Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-18
Aitbmono Enquirer.
~ GITcrIE, DUNNAvANT, TyLER / WISE.
-
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY Is.

M HITCIIIE, DUNNAvANT, TYLER WISE.
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY IS.
Rstrenchmsnt and Reform in Great Things a. we'll
a. Small
Popular opinion on the subject Of Federal
expenditure has commenced to make itself felt in
Congress In this instance, thepcople are for in
advance of their Legislators. Indeed there Is
scarcely man on the floor Of Congress who
seems to be fully abreast with popular sentiment
on the question of economical reform. At least it
is clearly evident that not one member Of either
House is at all in advance Of popular move
mcnt in this direction. So striking is the COM
parison between the apparent quiescence and
laiSser .Jaire Of representatives and the stern
and eager demand Of the people for con-
traction of public expenditures, that the
side Of reform. Never was there a better op-
portunity for some man who has the metal in
him. to make his mark as a practical statesman,
with the sagacity to perceive the great neces-
sty of the movement. and the energy, nerve
and mental resource to supply its requirements.
We are not in the midst Of one Of those crises,
in which strong tide of popular sentiment is
flowing in the wrong direction, and when
bold, able man is needed to stem the current Of
mistaken popular indignation. The popular
movement in this instance is huge tide wave
flowing in the very direction which will best
enable il To deposite, where it is most needed,
the golden sand Oh national prosperity. and
nothing further is needed hut political swim
mer just hoh enough and strong enough to
ride in on its foremost crest. None such has
vet been found The undertow Of political
management constitutes the re-actionary un-
dertow which holds the politicians hchind the
people.
Still the popular movement is not without
effect Many who are too weak to keep pace
with it. are also too weak TO resist its influence.
The present expenditure Of $50, o,o"o,Ovo per
annum more than exhausts every source oi
revenue The people demand, naturally and
Justly. that the rate Of expenditure shall be re-
duccd within the limit Of available revenue.
, On the other hand, the Executive advises a
number Of extraordinary expenditures. which,
il rc>o:,cd to, will raise the yearly expendi-
lures 10 nothing short of sl2o, 100000 Inf1u'
enced hy local considerations, a number Of the
ablcst politicians of all partie, in Congress are
: ready to adopt these Executive suggestions
without hesitation ur exception. 4 second
class OF Legislators are also prepared to plunge
into additional expenditures, but find it pru'
dent to keep up the appearance Of economy,
|; bv insisting Strcnuo,;sly Oh minor retrench.
mentS while ut the same time, they arc pre-
pairing for expenditures hundred fold greater
than the reductions which they propose. These
two classes constitute no inconsidcrable opposi,
ton to the popular will The third class ol
legislators are those who. by all their previous
declarations. or by the necessity of abstaining
from all direct opposition TO the will Of their
immediate constituents. are Obliged to yield at
least passive resistance to the advocacy OF
increased expenditure.
We sincerely trust that this state Of things
will not be permitted to endure. We must
have minority in Congress TO represent the
people. Those of our representatives who are
really the advocates of entrenchment, must re-
cogniSc the fact, that their opponents will be
perfectly content to see their efforts confined
to the mere minuti;e Of reform in AdminiStra-
tive affairs.
And yet, the resistance which has, up to
this time, been exhibited, seems little more
than a resistance of passive obstruction. Some
have been content with simple expressions OF
dissent from extravagant suggestions. Some
have voted in silence Some have gone so far
as to cooperate with the second class OF reac-
tionists in their measures Of limited reform,
and at the same time refusing to cooperate in
the accompanying schemes for magnificent OK
! penditurc
! Such course is worse than idle, 40 far as the
popular interests are concerned. The people
will certainly approve the reduction Of tithes
Oh mint and cummin," but they will not find
this valid excuse for a negligence Of the
weightier matters Of the law. And the lat
ter cannot BE- enforced ny silent votes, or de-
murc protests.
{ We mast have IL battle royal Of debate in
/ both Houses of Congress. The men who pre-
tend to represent the cause Of conservatism,
economy and rcior,u, must boldly assail the
leading Recommendations OF the Executive, in
v"yn. proposals for unprecedented cxpendi-
turc We must have parliamentary contest,
/ active. searching dligent. effective in exposing
! the means. objects and probable results Of in
creased extravaganza. The present calm OF
careless acnuieScence and timid reuonstrance,
is sitting to all confidence between the people
and their representatives.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. Seward, of New York. has introduced
into the Senate an amendatory bill to the acts
prohibiting the slave trade, by which he pro-
poses to immediate greater numbers of Ameri-
cans by the deadly climate Of Africa, to this
pseudo philanthropic scheme of protecting AZ
rican cannibals.
Southern men may oppose the introduction
of more slaves into the Federal Union, ana be
willing. for many reasons, to submit to the
present legislation upon that subject, but we
cannot see how any Southern man can be viii
ling to 20 further, and increase the loss OF life
and treasure on the coast of Africa, in the pre-
ycntion of this trade