Mt. Vernon Democratic banner (Mount Vernon, Ohio : 1853), 1858-08-03

              -ssa(K!K -4ir-,-i.-; -uTjirtiw' r''''",i''!rri hmi1!!' 'fiiatf --, rr-"-:ir-- f - i-.-1 MOUNT VERNON, OHIO: TUESDAY, AUGUST 3. 1858. VOLUME 22. NUMBER r15. t Jbc lift. ileH)oi) 3)eti)oclPi)tic Soe IS PUBHSHRO EVERY TVKSnAT MORNING, BY L. IIARPEIl. Office in Woodward's Block, Tiird Story. TERMS Two Dollars por acnura, payable in ad-Vance; $2,50 within fix months: $3.00 after the expiration of the year.' Clubs of twenty, $1,50 efceb. R A T It S or invEiiTtMJo: o 5 4 4 I ! B 2- S 13. c O 9T- i o I cr 3 13 I :$ c. $ c. $ c7 r. $ c. J c. $ c. c. 1 7ar, -1 001 25 1 75 2 i5 .! 00 3 50 4 50 6 fO 2 2uare. - jl 75.2 25 3 25 4 25 5 25 C 00 6 75 8 00 . i ; -i " 3 $juare, - 2 60 S 0 4 50 5 00 6 00 7 00 8 00 10 4, guar,. - 8 50.4 00 5 00 C 00 7 00 8 t)0 10 12 1 tqnare, changeable monthly, $10 tcee&fy,...:. .".-..$ 1 5 -J column, changeable quarterly,..,.............;. 15 J column, changerble quarterly,.. 18 4 colionn, efcai;;eale quarterly, .....T.,.v 25 1 column, changeable quarterly,....., 40 - ,;saw- Twelve linos of Minien, (this type) are coun- eV"ns a squarv ? 2!gSr- Editorial notiee4-of advertisements, or calling attention to any enterprise intended to benefit ini- 7 viduals or corporations, will be charged for at the 1 rate of 10 cents per line. J9 Special notices, before- marriages, or taking frecedenoo of regular advertisements, double usual " Yates. . Notices for meetings, charitable societies, fire companies,-Ac, half-price. : . Marriage notices inserted for 50 cts ; Deaths 26 cents, unless accompanied by ohituaries, which will be charged for a regular advertising rates. JES Advertisements ditpinyed in larw type to be -'charged one-half more thau regular rates. fir-All trauient , advertisements to be" paid for in advance. ... " "05rrat jlpcccji. SPEECH OF -7 .. - Hon. Joliii Lctclier, . OF VISpiMA, OX GOVEBIJIEM El'EXOITU!iES, Delirered in the House of Representatives, June 12, A. D., 1858. . The House bein" in the Committee of the hol on the state of the Union ' Mr. LETCHER said: Mr. Caaikman; Iu the disc assion which took pl.ice some days since between the frentlemau from Ohj) Mr. Sherman and myself, I then sta ted to the comrtfRTee that I would seek some suitable occasion between that time and the close of thia aes'sion of Co.nresa to present my views fully orv ihe interesting sultjct of Government . expenditures. His speech enbibited all the eV idences of careful preparation, and U interspers ed with tables of figures that must have cost him immense labor in their construction. Without - ia moment's preparation, and without even the advantage of hearifi the entire speech, I was Called nron by several of my political friends 'to reply. Under' these circumstaucfes t entered into the di bate, and amid constant interruptions ' from the jrentleman himself, and pvtra! others ' replied briefly to ecme of the leudinp positions Vhich he had assumed. The speech, which was doubtless intended for general circulation, as a campaign document, preparatory to tl e elections that will-take place this fall, demands from In ability and ingenuity, a more elaborate reply than it was in my power then to make. This speech, and others made in the laTter part of this session, gives reason to believe that the question which divided parties in other days lire again to be revived. Since the adjustment of the, Kansas controversy, and its removal from the congressional Halls, gentlemen in this and the other end of the Capitol have directed their attention to subjects of more practical importance and of more immediate interest to the people. In thfrpast two months our discussions have been mainly confined to questions within the range Of legitimate congressional action. Questions of a financial character and bearing j the tariff and its revision; the disposition of the public lnda arid their proceeds; the comprehensive subject of Internal improvements; the best mode of raising revenue to defray the expenses of the Gov ernment, at d the purposes and objects to which it should be applied; and last, but by no means least in importance, our relations with foreign LOpwernments 'these now furnish the topics for speeches and claim froTiTlsthat consideration which has been too long withheld from them, and too often directed to exciting sectional ques tions, mischievous in their tendency and ruinous to the "peace, prosperity, anTratel-nity of the people who constitute the States and organized Territories of the great na'.ion. These things vindicate a return to the policy of the earlier and better days of the Repnblic those days ;n which ' RepresentHtives of the people legislated practically within the limits of the Constitution exhibiting that manly patriotism which embraced the whole Union and its interests, and repudiated all attempts to interfere with the rights and in- stitutioas of the States. They recognized and acted upon the doctrine the Union of the Stales ; Is secure so long