Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-10

the Senate by ayes ~, noes III. Ut tn
ayes, Il we're dehiocrats, 9. republicans
and 2 Fillmore Americans The 10 wh
voted 10 the negative vers all democrats
When this bill came to the House, it wa
a,nended by grant for Alabama, and a
amended was passed by yeas 81, nays co
OF the yeas, 60 were republicans, IS demo
Gratis, and 8 Observation-Disclosures. Of thu
nays, % were republicans, % democrats,
and 10 Fillmore. americans. If | had time
| would refer to the votes on such bills, on
other occasions, to show that the opposition
cannot be relied upon to husband the pub
lie lands, and 50 to manage them that they
may be source Of revenue to the govern
ment In my view, such dispositions Of
the public lands are wrong in principle, IN.
just to the old States, and Of mischievous
policy Such grants build up monopolies,
and monopolies are always prejudicial to
individual interests and the equal rights Of
all.
In 1848 the opposition raised sl1e cry Of
extravaganza against the democratic party,
and, in the then existing condition Of the
public mind, succeeded in obtaining possess
sion Of the Government. Taylor and Fill
more were elected to the presidency and
vice presidency Of tire United States, and
entered Upon the discharge Of their adties
on the 4th Of March, 1919. They came
into power a7owing their purpose to re-
trench expenditures and reform abuses which
were alleged to exist under the administra-
ton of their predecessors; and the people
were induced to believe that these great re-
suits would be attained. During the adj
ministration Of Mr. Polk, the duty Of car
rying on the war with Mexico devolved up
on him, and, as a necessary consequence,
the annual expenditures were much larger
than, under other circumstances, thew
would have been. In the four years his
expenditures amounted Exclusive Of the
public aebt) to S165, 3sl ,O36 56-beiug
an annual average expenditure Of ST. ,S45-
256 So In the four years of Taylor ard
Fillmore the expenditures Exclusive Of the
public de5t) amounted to $1G55. 6s3 $50 48
being an annual average expenditure of
$4l, 400, 912 60. 7he Wing administers
ton, therefore, Of Taylor and Fillmore,
cost the people 1856 "a year more, in
a time Of profound peace, than the demo-
cratic administration Of Polk cost them in a
time Of war If such was the result IN chat
instance, may we not reasonably anticipate
a like result if the opposition shall succeed
in the next presidential struggle? The
same men who elected Taylor and Fillmore
now constitute the body Of the opposition
arrayed against the present eminently pa
triotic administration.
It is known to this committee that dur
ing my entire service in this body ] have
labored zealously to reduce expenditures.
So decided has been my public action on this
subject that It has Subjected me to the fierce
denuncfatIons Of agents ard all others in
terested in large expenditures Of the public
money. Indeed, many Of my political as
sociates il Che House. whose views upon
this subject are more liberal than my own,
not unfreqnently complain Of the course
which a sense Of duty to those I represent
constrains me to pursue While I dave re-
sisted all appropriations for custom-house,
marine hospital courthouse, post-oaiee,
territorial and district buildings which are
now dotted over this District, the States
and Territories, and in the construction of
which millions Of dollars have been most
proAigately d:ssipated, the opposition in this
House at the last session Of tie, last Con-
gress succeeded IN appfopriating. for these
objects noless a suin thar S., 445, 65f 48.
The appropriations for these objects alone,
during the Tbirty-fourth Congress. amour
ted to the monstreus sum Of $S,633, $50
4s!! The country will be astonished to
learn that for the Capitol extension, the
dome, and few works Of art, So, $40 GOO
have been appropriated since 1852. An e.
normous amount has also been appropriated
to the aqueduct, that can only be told in
millions. I have resisted all these things
to the extent of my feeble ability, but who
Of the opposition has come to my aid? Now
and then, some one Of them has raised his
voice in opposition, but it is undeniable that
an Overwhelming majority of that party has
voted for them. The 10Th amendment Of
the Senate to the civic bill at this session
made appropriations for eleven custom hou-
SEES, ia different parts Of the country, and
on agreeing 70 that a,cendhtent the vote
yeas SO, democrats IS, opposition
80, nays 73, democrats 81, opposition
D. { have resisted the increase Of sala
ries, '.nd the multiplication Of offers and
government employees and have, in all
fair and honorable modes. endeavored to re-
duce the expenditures TO the lowest practi
cable amount consistent with a proper re-
gard to the public interest and az efective
Of the government.
Such has been my course as represen
tative of the people, and I now tender to the
gentleman my cordial cooperation in all
wise, just, and proper measures which he
or lis friends may propose for the reforma-
ton Of abuses or the reduction CT ezreadi-
lures. think the expenditures may be
curtailed without detriment to the public
service that the number Of officers may be
diminished and many salaries reduced with
out prejudice CT embarrassment % the
prompt, intelligent, and faithful disposition
Of the public business: The gentleman will
find this side Of the House ready to. as5oad
all efforts he may make to this end, and all
he has tordo is to introduce his measures at
the earliest practicable h.oil1ent He has
been rather dilatory heretofore, consider
ing tie magnitude and Importance Of the
work before him, but still there is ample
time during the next session to accomplish
all that may DO needed to inaugurate his
crp If oonnor,v