The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-05-12
NO2O.

Il
Is all true and it is mere question Of
time when every State Of this Union will
become a slave State. II the honorable
Senator from Louisiana, or any other
man, should see ft to take thousand me-
groes into the State of Michigan after that
decision shall have become the Law, de-
~ any power short of a revolution in this
Government to prevent him, or take them
from him. But, sir, it is not Iaw;. it is
not com mon sense; yet this Dred Scott
decision is the only platform Of the Dem
ocratic party at the present time-the OF.
ly issue before the country. bog taf
don there is another issue, hot vet per.
fected, and thai is this $50, ,000, 600 bril-
berry and corruption fund. That Is to
be another plank in the Democratic plat.
form. These two plabks, the Dred Scott
decision and Cuba, are to be the platform
that is to foat the party into power if i.
ever arrives there; the Dred Scott decis.
ion and the $50 900 600 loan, With, pei.
haps, the honorable Senator from Virgin
ia Mr.. HuDterl astride of them and
and with that platform and that candi-
date, the Democr attic party will march 10
certain defeat
But, sir, as this measure at the pres:
ent time is financial question, I propose
very briefly to allude to the financial CON.
dition of the country. I look upon this
as the practical method of jud ging of its
merits. | hold in my hand letter w,i:.
ten by very distinguished man, at pres.
ent connected with this Government. da-
ted March l, 1852, and addressed to a
committee of Baltimore. 1t is signed
"James Bucnanan." 1t says:
1--WE must inscrbe upon our banners, a
sound regard for the reserved rights of the
States, strict construction of the Constitu-
ton, denial TO Congress Of all powers not
clearly grantd by that instrument, and RI
gid economy in public expenditures
These expenditures have now reached
the enormous sum of $4,000, GOO per annum,
and unless arrested in their advance by the
strong arm of the Democracy of the country,
may, in the course of a few years, reach
$l00,U00,000.'
Well, sir, "the strong arm Of the De-
mocracy" has been managing our sfairs
ever since. The President of the United
States was then mistaken a few millions
as to the expenditures; for the entire ex-
penditures of 1852, including payment
of the public debt, was only s44, ,4sl .447S
but let him have the advantage of bis own
figures. The strong arm of the Democ-;
racy has had charge Of this Governments
from that time to the present, and We
have already reached the point that he
prophesied We might reach in a few years
500, 600, 900 of expenditure. It was
dem oustrated to my entire satisfaction,
and, | believe, to the satisfaction Of the
Senate, by the honorable Senator from
Kentucky. Mr.. Crittenden,1 the other
day, that SlO0 600, 600 would no. pay the
expenses of Government for this year.
propose change; propose that We
try some other hand at ecoDomizing the
expenses of this Government. But let me
60 on with the letter. It's writer says
furtbur:
"The appropriat tion of money to accomplish
great national objects. sanctioned by the con-
sttution, ought 10 be on a scale cOmmeDsu-
rate with our power and resources as na-
ton; but its expenditure ought 10 be conduc-
ted under the guidance of enlightened econ<
omy and strict responsibility, l am conyin-
ced that our expenses might be considerably
reduced. below the present standard, not on
ly without detriment, but with positive ad-
vantage both to the Government and to the
people,"
IF the expenditures conld then be re.
duced below $50, 900 with advantage
to the Government aud the people, what
can be done nowl Is there any reason
why our expenditures should be greater
now than they were in 1881 There is
no reason except that money may be used
for purposes of corruptiou; and | propose
to examine into some Of these corruptions
now and here. This letter says further:
"An excessive and lavish expenditures Of
public money, though in itself highly perni-
cous, is as nothing when compared with the
disastrous Influence it may exert upon the
character of our free institutions. A strong
tendency towards extravaganza is the great
politcs evilofthe present day;and this ought
to be firmly resisted"
Sir, propose to resist it with oil the
firmness God has given me. Now, let US
look little into the expenditures of this
Government. | hold IN my hand an off,
cial document of the Senate, printed at
the last session, giving the receipts and
expenditures Of the Government from lis
formation to 1857; / desire to present
ocratc doctrine is seen. it will be offensive
not only to the people Of the North. but
of the South likewise. But, sir, to the
article. In the Union OF November IL.
1857, appeared long article, prepared
with great care, evidently intended as q
lasting exposition of the position of the
Democratic party. ltsays:
"Slaves were recognized as property in the
British colonies of North America, by the
Government of Great Britain. by the coloni-
al laws, and by the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. Under these sanctions, vested
rights have accrued TO the amount of some
Sl, 600, ,00O,000. 1t is, therefore, the duty o
Congress aud the State Legislatures TO pro-
tect that property.
.tpIo E,..,;...,;~x, xla,l,ros that nha :.