aj the rigHts of the Spates are respected. I trust most sincerely that these in- tllcations are not deceptive, and tbSt they presage a calm aod happy future, whenieCtional conlrd arsy and atrifa shall ba banished from the na- ; lional councils. The bill now under consideration proposea a loan of $I5.000.000which is absolutelf neces. ary to nable the Oovwruineat to meet its obli Ration. The gentleman from Ohio admits the necessity of the measure ; admits-that the Gov-ernment must have the amount provided for in Ibis bill, or tb obligations , incurred caunpt be ..met aa they mature. Yet, s etrange to eay, bg "'on hit opposition to th onj feasible measure that has beeu or tbatcaii be' pfesentedjo furnish the meant required to eustaio the credit of the .jGoireruHientl A.fur voting with a vaat'raajoritf ty fartJ friend to create IhU DecessiiyaE. ter a formal com plaiat that woaU not in suid t.r-iiJituret bj voting 11,500,003 to lit isjrorcsest cf riren and barber in the Norihaest he now comes forward to resist the passage of it bill to furniih the means required to meet the appropriations .made- by the two Houses of Ootitrrt-ss'. The policy of that side of the Hou-ie feeeuia to be to vote expenditures', and then refuse the means to meet tbera to impose burdens on the Goverumeut, and then repudiate all tho measures proposed for its relief. . lantici pated such a result, and hence it was that 1 have 6n SeVeral occaSKn. durinir the session proposed to lnsrraft tiDon the bills a section providing tor aioan sutScisnt to cover the expenditures provi ded fur in each. It is mv deliberate opinion now that such a section should have been ingrift;d t:pon all the appropriation bills, and then those who voted the ex pandit ar-' would .have been co:n pelted to take the responsibility of providing the means to pay the sums appropriated.: The House. however, did not concur iti this opinion, . and be nee it is that many ot the most liveil voters for expenditures of money will now refuse to give their support to this bill. If it shall . fail, these appropriations must remain unsatisfied, until it shall please Congress to provide the nec essary means. Neither the President nor the Secretary of the Treasury has authority or pow er to furnish the money for that purpose beyond the provision made by the Treasury uote bill, and the accruing revenue from: customs and lands. - ':; The gentleman charges that oh the 1st day of July last there was a surplus ot f 17,710,1 '4.in the" Treasurr, and that Congress "ha already ! granted $20,000,000 of Treasury notes, making a a aggregate sum of means of $37,710,114 lurt single year, which, together with the current rev. enue, has nil been expended by this profligate Administration. These facts, in his opinion, make out a clear and undeniable Case of extra v agance against the party in p jwer. Accompany me in the investigation of these facts, and we will Hscertain the precise weight to be given to the charge. . ' . . : The Se retary of the Treasury informs us in his annual report that the public dfbt amounted on the 1st ot July l-t to thesuiU $2y,0G0.:J.8G 90. and since that time, the sain of $3i8y&232 - .2u of the debt ha- be-eu redeemed. - This sum, theti, is to be deducted from the surplus - in the' Treas ury at the date fixed by the gentleman from Ohio. Making this deduction," e have the sum of 13.b 14.88 161. instead of the sum with which we are charged in the account as stated by him; or, in othr. words, an error within a Iraetion of if.000,000. Now add - the $20,000,-000 of Treasury jiotes authorized by the act of this session, and we have the: gross sum of $'.13,;. 804.881 61, instead of 37.7 10. 1 14. Deduct the amount contained in the. deficiency bills, sta. ted by the gentleman to be $1 1 .201,708, and we Khali then have a balance of $22.ijl3.l73 61. Now. Mr. Chairman, I tsk whether the present A liriinisiraliou can with even ashow of reason or j istice, lie held responsible, by - its bitter est eie ny. for the expenditure this year of a dob lar liey.iud the amount of the deficiency-. "bills, winch we have passed? 'The - lemaining, $22,-613,173 6 is the unavoidablf! result of paying for"tin l'iis!niion .of th last Congress, of which the gentleman from Ohio was a leading member. The Speuker of the House in that Congress belonged to th Opporiritn. An Oppositi n ma j ority coutroUed and .dintcted the lecislation. A Co:nfnittee'-of U'ays and Me.'uis. Opposition by two to one, reported the appropriation bills, and that Opposition Hre respousicle to the country for the expenditures of the present fiscal year, expiring on the 30ib day Of this mouth.' The gentleman" then proceeds to give us the items that are embraced in the deflciency bills passed at the present session, and charges that the extravagance of the'"Adm;riistratian hasten dered the passage of thos deficiencj billsnecessary.- ..He presents the following table of items, to which t invite the attention of the com cn it-tee : ' . ' Sound dues by treaty -with Denmark......... $332,011 Printing deficieni-y already p issed ........... 