Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-02

The chief argument Of the KnOv-Nothing and
Black Republican press against the present admin
istration Is based upon the alleged exsrsvaganee
Of government expenditures, This is the apology
which Southern papers offer for uniting with the
Black Republicans in The nex contest to defeat the
Democracy. They point to the exhausted condition
Of the treasury, and say to the people. bebCd the
consequences Of Democratic rule! The country is
Fastening into bankruptcy and ruin Let us unite
the opposition and avert the impending calamity
Well they are entitled to use this argument for thew
have created it. The Opposition have produced the
condition Of things which, they deplore. If the
revenues have been sousndered If the pablo money
has been laVished upon fraudulent or unreasonable
objects, who is responsible for it? Look over the
appropriations Of the last and present Congress and
point to those items which you regard as urneces-
Eary and extravagant Then turn to the Journals of
Congress aud observe how the vote stands on these
appropriations 1t will be found that majority of
the Opposition members voted for every measure
which was proposed to defraud the government and
derlete the treasury Every item Of expense of
which they now complain has originated with the
Opposition and has received their support. On the
other hand large majority Ofthe Democracy oppos-
ed aof these extraordinary and extravagsnt expen-
ditures In every where the estimates present
ed by the Executive Departments have been exceed
ed by Congress, the great body Of the Opposition
was found supporting the appropriation and the
great body Of the Democracy was found opposing it,
We are strongly inclined to believe that the enemies
Of the administration have conspired to swell the
Government expenses that they might fix the Odium
OF extravaganza upon the party in power.
But suppose the Opposition should succeed in de.
ceiving the people and obtaining the control Of the
Government, what should we have TO hope from
them in the way of wholesome rsFormi They have
engaged in every scheme to plumber the treasury.
Can they be trusted as the custodisns Of the pub.
lie reyenuesf Would You turn faithful steward
out Of Office who has guarded your treasure with fl
deity and put in his place the robber who has cum
ningly evaded his vigilance and stolen away your
goods in spite Of his watchfulness and care? Such
would be the folly Of turning the Democracy out Of
power to give place to q corrupt and unprincipled
Opposition.
The present administration has been burdened
with appropriations made by an Opposition Con.
gress very large proportion Of the public ex.
penditures the result of laws existing the time
Mr.. BUCHANAN came into Office. Such laws have
been supported by BELL and SEWARD and their par.
ty in Congress The debt has been created by them
in opposition to The votes and wishes of majority
of the Democratic partyin Congress. NOtwithstand-
ing these facts the country is called upon to put
these men in power for the purpose of reducing the
expenditures which their own votes have saddled
upon US. With BELL or CRITTEEDEN or SEWARD in
in the Presidential chair and Black Republican and
KnoW-Nothing majority in Congress, the national
debt would soon rival that of the English Govern
ment whose policy the Opposition initiate and ad.
mire.