Year: 1861

out as governments are or should be instituted,
not for the benefit of individuals or classes, but
the good of the lvhOhe community, the people,
the nation, so all individuals, as component
parts Of the nation are entitled to be heard, if
they choose 70 speak. If they speak wisely, the
public good may be promoted, for their utteran-
ces, will sooner or later find a response in the
national heart. If unwsely their words will
make no abiding impression upon the public
mind. As one then of the community, the
people, who feels deep interest in the welfare
of this nation, and who is conscious of nothing
but the kindest of feelings and good will towards
every individual officer in the Kingdom, from His
Majesty down, beg briefly through your COL
umns to say few words respecting that most
important branch of the public service which is
presided over by the Minister of Finance, and my
remarks are designed to apply to principles and
not persons, as trust your readers will readily
believe.


hold, as above stated that all governments
should be administered for the pubic good, and
for that object alone. And however prosperous
any government may be, it is an imperative duty
upon its executors to administer it economically
economically, but not parsimOnlously. The
labOrs of the public servant should bear q Just
relation TO the labOrs of private individuals of
similar social position, who are taxed to sustain
him, and the salaries of public officers should
bear The same just relation to the salaries of pri-
vate individuals in posts of similar responsibility
in private life, who contribute to pay the pub
lie servants. Where tie public position calls
for extraordinary expenses, the salary should
bear just relation to such necessary expenses.


ylis principle take to be equitable for all
governments of whatever extent or strength.
Public servants are not TO be Overworked or un-
derwOrked, neither are they to be overpaid nor
underraid Public trusts are created and exc
cuted for the public good, and not for any pri-
vate advantage. Taxes, whether direct or in
direct, should be levied to meet the necessary ex-
pense Of administering the government on this
basis. If legislature creates an office as a
mere sinecure or without full employment, or one
not required 10y the public welfare, then it
abuses the trust reposed in it by the people.


When public necessity calls for additional off,
GERS or government employees, then only, is the
appropriation of government funds justified.
Public necessity is the only measure Of public Ia
Dor, and the public necessity is the only just
sure of taxation.


For any government to owe a tOreign debt is
at least dOubtfulif not decidedly bad policy, but
for feeble government to owe a foreign debt is
dangerous, by its liability to lead to cOmplica-
tions with stronger powers whose subjects
citizens are its creditors, and which may in the
end be ruinous to its independence.


1t is unwIse for any government to create q
debt to meet its ordinary expenses. These should
be based upon its ordinary income. The vast
national debt of Great Britain was chiefly incur
red for extraordinary expenses to carry on her
wars, in supporting her army and navy, and sub
sidizing continental powers. 1t is mainly, if not
wholly, due to her own Subjects and apprehend
that neither debtor nor creditor ever expect the
payment of the principal. The stock held by her
own subjects, may, as some contend, be an ele-
ment of strength by the interest which it gives to
every stockholder in maintaining the stability of
the government; but whatever the effect of
domestic national debt NAV be, it is clear that no
debt should be incurred for ordinary expenses.
These should be covered by the ordinary income,
and here, whatever might be thought of a dOmes-
tic debt for extraordinary Improvements, still to
run in debt for ordinary purposes, seems to be
unwise, and should not be done. Ways and
means should be devised to administer the govern
'ment without increasing the public debt Every
feasible measure of retrenchment should be adopt
ed at the earliest day. Increasing debt for ordi-
nary expenses, will be ultimate disaster Nor
under any circumstances can the government
afford to be prodiSal in its expenses the people
are poor heavy taxation will destroy them, high
import duties will drive away commerce, thus
cutting off revenue from this source and pub
lie debt created for ordinary expenses, would /
ruinous in the end. Nothing then remains fosV
the government but ultimate ruin, on the one
hand, or a wise economical administration on the
other. Every well-wsher of the nation most
sincerely desires the latter, and rejoices that a
system of retrenchment is about being commenc-
ed. Without any knowledge of the plan of the
government, l will venture to indicate what |
should recommend and urge, were honored with
a seat in His Majesty's Councils. j. is we'll
known to most residents here, that / " years
since all the salaries Of the chief officers of the
government, ncludi rg His Majesty's, were raised
to their present limit This was at time of
general prosperity, with full treasury, light
taxation. and with an ordinary revenue quite
adequate to the expenses thus enlarged, and at
such time was doubtless justi6able even when
tried by the principles laid down in my opening
remarks. But the increase of the executive force
in almost every department, appears not to have
been called for by corresponding increase in the
amount of labor to be performed, thus making
the Offices, to a greater less extent, sinecures,
and the officers supernumeraries.


But now circumstances are entirely changed.
Commerce has fallen off, and revenue from this
source declined, taxation has been increased,
whilst the means of payment have diminished,
and there is but faint bow Of promise ahead
No speedy or rapid improvement in monetary
affairs can reasonably be anticipated. Is it not
clear, then, that the legislation and administra-
ton should be conformed to the changed eireum-
stances of the nation? To me it seems there is
but one proper answer, and that is that necessity
and reason both demand a change corresponding
to the changed circumstances of the people. If
this be correct, then where, in what departments,
shall the required change be effected? answer


lst-Let every salary be reduced to, at least,
the sum at which it formerly stood. Experience
has shown, and we knoW that by the exercise of a
,cise personal economy, that would be sufficient
to meet all necessary expenses of family and sta
ton, and for one moment to admit that Hls
Majesty, whose fatherly interest in the prosperity
Of His government and people is wel known,
would not cheerfully concur in this measure,
though it might call for some personal self-denia,
or that the high officers of government would not
do so, | should feel would be most unjust to him
and them.


2d-Let every supernumerary be discharged
and every oficeholder, high and low, perform
personally large share of the labOrs Of his
danartment as he can hecansa the officer is raid