White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-04-07
WHOLE NUMBER, 50.
Am Aptscedsnt Of James Buchanan.

Some cruel person has dragged to light
letter froG. "our venerable Chic agis-
trate," written at Wheatland barry
23d, 1852, and addressed to unit
tee of Democratic gentlemen in Mar land,
in which he breaches economy VIC y.
Mr.. Buchanan lsmented that the ex md
itures had reached the enormous sum of
fifty millions per annum," and the poor
man was impressed that unless the career
Of proAigscy twas arrested by the strong
hand of the Democratic party" the ex-
penditures would soon reach one hundred
millions. He was convinced that Govern
ment should not spend so many millions.
The expenses should be very considerably
reduced. Such reduction could be effected
with positive advantage to both people
and government. The following para
graphs we copy entire. They will be read
at this time with especial JUNCTION
can excessive and lavish expenditure
of public money-though in itself highly
pernicious-is nothing when compared
with the disastrous influence it may exert
upon the character Of our free institutions.
A strong tendency toward oxtravagance
is the great political evil of the present
day, and this ought to be firmly resisted.
Congress is now necessarily importuned
from every quarter to make sppropris-
tions for all sorts Of projects. Money
from the National Treasury is constantly
demanded to enrich contractors, speculs-
tors and agents and these projects are
gilded over with every allurement which
can be impaired to them by ingenuity and
talent. Claims. which had been con-
demned by former decisions, and had be-
come rusty with age, have been again re-
vived, and have been paid. principal and
interest. Indeed, there seems to be ons
general rush to obtain money from the
Treasury. on any and every pretence.
"What will be the inevitable conSe-
quence of such lavish expenditures ? Are
they not calculated to disturb the nicely
adjusted balance between the Federal and
States Governments, upon which the pres
ervation of which depend the harmony
and efficiency of our system Greedy
expectants from the Federal Treasury will
regard with indifference if not with con-
tempt the government Of the several
States. The doctrine Of States rights
will be laughed to scorn by such individ-
uals as an obsolete abstraction. unworthy
the enlightened spirit of the age. The
-corrupting power of money will be felt
throughout the length and breadth Of ths
land, and the Democracy, led on by ths
Hero and Sage of the Hermitage, will
have in vain put down the Bank of the
United States, if the same fatal influence
for which it was concerned shall be exert
ed and fostered by means drawn from the
public treasury"
This was written six years ago. The
writer is now begging for thirty millions
of dollars to be used at his discretion
he is at the head of an Administration
which is spending that awful sum of one
hundred millions per annum, which was
the high mark of extravaganza he ones
piteously lsmented would be reached
the national debt is on the increase, and
money is constantly demanded to enrich
contractors, spectators and agents :" and
the "corrupting power Of money is felt
through the length and breadth Of the
land"