The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-21

CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. M. r.. H. GARNI

CONGRESSlONA
SPEECH OF HON. M. r. III. GARNETT,
OF VIRGINIA,
On the tariff delivered in the House of Representatives
February IA, 1851.
The House being in the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union and having under consideration the
bill "a No. 556) to reduce the duty on imports and for
other purposes
Mr.. GARNETr said
has said that the revenue was the and
when regard the multitude of interests that draws along
in its rainwhen consider tue magnitude of the ques-
ons involved in its collection and distribution feel dis
posed TO agree with him. 1t is light thing year after
year. and generation after generation take portion Of
the earnings OF one class section Of the community to
bcstow upon another yet when this is done in the
nonical administration Of the fair and legitimate functions
of governmen IT is but the price paid and proaby paid
for the advantages OF that guarantee and safeguard Of social
organization and OF individual freedom YET your govern
transcend these duties 1t powers prop
erly belonging to it let undertake dictate the employ
menis Of capital and labor and foster branch of indus
at the expense OF another let II expend its in
reckless exavagances in supporting armies Of official de-
pendens and making fortunes for every needy political
adventure then sir this annual collection and dsburse
of becomes the robbery of the taxpayers by the
consumers and the outrage is almost heavy TO be
borne greatly fear that this government approaches, if
it has not already reached that point in its fiscal opera
lions The eloquent gentleman from Maryland Mr.. DA-
vs sad that Congress had been guilty of sectional
injustice in its legislation, aud was astonshed at the
bodness of this assertion when your satutebook is black
with the grossest inequalities between North and South in
the system as shall 10 some extent show beoIe
have d0hS g
FIRST sir look at your expenditures and the ghtful
rate at which they have increased reed not go back to
Mr. Van Buens presidency when the whole country
convulsed with Indignation at an expenditure of $25000-
600 to $30000000 per dnnu. Nor will return 10 1912
when Mr. Clay estimated that the government could Re
fairly administered for 26OO00Oo while Mr. Calhoun put
it down to $l6000000 Nor will dwell on l645-46, the
first year Of Mr. Poks administration when the ex cndi-
tars exclusive Of payments on account Of public debt and
Mexican hoslites, only S22s64296 But sir will
take year since the Mexican warsnce the empire OF the
Pacific added TO domnions and within this pres
ent administration and find that in the fiscal year 1883 5
the entire expenditures, exclusive of public debt and
the insalment due to Mexico $440l82i9 while ths
last year. 1856 they have suddenly sweed up to $5T
724O being more than they were in the height
of the Mexican war; when forces rested either
and flag not only protected our own domain but waved
in triumph in every province Of MeSico
How demand has this monstrous result been attained
By just expansion of functions2 BY any fair
eIcise OF our constitutional powers2 No, sir, no!
1t maxim with the fathers Of the republic, that
the Post Office establishment should support ITSELF those
who received the benefit were 10 pay the expense for
ernment might as well undertake the grauitous anspo-
aon any other goods wares as onews
papers and letters But the ancient landmarks have been
eaced and the Post Office has become hn eeemosynary
institution, for whose support annually appropriate
over three millions of taxes. f
Look your navyno at the expenses Of the navy
proper though they too, have increased but under the
specious of naval defence and steam mail service
pay million and half Of money in bounties to few fa
vored individuals to compete with legitimate private tnter-
prise The effect is not only to waste the revenues but
actually to discourage the increase Of our steam tonnage
on the for what private capital venture to
pete with who sustained and guaranteed by your
rhs as1 hxdget rspsats the same extrayagant tale.
When Mr. calhoun the head OF the War Department
the q s o
when forty thousand men were constantly under
arms in far distant and Foreign territory the expense per
head only seven dollars more than it now is in time
And here in your own hallsin the province peculiarly
under your supervisioncong ressonal extravaganza
has become fragrant to the world. The constitution de-
cares that mo money shall be drawn from the treasury but
in sequence of appropriations made by law " and it
principle with the old Jeersonian republicans that all
appropriations should be for specific purposes But under
the cover Of contingent fund for each house. the
elusive control of whose aud expenditure
eced by the jealous selflove of either body you have
enabled house of Congress to do at IL, pleasure
what the constitution provides shall require the
sent Of both houses and of the President The
quence s that whenever either body wishes make
an expenditure which will not bear the constitutional
ordeal of legislation it is crowded into this omnibus
contingent fund, which is steadily growing into one
OF the chief heads of expenditure Consider sir, your
printing expenses They do not even profess to be con-
kept down by strict economy but you prints that
bers may have books to give away and eectioneer with
that party averites may have fat jobs to make fortunes
and 1t plainly avowed that whether 1t or
in order to support organ for the Executive and the
paryas though newspaper organ of the legi
innate objects for which the constitution allows
taxes In 840 the expenditure for printing not quite
one hundred Thousand dollars. What is 1t now The
bills for printing, paper engraving, &c are between one
and two millions. 1t bat the other day believe
that the chairman of the Committee Of Ways and Means
told US there would be deficiency to provide for Of two
or three hundred thousand dollars on this head.
Thus you see, sir, that these expenditures grow and
mount up every side; they overwhelming tide
that knows ebb How shall they be curtailed How
shall this exuberant exavagance be stopped2 Can Con-
gress apply the remedy by arresting reducing appro
priaons2 Why, sir, your Committee of Ways and Meaus
little than registration Office for the estimates
the departments. do not mpugn the fidelity and ability
OF its members they but submit causes they cannot re-
sst The departments send in their estimates SO much
they say is needed for such branch of he public service
The committee examine all the evidence that sup
ports each item If they cut down the estimates, the only
effect is that next year the departments report deficiencies
They say We have incurred expenses and
operations authorized by law; here bills you
appropriate enough before and you must pay the
deficiency, forfeit the public faithp And these deicen
cies usually cover the whole original estimates and add
large per cenfage besides
If Congress is thus weak to such evils is the exec
utive mere efficient? II may do much, but must
member that the President and the departments like Con
gress prosecuted by the militant of jobber
and SPECTATORS and spoismen Enormous is the
upon them to multiply offices and empoyments and jobs
for the reward OF political friends and the qualification
that portion of the public which lives upon the taxes
which, small as i comparatively is, yet makes all h
camor and agitation OF what is called political life Th
toing, tax-paying quiet except in thos
crises that make epochs in the life OF nation Yor
must recollect Also the difficulty with which
central executive controls the expenditures of subordinate
thousands OF mics distant AS an instance, look a