Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-19

Add to all this the fact IA yet uncyr,as,
ed that one of the largest naval armam,n,,
which sailed from our coasts is how oyer.
ting in South America. Ostensihly agair>. d.
poor little Republic, far up the Plate E,p-
to settle some little quarrel between the ~,
presidents. If Congress had been po,..
enough 10 grant the Presidents drman! a.,
the sword. and the purse against Mryi..
Central America and Cuba. this navy. n.
duty done at the South. might be made NJ,
It's way home, 10 arrive in the Gulf very a..
~portunely. to aid the ''Command"r-iu-rhic,
in the acquisition OF some very valuable t.-.
ritory.
| allude to these facts with NJ male.
against MIR. Buchanan, but as eyidoncn
the dangerous change which i, now ohyi.g.
" sought to be made in the practical WI,
ing of the Government-thc concentrarFr
of power in the hands of the President AMI
the dangerous policy now almost establish.
of looking abroad for temporary dor
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. instead of lookin, 4.
home for all the purposes Of good govern.
ment-peaceable, moderate, economical
protecting all interests alike, and by a fix,
policy, calling into safe exercise all the Ia
ents and industry of our people, and thu.
steadily advancing our country in every.
thing which can make a nation great, happy
and permanent.
The rapid increase of the public cxpond..
lures land that too, under the managemru,
of statesmen, protesting to be peculiarly
economical, is an alarming sign of cOrruI.
ton and decay.
The increase bears no fair proportion g.
the growth and expansion of the country.
but looks rather like wanton waste and Grim.
inal negligence. The ordinary objects of
great expense are not materially augmented
the Army and Navy remain on a low
peace establishment-the military leicncc>
are little, if at all enlarged-the improve.
ment Of harbors. lakes and rivers l. alau.
doned. and the Pacific railway is not only
not begun, but its very location is scrambled
for by angry sections, which succeed IN moth.
ing but mutual defeat. In short, the money.
to an enormous amount, an told at the
rate of from eighty TO one hundred million,
Il year, is gone. and We have little or moth
ing to show for it. In profound peace with
foreign nations, and surrounded with the
proofs of national growth and individual
prosperity. the treasury, by less than two
years of mis%management, is made bankrupt,
and the government itself is living from
hand to mouth on bills of credit and Dor
rowed money! This humiliating state OF
things could hardly happen, if the men IN
power were both honest and wise! The
Democratic economists in Congress COMES,
that they have recklessly wasted the public
revenue; they confess it, by refusing to raise
the tariff to meet the present exigency, ami
by insisting that they can replenish the "a.
hausted treasury and support the govern.
ment, in credit and efficiency, by simply
striking off their former extrayagances.
An illustrious predecessor of the President
is reported to have declared that those who
live on borrowed money ought TO break -
/ do not concur in that harsh saying: get
am clearly of opinion that the government.
in common prudence, tosay nothing OF prdr
and dignity, ought 10 reserve its credit for
great transactions and unforeseen em"rGcr-
cies. In common times of peace, 1t fought nj
ways u have an established revenue equal.
at least, to its current expenses. And that
revenue ought to be 80 levied rs ~ foster ami
protect the industry Of the country, employ
ed in our most necessary and important man
ufactures.
Gentlemen. ! cannot touch upon all the
topics alluded to in your letternnd resolution.
| ought rather to beg your pardon for III"
prollxity of the answer. ! speak for no par
ty, because the only party | ever belonged To-
has ceased to exist AZ an organized and mil.
tant body. And | speak for no man butmy
self. am fully aware that my opinions and
views o~fpublic policy are Of no Importance t"
any body but me, and there is good reason To
fear that some of them are 50 antiquat"d and
out of fashion, as to make it very lmprobahi"
that they will ever again be put To the t"'t"i
actual practice. Most respectfully.
EDWARD BATES.