with any people, is sure incvi-
tably to be followed. 1t is thus that the
Western States have been led to embark in
extravagant and extraordinary internal inn
provements. IL is thus that the city OF
New York has beel led to spend more mon.
ey in carrying on her municipal government
than is expended in some two or three Of
the States of the Union, 1t is thus that
the people everywhere havs engaged in haz-
ardous enterprises (; and it is thus that the
currency Of the country has been. inflated
greatly beyond the point of safety. Some
gentlemen are unjust and inconsidcrate
enough to attribute this extnvagance to the
ladies.
Ihave shown you much clearr reason
for the extravaganza that has overwhelmed
the country. (Applause.) Ihavc little to
say of the ladies, except that | am glad they
are among our friends-(chcers)-but there
never can be q greater injustice than to
charge upon them the extravagance and
corruption of the times. What has been
witnessed in the family, whether in city or
country, is a result and not cause, 1t is
the result Of the extnvagancc Of the general
Government, followed up, as 1t has been, by
the extravagance Of States, and lesser CON-
munitics, and the people at large. Zap
plause.) .
Now, on these great points to which l
have spokeu-6rst, the effect Of the govern
ment upon the industrial interests OF the
country; second, tho disposition OF the
public lands third, the question Of expen-
ditures, 1--WE have seen total Disregard oil
and total departure from the carly habits
Of industry Of the people and Of the gov
ernment, as exempliaed by the government
itself, in the commencement Of the late I'D
ministration; and for these results whai
have We ! For thcsc disasters which are up
on US, what have We? sr',y..i lrfi7c
As q compensation for the sorrow ant
suffering that has carried the hard working
~ en-. t A m