Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-23
Public Debt, Liability. and Expenditures
Public Debt, Liability. and Expenditures.
SPEECH
HON. c. l.. ViLLiNDIGHAM
OF OHIO,
I'm the House of Representatives,
JUNE 30th, 1862.


Mr.. SPEAKER: Desiring on Friday last to
leave for home at an early hour this morning,
it would greatly have suited my convenience
to have addressed the House on that day but
inasmuch as the Chairman of the Committee
of the Whole Mr. Dawes,1 after due delib-
eration and upon solemn advice, decreed that
it was not in order, pending a revenue mea-
sure, to discuss the general subject of reve-
nue. and expenditures, but only the particular
items of the bnl, was obliged to remain, in
order that might speak to-day.
Of this / will not now complain. 1t is but
part of the sum of human disappointments
to which we are all subject.
The bill before us appropriates 100000,
and pledges the faith of the United States to
the extent of 100000 more. While, as a
western man, should gladly support any
measure really and honestly for the interest
of the West, am constrained to oppose this
bill. l am against it, first, because, in my
deliberate judgment, it is wholly without con-
stiUtional warrant. / oppose it further, be-
cause the debt and expenditures of the Gov
ernment to-day are too great to justify any
such further assumption of liability as this
measure contemplates And it is upon this
point alone that | now propose to address the
House.
My purpose is not to produce an electioneer-
ing document. At the instance of others, if
at all, and not by any act Of mine, shall my
remarks of to-day be published and distribu-
ted in pamphlet. My object is to vindicate
the truth of financial history; to ascertain, as
nearly as may be possible, the actual and full
amount of the debt, liability, and expenditures
OF the Government debt, every dollar of
which. fairly and honestly incurred, must be
paid; for REPUTATION is but treason In an
other form.
desire also to vindicate gentlemen on this
side of the Chamber who have so gratuitousy,
wantonly and unjustly been censured and as
sailed even to the extent of insinuations
against their LOYALTY, for but repeating the
statements of others as to the enormous ex-
penditures and indebtedness of the Govern
ment. | propose further to justify by the
proof OF those Republican members of the
Senate and this House upon whose authority
we of the Democratic party here and through
the country have made the statements which
have so alarmed the Secretary of Treasury
and his retainers. Official accuracy and We
racity of any kind are rare virtues in this
/ day, and wherever found, are worthy OF special
eommemoration and praise.
! SIR, see nothing TO be gained, but much,
very much to be lost by the vain effort to con-
ceal the real extent of the public debt and
expenditures In private life, nothing so
, much indicates, and generally nothing so GER
tainly precedes disastrous bankruptcy. as an
attempt dishonesty to cover up or withhold
the true condition of business man In en-
/ barraSsed circumstances. And the same prin-
ciple applies equally to Government.
The gentleman from Indiana, MIR. Noor-
hees, Il and the other Democratic members OF
> this House, who put forth recently a certain
address to the people, have been unsparing-
ly denounced here and elsewhere for asserting
that the public debt to-day, the end of the
present fiscal year, amounts TO from seven
hundred TO one thousand million dollars, and
that the expenditures average now from two
10 near four million dollars per day.
Now, sir, upcn what authority did we as
sert, and had we right 10 assert it E? Nc
Democratic member of this House has access
or ct least familiar access, 10 the Treasury
Departments none certainly 70 its secrets
We have not the means of knowing, BY the
inspection of its records, what amount of in.
debtedness has already been incurred, nor
what the expenditures are. Such access and
means or knowledge belong alone TO the Re-
publican members of the Senate and House
of Representatives, and above all to the mem.
bers of that party which compose the Com
mittee of Ways and Means in the House, and
the Committee on Finance in the Senate and