Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-07

WASHINGTON, Jan. G.-Mr. Wash
burns, of Illinois, in the course of his
speech in the House to day, said, after
alluding to the election of Gen. Grant
II is time the Representatives of the
people were admonished that they are
servants of the people and are paid by
the people that their constituents have
confided to them the great trust of guard
ing their rights and protecting their in
terests; that their position and their
power are to be used for the benefit of
the people whom they represent, and
not for their own benefit and the benefit
Of lobbyists, the gamblers, and the spec
ulatOrs who have come TO make q raid
upon the treasury. The time has also
come, in my judgment, when public
men are to be held TO more strict ac>
countability for a more strict discharge
of their duty, and their actions will BE
scanned by a more critical eye. Much
is expected of the new administration,
and the public expectation will not be
disappointed. But as much as General
Grant can do and as much as he will
do in his sphere of action, it is idle to
suppose he can do everything the cOun-
try requires done to secure those reforms
in the public service which are so inn
peratively demanded.
"At present, Gen. Grant must havet he
earnest and cordial support of the other
branches of the government, particularly
Of the legislative branch. The response
bility of this Congress, so far as the
next administration is concerned, is COM
plete. The great masses Of our con-
stituents, the bone and sinew Of the
country, the men who have no schemes
Of plumber and who desire only an honest
administration of the government men
who fought the battles of the republic
and poured out their blood in its defense,
require of us as decrease Of our expenS
ditures and a reduction of taxation, re-
CARELESS Of the mysteries Of finance.
They see that our credit can be i'm
proved, the public faith indicated, res
turn to specie payments made certain and
a reduction of the interest on the public
debt secured, by keeping down the ex-
penditures Of the government to the low
est point, and by honest collection Of the
revenues. 1t is for Congress to keep down
the expenditures and it is for the Presi-
dent to see that the laws are faithfully
executed and revenues collected But it
is for Congress to see, also, that they don't
keep the letters on the limbs Of the Pres
ident, so as to render it impossible for him
to faithfully execute the laws" After stat
ing some of the details of the expenses
for the last four years and estimates of the
Secretary of the Treasury for the next
ifs ,al year, Mr.. Washburne proceeded to
the consideration of the question Of what
this Congress will be called upon to ap-
propriate for the deficiency for the pres
emit fscal year, ending June 30, 1869, to
carry on the government for the next ifs
cal year, ending June 30, 1870.
Gen. Reynolds has been relieved from
the Freedman's Bureau in Texas, and
Gen. Conley assigned to that duty.
Mr.. Spinner is still unable TO attend Ia
his duties.
The case Of the heirs Of the late
Stephen Girard against the city Of Phila.
delphia, was argued in the Supreme Court
to daY.