The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-07-09
AUDITOR:
] a ES C.. DEV0 R E,
Of TonJou,}prr,, IN
TUE CHARGE OF aEXTRAVAGANCE."

TIE CHARGE0F "EXTRAVAGANCE."
Some weeks ago we took occasion to show
that the Opposition are solely ban.eable with
the present depleted condition of the FEEDER
al Treasury, and that owing 10 their rockies;
and prodiga expenditure of the public funds,
as well as the enormous debt into which, 10 salts
fly their own cupdty, they plunged the Govern
ment, when they were in power, the present
Administration is compelled TO resort TO loan
TO save the credit of the nation. Since writing
the article alluded TO, we have been fortunate
enough 10 obtain copy of the speech of Mr.
LErcHER, OF Virginia, by which we are enabled
to present such an array OF facts and figures as
will put lasting quietuso the lying charge
OF "extravagance" which the enemies OF Mr..
Buchanan have dared to prefer against his Ad-
ministration. The following items will show
where the contents of the Treasury have gone
and what parly' is chargeable with ''extrava-
gance:"
i. The Submarine Telegraph Bill, passed by
the Thirty Fourth Congress, appropriated SO
on the investment should reach per cent, and
then $4,000 for % years. The submarine
Telegraph company also have the use OF Two of
our best vessels and their crews. Notwitbstan-
ding the great expense which the U. s. Govern
ment will incur IN connection with this project,
il will be almost exclusively under British con-
troll. and may, therefore, if successful, al any
time be turned into an engine against us. This
ure of the Opposition, every Democrat but six
y During the Thirty Fourth Congress I'm the
Lower House of which the Opposition had a
majority $l6,022 was appropriated TO pay per
diem and mileage TO Archer, Foulke, Turney.
Reeder, Mi!iken, and Bennett for contestng the
seats Of members returned to that Congress and
In all those cases the contests were decided against
them. The yeas and nays show that The
Opposition are responsible for this expenditure.
8. During the same Congress, river and har-
Dor bills footing The sum of 745,000 were
passed by the Opposition and vetoed by Presi-
dent Pierce, greatly 10 the annoyance of the
Opposition party.
4. During the same Congress with the pop
ular branch in possession ofthe Opposition) ap-
preparations amounting TO l,270,0 900 were made
for the extension of the Capitol the dome, and
works of art. Out Of this appropriation
desks were purchased at 800 each ard chairs at
$40 each, for the new hall OF the House of Rep
rcseniaiive3.
5. Al the first session of the same Congress,
appropriations amounting 10 $4,18S,739 were
passed for forty one custom-houses, court-hou-
ses, post-offces and marine hospitals. Ofthis
number only eleuen were recommended by the
Administration. AT the third session of the
same Congress, appropriations for the same pur-
pose were made TO thirty one buildings of a
like kind, amounting TO $2,0s4 900, only four
of which had the recommendation of the Ad-
miniStration.
6. During the same Congress- on the PROPOSE
ion to pay Sl86, 765, So for books for members
OF Congress, only eleven Democrats were found
voting in the affirmative.
7. During the same Congress, the appropria-
tions for The several items Of the contingent
fund, under the action of The Opposition of the
House, who had the majority, ran up TO The
sum of Sl,087, ,770, showing an increase IN
this branch OF expenditure over that ofthe Con-
gress immediately preceding, (which was Demo-
cratic} OF SlS4,6 A.
8. At the last session of The same Congress.
the Senate returned to the House the sundry
ciril bill with l03 amendments, covering ap-
preparations TO the amount of $3,77I ,Sl6,45.
Il came 10 the House on the last night of the
session, when there was no opportunity even
10 read The amendments in the House On the
recommendation Of the Committee Of Ways and
Means, The House rejected all the amendments.
and the bill and amendments thus rejected went
10 committee OF conference, who reported the
next morning that the Senate should recede
from its disagreement as TO the residue. When
the reading of the amendments was called for.
Speaker Banks tOpposition) decided that they
could not be read, and The House was brought
TO vote on the adoption OF the conferences re-
port and thus without any knowledge of what
they were dong, the members voted away So