311,138 Balance of printing deScieiicy fr IDis . year (estimated) ........,...............'. 600.000 Misccllaieoiis.., ............... 373,318 Array doniencv ...... v............................ 7,V25.lMld Post Office dctioicn-y 1,469,173 ' fll,01i,fi'J0 The first item charged against the present Administration in the gentleman's table, is $333,01 lj lor : the Sound, dues, by treaty with Denmark. Tliis treaty was negotiated by the last Administration, and, as no appropriation was made to meet its, siipulations. the duty was devolved upon the present Congress of furnishing the money required to fulnll its provisions. Can it be pretended that tbivitem. furnishes evidence to prove the extravagance of the present Adminiatration? Was it not our duty to execute that treaty fully, fairly, and justly, .to the letter? There cannot be two opinions on that point. The next item is the printing deficiency of $311,188. The legislation ol the last Con-grenss imposed upon the country the debt for printing, and the duty of ptving: this debt has been devolved upon us. Will the gentleman' pretend that the Administration is in any sense or to any extentj respoi.sible for this expendi ture? They had no agency in contracting the debt; but it came down to them as a burden im posed upon lhein by the-Republican House, over which N. I', Banks presided as Spe.iker. Tlie next item is aii "estimated printing deficiency for this year of $300,000, which, if it is to be provided for, is needed to pay the debts entailed upon: us mainly by the last House. Why was the printing ordered by the Opposition? Did they not kuow when it was ordered that it would have to be paid', for, and as it was ordered by the Opposition the gentleman's friends -in -the House- with what propriety can they now ar raign us for providing the: means to pay for it, if we shall be compelled to do so? Neither the Administration or its friends in this House can be held responsible for it. But will such a. sum have to bd paid? .1 apprehend not, as our action shows that we have only appropriated in the sundry civil bill the sum of $316,000 for this purpose Hare, then, is another error of the neat tittle sum of $281.000 no great amount, to-bd sure, yet still worth of a paining notice. Then we hav an item, styled miscellaneous, of Ip.7 3,,i 1 o, which "is 1 nl ended to p ty off oVlg i-tions iiupiJse 1 up in us by tho leU'iaiioh of the last Congress. U is und -r this head that we bud the appropriations for custom houses, marine hospitals, and other public buddings, which cover the j:bj and contract" to which be ro fera. 1 ca iuot suppose tha. the gentleman de signs to impute dishonesty to the otSctsrs of the Government in coiiueeiijfi with the contracts for these buildings ordered by Congress. The contracts which have been made, were made by the Fillmore and Pierce administrations, and not by the present Administration. But for the Opposition these buildings would not have been ordered by Congress, and I would really like to know what the gentleman from Galena (Mr. Washburnej and from Detroit Mr,'' Howard J and from Louisville Mr. Marshall and from Cleveland " (Mr. WadeJ think of this assault, coming from to distinguished an Opposition leader. tfve . gentleman and hi, friends shoulder the responsibility which leiriumateU auacbet to tham for the noceajity which daman -j de4 ibis appropriaitoo. Ihe Adoainistration is ia oo jutt sense 'chargeable with it, ani - the country will 80 decide. Then' we' Kara ih- Ap ray aeficiency of $7,925,000, paraded as another evidence or extravagance and proatgaey. Was tbl expenditure oeccessary? I maintain, that ft was; that the poblio aentitaeot of the people, without dUtiaetioa of pny detaaadei taat the laws should be enforced in Utah. The Presi, dent has executed this order of the people, and has brought the Mormons into subjection to the lawful authority of the Government. A prudent forecast, a wise statesmanship have controlled and directed the ' entire policy of r the President towards tbes1 misguided people; and peace, quiet, oraer, -: ana onedietice to tne laws have been secured without firing a gun or shd " ding a drop of hum-in blool. . Every where this result is hailed with , satisfaction, and thesoand conservative men of the ' nation applauded the prudence, wi-id-m, firmness, and practical judg nent which have been exhibited by the Admin istration in-tb banpy adjustment of this difficult and dangerous question. Let the gentleman from Ohio and his party friends make the issue that the President has doDe wrong;, that the measures which hi has - adopted have been unwise and inj -idicious; let them, if they see fit, charge that he has wasted the public money, and they will find Js ready to meet thena and try the issue before the people. The respect and affection of the people for law and order, their settled and determined hostility to everything that wears the appearance of open