Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-12
THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES.
SPEECH OF MIR. LETCHER OF
VIRGINIA.

THE fUBLlC EXPENDITURES.
/ SPEECH OF MIR. LETCHER OF
VIRGINIA,
(! On the Army appropriation, Bill dezteerc
IN the House Of, Representatives, Muy
~, 1853.
! Mr.. CHAIRMAN, | am very glad that til
question Of the public expenditures has be
gun to attract some degree Of attention i,
this House; and the only cause of regret
have now in connection with the matter is
that my friend from Ohio had not sooner
walked up to the importance of the subjcct--
at least as. early as last Congress, and invi
ted the attention Of his friends to an inves
/ LEGATION, which he now seems to think is 8
much demanded. At that time there wa
an opportunity to do something practica
bic; because political parties in this Hous
were then nearly balanced, and they had
at least, as much power as ne had, and the
could have introduced measures and presses
them to adoption, and thus brought abou
important and valuable results But, sir
no matter when question of this sort come
up, [ am always grati6cd to hear it and
trust, although it is too late to operate up
on the expenditures already passed, it vii
be in time to exert a salutary influence up
on bills yet to be acted upon by the House
Sir, there are many bills yet behind Their
arc various river and harbor bills yet to be
brought up for the consideration Of thi
House. and they are now being launched ii
the other end Of this Capitol, preparatory t,
their introduction here. which will iayolv,
large appropriations Of the public money
If those bills shall become laws. it will b
necessary that the money shall be raised tt
meet the expenditure which will be rcqui
red by them. trust that when that tim,
comes we may expect to find my fricn,
from Ohio upon our side, resisting loal
to furnish the money which will be require,
to make these river and harbor improve
ments, for which some of our friends OF
both sides Of the House arc now SO clalnor
GUS
If remember Alright the history Of past
| Congresses, a proposition was started whicl
! proposed to establish an ocean telegraph
line between this and foreign country
and it placed under the control Of that com
pany two vessels Of the United States, man
ned, armed, and equipped, to be supported
aud furnished for that service BY the gov.
crnmcnt, and to be employed in aiding tina
private company in laying down the tclc
graph line for their own profit and cmolu-
mcnt. And, if mistake not, our friends
! upon the other side Of the House were il
| favor of a measure which proposed to con
struct telegraph outside Of the. limits Q
| the United States. Now. my friend from
Ohio, Mr.. SHERMAN, who has prcfcrrc,
he charge Of extravaganza, Gf my rccol-
lection is not very greatly at fault, dcfen
| led the measure and voted for 1t.
Mr.. SHERMAN, of Ohio. did VOTE
for it.
Mr. LETCIIER. Now, was that 4 mca.
sure recommended by any body at the 9th
CT end Of the avenue Were the depart
mcnts Of this government called upon te
| consider it3 Was the President of the
United States asked for his opinion in re-
gard to i'll Did he send any recommends
ton to that Congress asking that they should
appropriate money, OF that they should
withdraw those national vessels from their
legitimate service and put them under til,
control Of u private company Nothing Of
that sort. Then, if it originated here, Will
what propriety can the late President Of tht
United States and the late administration
be arralgned for encouraging a proAigat<
expenditure Of the public money?
Mr.. STANTON. How much none,
was appropriated I?
Mr.. LETCUER do not know the a.
mount, but it required vessels to be taken
the vessels to be manned and commanded
US if in the regular service, to be furnished
and supported; and even now there is a
complaint made against the present Sccrc-
tary of the Navy, that he has withheld one
vessel which was assigned to that service
under the private company, engaged in tho
construction Of this line.
Then, sir, there was another measure
which had its origin at the last session Of
Congress for an Increase of the pay of the
army Of the United States. How did nv
fricrd from Ohio vote on that subject p
Did he vote for the increase or against it
Mr.. SHERMAN, of Ohio. The record
will show. ! will say to the gentleman
frankly that | do not rccollcct.
Mr.. LETCHER. Well, l do not know
but | think would agree to venture somc-
thing right handsome that he voted for that
increase. This, then, was another way il
which the expenditures were increased. !. !.
Then, sir, we had another proposition to
commission the chief officer Of the army of
the United States as acknowledgement, anc
thereby to give him greatly increased com
pensation. How did my friend from Ohio
vote upon that? Was it not "ayc?'
Mr.. SHERMAN, Of Ohio. / think J
was not here at the time, but if had been
| would have voted faye" would con
fer that benefit on General Scott or any 9th
cr officer who had performed similar scryi.
ccs. i.
Mr.. LETCIIER. I do not complain O
my friends vote. All that complain O
him forts. that he should undertake to hav,
other people executed for offences lie has
been committing himself.
Then, we had another bill here to in
crease the efficiency Of the navy. I think
the gentleman from Ohio voted for that
and he will rccol1ect that it was only yes.
terday that we had to appropriate $ll0,.
900 to cover the expenses of courts martial
growing out Of that plan for making the Ma
Wy efficient.
Mr.. SHERMAN, of Ohio. / hope ths
gentleman from Virginia viii press this c1as
II