Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-08-10

TuE ExTRAyAGANcE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The wild extravaganza of this administration,
remarks the Pittsburgh Gazette, cannot too
often be brought before the public. 1t has
the bardihood to deny that extravaganza, and
10 claim that it is performing" and ssretrench-
ine'' the expenses of the government; and in
order TO show that the claim is fraudulent
one, it becomes necessary to revert to facts
which are part of the history of the past.
In sold fogy" times, before Profligacy was
President, and Corruption got hold of the
money bags, the revenues of the government
were deemed ample for the Federal expenses.
In fact, such extravagant and reckless ad-
ministration as General Pierce's was consid-
cred to be, could not manage to dispose of the
immense income, even in bribe-funds and dis
sipation, but was compelled to hand over to its
successor more than twenty-five millions of
dollars. Since the accession of s'J. B., - tho,
what with dishonest office-holders, thieving
contractors and Navy Yard sinecures, the bal
ance sheet is an awful one. Look at the items:
On the 4th of March, 1857, when s'J. B."
came into power, there was a balance in the
Treasury of S26, 600, 900.
On the Sd of June, 1857, il was reduced TO
S17 800, 900.
On the lst of January, 1858, it was reduced
TO nothing.
On the 10th of January, 1858, the govern
ment was compelled to borrow $50, 600, 900.
In August, 1858, SIC. .000, 900 more.
In January, 1859, SO, 100000 more.
And now it wants $50, ,0O0, 900 to commence
debt of $500, 900 900.
1t may be said that the receipts into the
treasury, notc, are equal to its disbursements
but they are so only because the country is
repeating, under the low-tarriff policy ROW
prevailing, the sad experience of 1857 by
which, within the first six months of the ad-
miniStration, it was involved in a commercial
crisis which brought ruin to the doors of the
people. We are now, in its third year, fast
rushing on TO similar fate. The government
officials are rejoicing at the large revenue COM
ing in from imports, which is saving the na-
tional treasury from utter bankruptcy, but all
the while the prudent men of the land are
looking on with alarm at the terrible volume
of those imports, the immense foreign debt
they are creating, and the unceaSing outflow
of specie, already in the first seven months of
the year, equal to the entire yearly product of
the California mines. 1t is not too much to
say that if these importations be kept up a
few months longer, the country win be precip-
itatcd upon another crisis, equal in its ruinous
effects to that of 1857. Two such crashes
within two years ought to be enough to satisfy
to the full ambition for mischief which seems
to possess this administration above all that
ever preceded it. One half the time it can
not raise the money to meet its extrayagant
expenses, and then it borrows; and when,
during the other half, it does collect as much
money as it needs, it does at the expense of
the prosperity of the country and at the risk
of plunging it into the deepest financial dis
tress. government SO corrupt, so reckless,
and SO extraragant must, it would seem, either
bankrupt itself or the people. The punish
ment follows the crime, in either case and
the only escape from it is to turn the criminals
out of power.