The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-09-02

/ tIVyAA4 III tne TREASURY anu tnut OOHgreSS
has already granted $40 100000 Of Treasury
notes, making an aggregate sum of means
Of $S7,7lO,ll4 in a single year, which to-
gether with the current revenue, has oil
been expended by this pro6igate Admins.
tration. These facts, in his opinion, make
out clear and undeniable case of extrava-
gance against the party in power. Accom-
pany me in the investigation Of these facts.
and we will ascertain the precise weight to
be given to the charge.
The Secretary of the Treasury informs us
in his annual report that the public debt
amounted on the lst of July last to the sum
Of sac 9,060,3S6 80, and since that time the
sum Of $3,s95,233 80 of the debt has been
redeemed. This sum, then, is to be deduct
ed from the surplus in the Treasury at the
date fixed by the gentleman from Ohio
Making this deduction, we have the sum ol
$l5,sl4,ssl 81, instead Of the sum with
which we are charged in the account as stat
ed by him; or, in other words, an error with.
in a fraction of $4,O0O,O0O. Now, add the
$40, ,00O,O 900 of the Treasury notes author
lied by the act Of this session, and we have
the gross sum of $33,sl4,8sl 81 instead oil
$37,7l0,1l4.l Deduct the amount contained
in the deficiency bills, stated BY the gentle.
man to be $ll,2Ol, ,70s, and we shall then
have balance of $22,6ls,l73 81.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, l ask whether the
present Administration can, with even o
show efreason or justice, be held response
BILE, by its btterest enemy, for the expendi.
ture this year Of dollar beyond amount Of
the deficiency bills, which we have passed!
The remaining $22,6l3,l73 81 is the un.
avoidable result Of paying for the Legislation
Of the last Congress, of which the gentle.
man from Ohio was leading member. The
Speaker Of the House in that Congress be.
longed to the Opposition. An Opposition
majority controlled and directed the legisla.
ton. Committee Of Ways and Means
Opposition by two TO one, reported the ap.
preparation bills. and that Opposition are
responsible to the country for the expendi
lures OF the present fiscal year, expiring on
the 3Oth day of this month.
The gentleman then proceeds to give u:
the items that are embraced in the de6cien-
cy bills passed at the present session, ant
charges that the extravaganza Of the Admin
istration has rendered. the passage OF these
deficiency bills necessary. He presents the
following table of items, to which invite
the attention of the Committee:
Sound dues by treaty with Denmark $685., ,Ol
Printing deficiency already passed Al, ,let
Balancs Of printi deficiency for this
| year (estimatcd) f.... COO,OOt
Miscellaneous ,a. .,t a s.r 373,3N
Army deficiency ......... 1925 ,OOt
Post Office deficiency 1869, "a:
| u. .t-+ ...rgH $Il,O4I, 600
The first item charged against the pre-
sent Administration, in the gentleman's Ia
BILE, is $333,0ll, for the Sound dues, by
treaty with Denmark. This treaty was ne.
gotiated by the last administration, end, as
no appropriation was made to meet its sti-
pulations, the duty was devolved spon the
present Congress of furnishing the money
required to fulfill it's provisions. Can it be
pretended that this item furnishes evidence
to prove the extravaganza Of the presen,
Administration Was it not our duty to
execute that treaty fully, fairly, and Justly,
to the letter There cannot be two opin-
ions on that point. The next item is the
printing deficiency of $34l,lSs. The le.
gislation Of the last Congress imposed upon
the country the debt for printing, and the
duty Of paying this debt has been devolved
upon us. Will the gentleman pretend that
the Administration is in any sense, or to
any extent, responsible for this expendi.
,ure ! They had no agency in contracting
the debt; but it came down to them as a
burden imposed upon them by the Repub.
lican House, over which N. P. Banks pre-.
sided as Speaker. The next item is an "es.
timated" printing deficiency for this year OF
5000, 900, which, if it is to be provided for,
is needed to pay the debt entailed upon US
mainly by the last House. Why was the
printing ordered by the Opposition ! Did
they not know when it was ordered that it
would have to be paid for, and as it was Or
dered by the OPposition-the gentleman 8
friends in the House-with what propriety
can they now arraign US for providing the
means to pay for it, If we shall be compelled
to do so Neither the Administration or
it's friends in this House can be held re-
sponsible for it. But will such sum have
to be paid ? / upprehend not, as our action
shows that we have only appropriated in
the sundry civil bill the sum Of $4,000
for this purpose. Here then, is another
error OF the neat little sum Of $2s4,OO0-
no great amount, to be sure, yet still wor-
thy Of passing notice. Then we have an
item, styled miscellaneous, Of $373,Sls
which is intended to pay of obligations i'm.
posed upon us by the legislation Of the last
Congress. 1t is under this head that we
find the appropriations for custom houses,
marine hospitals, and other public build
ings, which cover the ';iobs and contracts"
to which he refers. cennot suppose that
a.