The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-04-26

effort Mr.. Chairman, which, in my
opinion, we can make in that direc-
ton is by reducing the expenses of
the Government. Make your Gov
eminent a plain and simple Govern
ment, and not strong, consolidated
one. Whenever, sir, you attempt to
build up q strong Government,
whenever you attempt to make a con-
solidated Government, that Govern
ment must be maintained by force.
A Government with large revenues
and large expenditures is in manifest
danger of having its powers console
dated, and where the purse and
the sword are in one hand, the temp
tations of power and ambition al
most make this result inevitable.
Hence it becomes our imperative
duty most jealously to watch all ap-
preparations of the peoples money,
to the end that their tributes may
not be the precursor of their lost
liberties.
Now, sir, with q view of asking
whether or not it is in our power
to apply remedy to this condition
of the public mind and the security
of popular rights, make the inquiry,
what have been and what are now
the expenses of the Government? l
call your attention, sir, and the atten-
ton of the committee, to what has
been the gross receipts in the Treas
ury and the gross expenditures there
from for the years 1869, 1870, and
1871, and give the totals only. The
gross receipts for this period of time
were 81 1855, OOO, 90; the total expendi-
lures for the same period of time were
81, 979, 100000.
Now, sir, while these large
amounts, these vast sums are being
collected and discussed, the collec-
ton and disbursement Of such large
sums increase the temptations to
fraud and corruption, and with it
such is the tendency toward CONSOLE
dation as to awaken in the mind of
the anxious patriot grave appre-
hension as to the future character of
his Government. While it may be
true, Mr.. Chairman, that these large
sums represent in part at least, the
transfer of Indebtedness from the debit
to the credit account of the Govern
ment, and from the credit to the
debit account, l desire to call your
attention and that of the committee
to a statement of the net receipts
and expenditures of the Government
during the same period Of time. For
the fiscal years ending, on the 3Oth
ofJune, 1869, 1870, and 1871, the net
receipts in the Treasury of the United
States were 81, 165, 525,O 200, and dur
ing the same time the net expendi-
lures were in round numbers, $612,
100000; there being an excess of re-
ceipts of 1862, 100000.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, there is par.
ty in this country which claims great
credit to itself, on tho grounds that
they have reduced the public debt OF
the United States, during the period
| have mentioned, about two hun.
dred and twenty-five million dollars
Sir, am here to call the attention o.
the committee and of the country
to the fact that while this vast bal.
ance over the net expenditures of the
Government came into their hands,
the reduction of the public deb
should have been of much larger
amount than is shown or claimed by
said party. Igo further, and venture
to predict that when the receipts af
ter the net expenditures of the Gov
eminent are made manifest, and it il
shown what is and ought to hav'
come into the Treasury of the United
States there will be in the neighbor
hood of one thousand million dollar
collected in excess of the expendi
lures of the Government by Genera
Grant during the period of his ad
ministration and yet you canno
and will not be able to show for AMI
during that time a reduction of the
public debt of more than $3.50, 600 600
Sir, l charge that that party VIII
have wrung from the weary, patien
labor of the country in the four year
of his administration nearly one bill
lion dollars over the net expendi
lures of the Government, shouit
have reduced the public debt and fh
public interest account in a mucl
larger sum than is shown by tn
monthly partisan statement laid be
fore the country, And when sa
much larger sum, l mean fully OH
hundred per cent. over and abov
what they show and claim as credi
to this Administration.
+
Mr.. DIckEY. Will the gentlema
allow me to ask him question?
Mr.. WHITTHORNE. Yes, sir.
Mr.. DICKEY. How much of thi
vast sum did Tennessee ever pay?
Mr.. WHITTHoRNE. Well, sir, whel
you come to strike the account, debi
} and credit, l think she has paid lit
tie more in proportion to her pOpula
ton than Pennsylvania. Pennsylvan
: ia has been getting it on the credi
side, and Tennessee never has.
Mr.. D)CKEY. To which Govern
ment did Tennessee pay it?
Mr.. WHITTHoRNE. To the Govern
ment of the United States.
Here the hammer fell. .
Mr.. WHITTHoRNE. l ask few
moments to reply to the intimation
of the gentleman from Pennsylvania
Mr.. DICKEY. 1 hope the gentleman
will be allowed to 60 on for fiv
minutes longer.
No objection was made and leav
was granted accordingly.
Mr.. WHITTHoRNE. 1t is true tina
Tennessee did seek to support anoth
er government Her people ma!
have been mistaken, but they though
they had right, from the God tina
made peoples and made govern
ments, to seek their happiness ant
their destinies wherever in thei
judgment that happiness or the pur
suit thereof might lead them. Sir,
may say for the people of TENNESSEE
that under whatever sun they ma!
have lived. or with whatever fortune
they may have met, during all th'
time they never lost their devotion
1 L \ 4