Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-04
A Prophecy Fullned.

more, IN 1904, sukkesdHS rs an fecuc III WV ~
sdental election then about to come on,the extrav
agsnce and prodigality Of the Wing Admnis'rn'
ton Of Mr.. Fillmore. Anxious to defeat the
Whiecandidate for President at the ensuing cleo
ton, the pieus soul of Old Buck was vexed within
him respecting the mode by which 1t could best
be done-a I'd as the expenses Of Fimore's Admin
istrntion had reached what he called ''the enormous
sum of tfty mlJns of dollars" it occurred TO the
economical and "a gacious Buck that the cry Of cx
trayagance would be the very thing to defeat the
prospective Wing candidate for the succession.
In addition to this he made bold, in the same
letter, to venture prediction. lie prophecied
that unless Fillmore extravaganza was arrested
by the strong arm Of the Democracy" the expen-
ses of the Government might. in II few years,
..reacA one hundred millions Of dollars" 1t is GU
rious instance Of Old Bucks saga ,ity and prophet
ic wisdom that this prediction, leaving out the
qualification about the democracy has come
true during the incumbency Of the Presidency by
Old Buck himself. Far-seeing Old Buck. Sa-
gacious statesman! Prophetic soul.
That our readers may cnjoy this fare and racy
document "to the top of their hent, we subjoin
the material portion of it we find il in the pa
pers
"WBEAILAxn, Feb -, 1852.
uCRyrLynss: tln what issues, then
can we 20 before the country, AMI confidently cslcu
late upon the support of the Amercan people nj the
approaching Presidential election answer anhcsl-
tatinQy that we must fall back ,ou suggest upon
those fundamental and time honorcd principles which
have divided us from our political opponents since
tho beginning and which from the very nature of the
Federal Constitution must continue to divide from
them 10 the end. We must uscrbs upon our ban
ners q sound regard for the reserved rights of the
States strict construction Of the institution, de-
NAL to Congress ,f all powers not clearly granted by
that instrument, md r'gi economy appetite epeph-
lures.
"These expendur' have now reached the snor
Of FIFTY MILLIONS Fl do'ar' per aHh"m md
unless arrested in their advance by the strong arm Of
the Democracy Of the country, may, ia the OF
few years, REACH osf nrNpasp hiLLtoNs The APP
preparation Of money 10 accomplish great national
objects sanctioned b, the Constitution, ought To he
oh a scale commensurate " iih rover and rcsour
as nation but its expenditure ought TO he con-
Quoted under tho guidance of enli1 hrened economy
and strict responsibility am coHrmceiM that our e.;
pences ought 10 be ronsdeyabV rdac,dIlor The present
standard not only witLout de,rimcn bnt with posi-
tive advantage to the goyerumen, and the people.
"An excessive and lavish expenditure OF puL,je
money, though In itself highly pernicons IS nothing
when compared with the disastrous influence it may
exert upon tho character of our free Institutions.
strong tendency focards crtrardgdpce br great pa
hcal er of present DAY. and this ought be firm
ly resisted. Congress Is necessarily importuned
from every quarter TO make appropriations Tor all
ssrts Of projects. Money from ht national treasure,
constantly demanded 10 enrich contractors speuatoys
and agents and these projects are ellel over
with every anrement which can be impaired to them
by ingenuity and talent Claims which had been
condemned by former decisions, and had become rusty
with age have been again revived, and have been
paid, principal and interest Ia2rd there 10 be
one general rush 10 Obtain money from Tie treasury or
any and eeery preience.
ITO be liberal " i,h their money but spa,ing
Of that Of the republic WAS the glory OF distinguished
pubhcservan amonr.'he ancient Ramans When T
this maxim reversed, aud the public money was
employed by arttu, aud ambitious de mNgogues 10 sr-
cure their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, genuine liberty
expired. 1t is true tint the forms OF the republic
tuued for many years, hut the sn,ma,ing mud insp-
ring soul had fled forever. entertain serious mp
prehensens that s.al reaeA Mis po,tf yet We
may still prof, by their example.
with sentiments ofthe highest respect. re main
your friend and fellow citizen.
JAMES BUCHANAN
The solemn, owl-like gravity with which Old
Buck deprecates the expenditure Of the '.enor-
nous sum of fifty millions ofdollars'by Fiumorc's
Administration is in ludicrous contrast with the
annual expenditure Of Just double that sum bv
the author Of that letter himself only six wears
afterwards. In the adventures Of the Pickwck
Club" by Charles Dickens, there is character
introduced-Rev. Mr. Stggins.a "Shcpherd"-who
divided his time pretty equally between preaching
morality and drinking to Mrs Wcershot
rum punch Old Buck reminds very much, in
respect of preaching and practice, Of that worthy
shepherd lie thinks Fillmore should be de-
fsated because he spends fifty millions II year
but, as soon Us he gets a chance himself. he car
ries his theory Of retrenchmeut into practice by
just doubling exactly Mr.. fillmores figure
Now, if it can be proved to our satisfaction that
one year Of Old Bucks Administration is worth
as much as two Of Fillmores--if it can be salts
factorily established that the people Of this coun-
try are twice as happy, twice contented, aud
twice As prosperous now, as they were when Fill.
more was President, we Yield the question Our
convictions in this respect are. however, very de-
cidedly against any such conclusion We havca
distinct impression that in Filmore's time every
thing moved on quietly AMI happily and smooth
y-that Congress wac not besieged with loan
bills and propositions to issue Treasury notes
that there was distress among the manuiac,u-
ring classes-that there were no investigating
Committees. by the dozen, in Congress to report
how much stealage there WAS from the Govern.
ent in the way Of Fort Smelling sales, Government
printing, Oregon war debts and the like of that
Unless our memory serve us very trcacherously
Mr.. Fillmore managed to keep the Governmental
machinery just as well oiled and in just MS good
working condition, upon fifty millions of dollars
agar as Old Back does with double the sum-if
not great deal better.
When old Buck wrote that letter, therefore.
complaining of the "enormous'' expenditures Of
Filmore's Administration, he intended only to
suggest plan by which bis own party could get