The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-24
SENATORS CRITTRNDEN AND BELL.


member, he resolved to be less party man than
heretofore. Senator Crittenden determined to be
more patriotic, more national, more the representa-
tive OF the people, and less Of party. The con-
ntructon which the distinguished senator puts upon
his revised edition Of himself is that he would be
honest, faithful to the constitution, and just to
everybody. II is not duty to go into the past
and inquire what he was before, to run out the
change that has taken place in his political life.
Tho inference is certainly against the senator his
own showing -he resolved to be less party man,
to be more honest-less party man. because his
party had been growing small by degrees and beau
tifully less for some years. Mr. Crittenden had
survived his party.
It is, then, our especial duty to look after Mr.. Crit
tenden's conduct ON the occasions referred to. We
never feel easy about the course Of man who pro-
claims his own immaculate integrity and purity of
life It is in that way that very offensive and very
bad things have come to pass in social aud political
affairs Mr.. Crittenden, having established his rep
utaton as an honest man, proceeds at Covngton Ken
lucky, to say Of the present administration:
"The people cried out extravaganza against General
,ackson and yet but 500 900 900 expended in his
ryt four years The present administration will swallow
up that during the present year! 1t is my duty to
call the attention of the people to these facts They are
truths that ought TO be known that those who bear the
burden may select who will show more prudence In
affairs of government Direct taxation must be the in
evitable result Of this extravaganza
The gross amount Of appropriations for the current
expenses of the government, exceeding the estimates
of Secretary Cobb, during the late session of Con
gress was about fifty three and half millions Of dol
lars thsgross amount of all appropriations. includ
ing the sums voted to meet the deficiency" grow
ing out Of the extraordinary army expenses. do not
exceed sixty eight millions Mfr, Crittendens integ
rity Of statement is impeached by slight mistake
Of forty-s millions Of dollars. One hundred
millions of dollars he sets down the sum to be
swallowed up the present year"
All this would amount to nothing if there not
to be found in other parts Of Mr. Crtenden's speech
evidence of special end to be gained by the mis-
representation of facts. What Mr.. Crittenden want
ed to get rid Of the money Of the government in
order that his new party might have prste1t foi
introducing the old scheme Of protective tariff
Revenue systems will never do for the class Of mind
like that of Mr.. Crittenden, who never forget any
thing and never learn anything. Protection That
is the magic spring that 10 to turn to profit every
worthless thing Mr.. Senator Bell writes to the
Crittenden reception that the country is aboring
der general paralysis, and that nothing short of
class legislation nothing short Of willy scheme by
which the great agricultural interests Of the country
shall be taxed for the benefit OF few manufactu-
rers-will reanimate our national industry. Mr.. Bell
hits the republicans secti ssists right in the face
telling them to come into tho new arrangement, to
..F -
abandon their miserable anti-slavery nonsense and
to aid him and MFR. Crittenden in building mp great
party on the basis Of protection
The republicans, it so happens, make up nearly all
the reliable force in favor Of protection but there is
in their ranks large infusion of free-trade men,
seceders from the democratic party, and We shall
look with interest to see the latter class abandon
negroes, in order to protect white men. Mr.. Crit
tenden may be honest; if SO, convinced he is
old Did Mr.. Crittenden believe that the expenses
of the government this year would be one hundred
millions Of dollars If he did, then shall be pre-
pared to endorse the integrity of Mr. Senator Bells
statemsnt that the country is In awful state of de-
crepitude and paralysis If Mr.. Crittenden was
honest, Mr.. Bell was honest.
But the truth is, and we owe this explanation to
the two distinguished senators from kentucky and
Tennessee that after they left the federal capital we
discovered the current expenses of the govern
ment and the current appropriations by Congress to
be only little than half the amounts cal
culated upon by the opposition leaders, upon which
they resolved to organize for this year only new
party. When MI. Humphrey Marshall went to Phila-
delphia to speak and Messrs. Crittenden and Bell
went to Cincinnati it settled that Mr. Buchanans