Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-13
FRIDAY mOENING, MAY 10, 1859.
THE DEMOCRACY AND TIE OPPOSI-
TON;
A Comparison of their Expenditures from
the Records.

THE DEMOCRACY AND TIE OPPOSE
TION;
A Comparison OF their Expenditures from
the Records.
The Nashville Patr1st after g labored attempt to
defend the Opposition from the crushing weight Of
facts arrsyed against them, eonvictiug the members
of that party in Congress Of originating and sus-
tanning by their votes, every scheme to squsnder
and waste the public money, through long series
of years, now attempts to show that the Demo-
cratic party have also supported extrsvagant expen
ditures.
Some Democrats hare voted for measures which
we regard as improper and unnecessary. But We
maintain and the fact cannot be controverted that
while large majority of the Democratic members
almost invariably oppose these extravagant appro-
pristions, the body of the Opposition uniformly
vote in favor of them. The united Opposition, with
such assistance as they can obtain from few weak
or mercenary Democrats, often succeed in fixing
upon the regular and necessary appropriation bills
many Objectionable amendments, which Demo-
cratic President is obliged to sanction in order to
obtain the means to carry on the government No
President, from WASHINGTON to BUCHANAN, has
assumed the responsibility of srresing the wheels
of government By vetOing the necessary sppropria-
tons to which Congress had affixed useless and
extrsyagant expenditures. The only way to decide
which party is most inclined to protect the public
treasure from prOAigacy and waste, is by appeal
to the records of Congress- from which we may
learn by whom these extravagsnt measures are ORR
ginated and By whom supported. The result Of our
Investigations, which we have placed before our
readers proves cOnclusively and indisputsbly that
the Opposition have constantly and consistently ia
vored and sustained corrupt system of extraya-
ganoe in public expenditures, which would, if it
had not been checked by the Democratic party
have crushed the nation beneath q debt almost ri>
Valling that Of Great Britain. They exrsvagant
on principle Their doctrine of internal improve
ments If carried out would have cost the govern
ment thousands of millions of dollars, while the
people would have been burdened with oppressive
duties under their protective principle, to supply
the msans Of carrying on the government.
Consequently, whenever the Opposition obtain
the power in either department of government, the
expenses are enormously increased. During the
TAYLOR and FILLMORE administration, in a time of
profound peace, the expenditures exclusive Of pgy-
gasnts the public debt were $780, 625 80 more than
the expenditures of Mr.. PoLKs administration, al
though the expense of the Mexican war devOlved
on this administration In 1885 the Know Nothing
party elected large majority Of members to Con-
gress, and the Opposition had for the next two
years undisputed control Of the House of Represen
tatives The consequence immediate and
enormous increase in the public expenditures. This
Congress, at the session Of '5C-7, ordered and sp
propristed payments from the treasury for the fiscal
year 1878, the amount of So, 29l, 1l9 6S,
elusive Of the payments on the public debt. This was
8 larger amount Of money than had ever been ex-
pended before in any one year Large appropria-
tiOus for internal improvements, amounting to
several millions Of dollars, passed over Pfesi
dent PrE3cE's veto. Another the French Spoilia.
tiOr) Bill, providing for the payment Of obsolete
and fraudulent claims agsinst the government,
amounting a. has been essmaued) to over SIS O00,.
600, was passed BY this Opposition Congress
and vetoed by Presiden! PIGRUE. Bu. for he checks
imposed upon their extravaganza by The Democratic
party, the large expenditure of that year would
have been increased twenty-five thirty millions of
dollars.
The next Congress the 35th) which expired on
the Fourth of March last was Democratic in both
its branches. Here, says the Nashville Patriot
I'VE should look for something refreshingly hand
some in the way Of 'retrenchment and reform"
So we should, and we find it too The entire ap-
preparations for the fiscal year 1859, made by
that Democratic Congress, amounted to only g. |
600 OOO The appropriations for the year, stated
officially by the clerk Of the House Committee of
Ways and Means, and published shortly after the |
close of the session of 1858, are as follows: