Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-29
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 20, 1859.
The Economy ofthe Present Admin
isfration---Its Promises and Per.
fnrn1ancea.

ECONOMY
i.tration---Its Promises and Per-
formances.
Pending the recent and coming elections
in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, and
those which are TO follow thereafter, the wire
pullers about Washington have, from time to
time, sent dispatches throughout the coun-
try. giving items of retrenchment and reform
in the public expenditures. One day we
have a great reduction in the collection Of
the revenues-another the country is RECALLED
by the pleasing statement that the pruning
knife is actively at work cutting of unneces-
sary causes of expense in all the departments
of the public service-on still another, some
one of the heads of department is laborious-
ly employed in stopping various previously
ulobserved leaks in the Treasury-the Post
Master General, for instance, righting up the
postal service, disseminating non paying post
offices and post routes, DC, &c. The last
electoneeriDg document of this class we have
had, reached us few days ago, and reads as
follows:
"WAsHNGTON, June "a.
1.-The War Department has issued general
possible economy ia the military service, es-
peciaIly in the conveyance and distribution OF
supplies No buildings are 10 be erected nor
p any extraordinary expense incurred except
by authority OF the War Department, and no
persons shall be hired Tor purposes immedi-
ateIy CONNECTED with the troops excepting
the necessary guides and Interpreters. All
hired interpreters and all hired persons not
authorized bv the tenor of the orders will be
"a, I
essary, performed by the enlisted men,"
No one who understands the mode in which
these outgivings are manufactured, can be
deceived as to the motives and purposes
which prompt them. The administration feels
how deep and thorough and just is the public
indignation on account OF the extravaganza
and profiigacy OF lis expenditures, and has
every reason 10 be alarmed for the success
and safety of its friends before the people.
Hence these kilograms are put forth, at con-
yenient Intervals, to delude the popular mind
with the belief that some step is at length
being taken in the path Of amendment.
About the time we received the above enema
ton from Washington, we received also the
ubjo'ned from the opposite direction. While
the War Department at the Capitol was man
uiacturing its telegraphic promises of econo-
nv, a correspondent of the Missouri Democrat
was taking notes of its actual performances.
The letter is dated Camp Floyd, June End,
1859" and relates to furnishing that por-
ton of the army with brcad->tuffs for the en-
suing year. We give the following extract
~ 4
lucky contractors for furnishing the army
with breadstufis the ensuing year, for which
they receive S28 so per 100 pounds The
daily average consumption OF flour by the
camp, is not less than 5000 pounds. making
the annual consumption about 2,000.000
pounds. This would amount to S5T2 ,000-a
snug little item in the current expenses. Now
when we take into consideration the fact that
Mr.. VIM Martin and T. =. Stanton offered 10
furnish The supply of -four for $40 per 100
pounds, and that Mr. j. Z. Little agreed to
take the same contract for 81 so per 100
pounds. il seems strange that Messrs. Holiday
and Martin have been awarded this contract
at S2s 60 per 100 pounds. Does il not look
like COLLISION on the part Of the Secretary of
War?
The quality Of -four manufactured in this
Territory is of the poorest description, and
would pass for ''sweepings' at any market
in the States. Yet, this is the stuff the army
will be compelled TO use during the incoming
year. If il was the intention of Secretary
Floyd to have the supply of -four shipped
from the States, then tue price is in the neigh
borhood of reason. But If such was his de-
sign why did he furnish Messrs- Holiday and
Martin with orders for Government males,
from any post along the route on their jour
new to this point.
Since their arrival, they have commenced
buying aud contracting Tor all the -four in the
Territory, ior which they are paying SIS per
hundred. but in all probability sill have To
pay rs high as SIS for Il portion. We will say
that they pay So per hundred for all of it. and
We see that they are at an outlay of $1,000
"a fulfilling the contract, leaving them a snug
little balance OF four hundred and ttrei1e thou
sand dollars"
What think an honest people of that STAN
dard of profits Here is a clear profit to
these contractors, of FOUR HUNDRED AND
TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, On original IN
reStn1ent Of ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND I!
Yet "ht War Department has issued general
orders tclh rie'O 10 enforcing THE GREATEST
POSSIBLE ECONOMY IN THE MILITARY SERVICE"
Who will have the hardihood. after disclosures
like these, 10 doubt the charges of extrava-
gance aud corruption brought against the
present administration Who will have the |
effrontry TO defend such Wholesale plumber /
as this! We desire the people of Tennessee,
whom we know, as mass, To be honest and |
frugal, TO look at these revelations, and say |
whether they will longer tolerate dynasty |
at Washington, which first outrnges every |
sense of prnpriety and honesty 10y plumber |
ing the government, aud then insults the pub
lie intelligence by telling them they are pur.
sning the line of the most rigid economy.
The time has come for the people TO hurl
these faithless placemen from power. Let il
be no longer delayed.