The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-24


mense influx Of gold from California and Australia. toLaI.
ly changing the relation between the value of money
and property of all sorts, and enhancing the price OF puc.
visions the increased pay Of officers Of government in
all us nominations, rendered necessary by the Increased
price Of living, consequent upon enhanced price Of mon
erty and provisions, and lessened value Of money. by the
large additions TO the gold Of the world the settlement
Oh Immense tracts OF western wilderness, and the conse.
qaent necessity for the creation Of land offices aud officers
without number, as well as for the opening OF innumeu-
bic roads, and establishment of numerous aud long mail
routes authorized by law, and required by acts Of Con.
grets all these, at a single glance, whilst they mark TIE
march of civilized improvements and swell the patriotir
heart with pride In the contemplation of the almost mar
yelous growth OF our immense empire, show the ALSO
Lutte necessity for increase in the expenses of govern
ment covering such an area, and ministering 10 such en-
larged demands.
But, surprising that there Is extravaganza, is the head
Of the finances, under our system, responsible True, Il
Is his duty to furnish estimates 10 Congress but those
estimates are furnished TO him by the heads Of the other
departments, each for It's own and it would be at once
beyond the sphere of his duty, indicate 10 his compeers
Ia the Cabinet, and impossible, from the immense labor
involved in its exercise, for any one man, though an In
tellectual giant, TO perform the task of supervising and
retrenching each item that seemed to him unnecessary.
The duty is devoived upon him of submitting the esli.
mates to Congress because his Office requires him to raise
the money necessary for their liquidation, and to call
upon Congress to provide the means and make the appro.
~prations. But he is responsible TO the President and the
country for the propriety of no estimates but those sub
mitted for the Treasury Department. What xtrayagance
has been hunted to exist theres How many members of
Congress have been refused applications which would
have caused an increase OF expenses in that department ?
How many sore places are the;e to-day In the hearts OF
members of this House, and of separate communities in
terested In local expenditures, because of the efforts of
the rgaant and economical head of the treasury to retrenchg
Two millions of the public money could be saved at a
dash, by enacting into law his recommendation to dis
pense with the erection Of hundreds of court. houses,
where courts are h III once a year, for three days, and the
State courtrooms would answer every purpose of Gus
tom-houses where no imposts are collected, and of extrav-
agant post-ofices, where n room rented by the postmaster
would supply every waut. A half million more can DO
saved in the single item of the collection of the revenue,
by the passage of the act prepared and submitted by him
to Congress, to simplify and cheaper the mode of its col.
lection.
Sir, the Secretary Of the Treasury has Topped off every
rotten limb in his own department that his unaided arm
can reach, and to-day calls upon Congress to give him
power further to prune and retrench. Yet, because he
sits in the exchequer and presides over the finances, from
the mere sound of those words, without reason or argu-
ment, it is sought to hold him responsible, and condemn
him in the opinions Of the people for that which he has
no power to prevent. l submit what l have said in his
defence to the judgment of the committee, and to tho
honest heart OF the country satisfied that, to the eye of
Justice and to the mind OF impartial reason, his vindica-
ton is complete.
But these attacks upon the Secretary of the Treasury,
Mr. Chairman, constitute but one link ia tho continuous
chain of abuse by which it is sought to drag down the
entire administration, and sink it in public estimation.
No man connected with 1t has escaped inyective and vitu-
~peration. No matter how pure in character or venerable
in service and age, all have shared a common fate.
Especially has the tongue OF oalumny been busy with is
aged but bold and determine chief. Like Jackson,
elected by the people over the politicians, he determined,
like Jackson, to be the President of the people and not
the tool of factions. The fate of that old patriot. Of bold
heart and iron nerve, has been thus far his fate. Allan
doned by friends. and covered with calumny, the old hero
passed his official pilgrimage, strong alone in the integ-
rity of his purpose and confidence in the verdict OF pos
terity. That verdict has been rendered and the fame
Of Andrew Jackson lives, and will live forever, in the
affections of his countrymen. Like Jackson, Buchanan
has been abandoned by friends, and covered with calum-
ny as gross and unjust. l believe, sir, his purpose il as
sincere, his confidence in the future as mistaken. When
the vail of that future is raised, may it reyeal. for him a
green old age as luxuriant in the affections and venera>
ton Of his countrymen, a death bed as full of the Christ
ian's hope, and an official life in his country's history as
rich in civic fame.