Year: 1862

Speech of the Hon. d. w. Voorhees,, deliUered in


the House of Representatives, Mag 2lSt, 1852.


Mr.. Speaker, the financial policy of the Gov
ernment has always been considered by men of
reflection as second only in importance to ma
tional honor and national existence. Indeed, no
nation can long maintain an honorable existence
which makes an unwise or a dishonest use of the
resources of its people. 1t is a fundamental
principle of constitutional liberty that the citizen
shall own and enjoy the wealth which the labor
of his hands extOrts from the bosom of the earth,
subject only to that portion which he may Justly
be called upon 10 pay for the protection of gov
ernment and the blessings of social order. He
has this dominion over the fruits of his toll by
divine right and when this right is invaded by
by the Government, through impolicy or fraud,
and the citizen is robbed under the forms of law,
it becomes his highest duty to repel the invasion
and resist the wrong In free government this
is done through the peaceful instrumentality of
the ballot box, and a change in the agents of the
people who are responsible for the unnecessary
oppression. In despotisms, where the popular
voice has no weight and cannot be heard, the
toiling millions, when they can endure no more,
enforce justice with the sword. But the right to
a mans own, under all circumstances, is an inhe-
rent right, and human nature has held it sacred
in all ages, and enforced it in every form in
which the human will can assert ITSELF


have been led to these observations by what
j humbly conceive to be the unsound, false, and
ruinous system of finance which has been i'm
posed upon the people of this country within the
last twelve months, and though have not the
claims of age or extended experience, vet beg
to be candidly heard by the House and the coun-
try while submit my views in that regard. The
wants. the wishes, the hopes, the fears, the feel
ings and the thoughts of the laboring classes are
all familiar TO me. / was born one of them,
reared In their midst, and partook of their toll.
/ represent such people on this floor, and feel
my heart swell with pride when call to my mind
the honest the loyal, the intelligent, and the in
dGstriOus constituency whose interests and whose
equality before the law in the distribution of the
burdens of this Government shall be my theme
to-day. And with solemn reverence here say
that as shall prove faithful to them to the ut
most of my ability, and thus promote the true
cause of American prosperity and glory, so may
God, in his mercy, deal with me and mine.


Sir, during the past year we have been engag-
ed in most stupendous war. 1t assumed, from
the first proportions of the most terrible magni-
tude. ANY eve could see at the opening stages
of this conflict that the struggle of this Govern
ment to maintain its just authority within Its
lawful jurisdiction was to be one of the most
terrible and, perhaps, protracted that ever shook
the world. Courage, chivalry, patriotism, devo-
ton to the Union and the laws, all came forward
and still stand ready in an inexhaustible quanti-
ty The country has glowed from end to end
throughout all its vast extent with fervid love
for the Government as our fathers made it. But
sordid and practical as it may seem to some, one
of the main sinews of war is money plain money
Without it armies do not move and navies do not
float and the purse of the nation is to be found in
the pockets of the people. Sir, in view of these
facts, what has been the course of those in au-
thOrity since this war commenced in regard to the
great question of national economy? Have our
resources been carefully husbanded9 Have our
public moneys been strictly guarded from the
hand of the plunderer? Have our public officers
been held to rigid accountability in their use o
the hard-earned revenues of the country? Has
financial integrity marked the conduct of those
in whom the people placed their trust when the
present Administration came into power! Has
common honesty been observed by those who
won their way to popular confidence by theil
fierce denunciatiOns of the alleged cOrruptions Of
former Administrations / speak not as par
tisan, nor in the spirit of party. trust / car
rise above all such Considerations; but these arc
questions in which the people of all parties have
a deep and overwhelming interest, and they are
questions, too, which all men in every part o.
the country who desire an honest administration
of our public affairs are now asking with serious
and startling emphasis. The answer which mus
come, and of which impartial history will make
an everlasting record, is one which bows the head
and burns the check of every lover of his coun
try's good name with humiliation and with shame


Let us look calmly and carefully at a few fig
ures, not Of alluring and captivating fancy, bu
figures Of cold and repulsive reality. The val
which pleasing and hopeful sophistry weaves
around its object with which to beguile the peo
pie into slumbering sense of security must be
torn away. Nothing should be hid from the
honest eye Of popular scrutiny. 1t is the duty o.
the Representative to fully portray those facts o.
vital importance on which the governing power
TINS free country, the people, will soon be called
upon TO act.


presume, SIR, that at this time one can
with entire accuracy, estimate the amount oi
our public debt. II is one Of the alarming signs
of the times that either from confusion or inca
pacity, or from the shrinking dread of recog
nizing an appalling truth, we have an unusual
silence in official quarters in regard to the extent
of Government liabilities. We are, however. re
lieved in great measure upon that point, by tht
statements which have been made from time tc
time on this floor, and especially by the Chair
man of the Committee ON Ways and Means