The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-07-28

administered with more comparative econo-
nv than was that OF President Monros.n
Twill not enter into detailed exposure OF
the fragrant errors Of his data as statsd, and
the glsring fallaoy Of his reasoning. This IL
no more necessary for my purpose than nm
weaving the meshss Of the spidsr's web
across his path, is for tho progress Of The
traveller. admire the genius displayed in
it's construction, and have no ill-will for the
author; but "a its only design 10 to entrap
the unwary, ! propose simply to brush il
away.
Az sample Of the inaccuracy and deceptive
character Of the whole speech, and OF those
which will follow during tho approaching
campaign, from this % a text book, cite
the following from page Z:
ssIt Was stated BY Mr.. Letcher on the floor
OF Congress, and not contradicted - far ~
know, that in 1915, the States and organ
ixed Territories Of the United States covered
q space of 1854 square miles, while ut the
present time they embrace an.area Of I, $685.
900. Since that time and prior to 1920, We
acquired the Floridas, with surface Of 49,
900 square miles. But even with these ad-
ded, we see that the present area is more
than four times what it was in 1920"
Compare this with the statement Of the
area Of the United States, on page 80 Of the
census report for 1850. From this statement
it is seen that the Territory Of the United
States was, in 1920, more than two. thirds Of
Its present size; and hence the expenses Of
the government, according to this ratio Of in
crease, should be but $3.50, 900 per An
mum, and not fifty millions ~ assumed
This one correction will make sad havoc with
his conclusion, il We were to admit, which
We cannot, the correctness Of every other sl-
ement OF HE calculation.
1t is no part Of my purpose to inquire
whether his Democratic friend, Mr.. Lstoher,
deceiosd him, or whether tho learned Judge
Intended to deceive the people with mere
play on the words "organized territories"
But to obviate all cavil on the subject,
invite q comparison Of the expenses OF the
| administrations Of Messrs. Buchanan and
Pierce, and the administrations Of Msssrs.
Taylor and Fillmore which Immediately pro-
ceded.
From the official records before cited, il
will be perceived that the aggregate expen-
commencing June 80, 1853, and ending june
80, 1860, exclusive Of the indefinite appro-
priations and deficiencies for the last two
years, amount to $527 1863 ,232.5l, or an
average Of els ,424, l67 OF per annum, since
the inauguration Of Franklin Pierce. Du-
ring this period it is estimated that payments
have been made on account of public debt
| principal and interest, and for redemption oil
treasury notes, amounting to Sos, 966, O43,
SO, making the average expenses for ordina.
ry purposes SOC, 900, ASS, so. For the -four
years of Mr.. Fillmore's administration in.
tervening between that Of Mr.. Polk and Mr.
Pierce, the aggregate expenses amounted e
1874, 1910, 495 IA (of which $28, 685, O50 40
Was on account Of public debt,) or an aver
age Of $48,595 ,623,28 per annum; and ex.
elusive Of payments on the public debt Sal
422, OLE ,622 per annum. Hence tho admin.
istration Of the government by this Demo.
cratic party has cost the people, for period
of seven years, 24,570, 442,87} per aanuu
more than its immediate predecessor. Sine,
the CLOSE Of the latter, on the 4th OF March
1853, our territory has not been increased
except by the Insignificant Gsdsden purchase
which 10 still destitute of separate Terri
torial government: the standard, and prob
ably the commercial value Of the dollar hal
not been changed: our population has mo-
increased to exceed Eve millions: no chang,
has since been made in the manner Of com
putting the revenues Of the Post Office De-
partment: no new Territorial government.
have been established except Washington
Kansas and Nebraska: hence tho govern
ment has no elements OF expense which die
not then exist, to occasion an uppreceden tst
increase of disbursements. And in this cal
culation more than justice has been done t
the Democracy in orediting their expendi
lures with the amount paid on account OF tn,
public debt: for they have created new debt,
almost equal to the entire amount paid 0,
the old one.
This immense increase of expenditures ha
occurred during period of profound peac
with all the world, il We except the unau
thorlzed war against Kansas and Utah an,
this increase is constantly augmenting in
ratio far above the increase Of service per
formed. This may be illustrated by refer
ence to the workings Of any one Of the De
partmsnts; for example, the Postmaste
General says in his last report, that the tota
annual transportation Of the mails compare,
with the previous year has been increase
sell per cent, and the total cost Of servic
l7-46 per cent; being net excess of 1913
(l21) per cent. over the previous year; 81
though the cost of subsistence and labor ha
greatly diminished, and the relative value 0
gold as greatly increased.
ITO be continued
From Warrington.