The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-24
Fxtravagance of the Government.

The Pittsburgh Gazette makes the follow
ing comment upon the wasteful extravaganza
| of Mr.. Bucbanans administration which is
worthy the serious and attentive consideration
of every reader:
The wild extravaganza of this administra-
tration cannot too often he brought before
the public. 1t has the hardihood to deny that
extravagance and to claim that it is reform
ing and retrenching' the expenses of the Gov
errmeut; and in order to show that the claim
isssa fraudulent one. it becomes necessary to
revert to facts which are part of the histo-
ry of the past. In old fogy' times before
proaicacy was President end Corruption got
hold of the money bags, the revenues of the
Government were deemed ample for the Fed
eral expenses In fact, such an extravagant
and reckless administration as Gen. Pierces
was considered to be, could not manage I'd dis
pose of the immense income, even in brihe
funds and dissipation, but was compelled to
hand over to his successor more than twenty
| five millions of dollars. Since the accession
of y. b. though, what with dishonest office
holders. thieving contractors and Navy Yard
sinecures. the balance sheet is an awful one
Look at the items:
| On the 4th of March, 1857, when j. B
came into power, there was balance 10 the
Treasury of $4,000 600.
On the I'd of Jane. 1857. it was reduced to
$17 100000. safse
On the 1st of January, 1858, it was reduc-
ed to nothing.
On the 10th of January 1858 the Govern
ment was eompeled to borrow $4,000 600.
In August 1858, $40 0000 900 more.
In January, 1859. $40 600 900 more.
/
mence debt of $500 100000
1t may be said that the receipts into the
treasury no,o are equal to its disbursements;
but they are so only because the country is re-
peating, under the low tariff policy now pre-
vaiing the sad experience of 1857. by which,
within the first six months of the administra.
/ ltion, it was involved in commercial crisis
which brought ruin to The doors of the peo.
pie We are now, in its third year. fast rush
| ing on to similar fate. The government of.
icials are rejoicing at the large revenue CON-
ing in from imports, which is saving the na-
tional treasury from utter bankruptcy. bnt all
the while the prudent men of the land are
Hooking 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 will be precip
itated upon another crisis equal in its ruinous
effects TO that OF 1851 Two such crashes
within two years ought to he enough to salts
fly to the full the amhiuon for mischief which
seems to possess this administration above all
that ever preceded it. One hall the time 1t
cannot raise the money to meet its extrava.
giant expenses, and then it borrows; and when,
during the other half, it does collect as much
| r oney as it needs, it does SO at the expense of
the prosperity of the country and at the risk
of piunging it into the deepast financial dis
tress. A Government 80 corrupt so reckless,
aud SO extravagant must it would seem, eth;
or bankrupt itself or the people. The pun.
ishment follows the crime, in either case; and
the only escape from it is to turn the crimi
nails out of power.