resistance to tne authority pt a government to wench we ewe obedience, leaves no room for doubt as to their verdict whenever such issues shall be presenter! to them for their decision. We chalienge the Opposition to these issues. - Will they, dare they, meet us upon -them? If they thiuk we have spent more money than is necessary, we cal. upon them. to specify the -item 3 of expendi" ture that are. in their -judgment,' extravagant. Withhold in future your vrholesale charges, and give us the details. In the name of the tax-paying millions, I demand this of. you. This sum, however, has been appropriated to support the army in Utah, for the next year, and is therefore an advance- not a deficiency." The Ia9t item enumerated is, the deficiency for the Post OtHce Departmetit, amounting to $i,4C0,' 173. Was not this expenditure required to carry out the legislation of the last Congress? New post routes were established, and . mails could not be placed upon them without entailing ex peuse upon the Treasury. To meet this expense we were com pelted to provide the means in the deficiency bill, passed . at the opening of the session. I imagine the gentleman, and nine tenths of his friends in both Houses, voted for the post route bill; the execution of which made this expenditure unavoidable. . On this branch of the subject I prove that" the gentleman from Ohio has committed several very extraordinary errors unintentional I doubt not. but yet such errors as clearly demonstrate that implict reliance should not be placed upon his calculations; The first error consists j in charging the Administration with the surplus in the Treasury on the 1st of July last, and with holding from it credit for the amount of the public debt, which it has paid out of it since that date. The second'.error conststs in fixing the S und dues, by treaty with Denmark, at $333,011, when the true sum is $.408,781.44 The th rd error consists in estimating, the bal-ance of the priiiting deficiency far the rear ending the 30ih of this month at $600,000. while the civil appropriation bill shows that it is only $316,000. The fourth error consists in fixing the amount of the deficiency brils passe d at this session at $11,041,690, when it sh ..ld have been $9,701.20,89 Lc the first, and $ U1,189,"8 for the printing bill, and $408,73 1.44 for the treaty with Denmark, making, in the aggregate, $10,454,130 91. Rather" serious errors in a speech which was designed to be used as a text book by the Opposition in their war upon the Administration I I now come to his estimate of the expenditures for the fiscal vear ending June 20, 1859. He makes' a most startling exhibit, and works out an aggregate of expenditures for the next year of $92.1 43 202. And . how 43 this inou 8trotis result, ascertained? In the first place, he informs" us that the Secretary of .the . Treasury estimates the expenditures for the year named at $74.0(54.755, and then he adds the following items, amounting td$18,089,547; ;: . j Three new re;j iinentg ...$i,289,5i7 Probable Post Office deficiencies over amount appropriation........ ....... .......w. 2.500,000- Public buililings.. .".-..'... .................... 1. 700,000 Private bills, (estimated).,:...................... 1,000,000 -Printing deficiency. ......;;;,.,.. : 000,000 Army deficiency, (estiiu.ilod to be the same as last year)......., ............. ....... 8,000,000 Not one cent" has been appropriated for the three new regiments-the. President baying ascertained that they would not be needed for the service in Utah, In the regular Post Office appropriation bill we have appropriated for the Post Olhee Department, for .the year 1859, the sum of $3.500,OQO, which exceeds the regular appropriation for the present year, by the sum of $1,000,000. The Post Office Department drew from the Treasury, for the year ending June 30, 1858, $3,969,173. Suppose the De pa. tment should require the same amount for the year 1859, as we have provided in the regu lar appropriation bill for - $3,500,000, we would only be called upon for the additional sum of $469 173. This, then, is an error of upwards of $2,000,000 in his estimate in regard to this sin j gleitetu. The regular appropriation' bill con-tains all the sums necessary for public buildings amounting; to $3,104,600; ahd thistherefore, is likewise an erroneous estimate. . We have been charged once Jby the gentleman with the printing deficiency of $600,000 in the expendi lures of 1858; hut, for some reason that he has not chosen to assign, he; again charges us with it in the expenditures of the year 1859. And fijally, he estimates that the Army deficiency for the year 1859 will amount to the round sum of $8,000,000. All these are conjectures, and. so rar as loeir accuracy can be tested by exis ting facts, they are shown: to be of the most un reliable character. That the gentleman himself is not SAtisUe.j with them is clearly manifest tVom bis declaration that they "may' be over eat mated." I submit it to him to say, whether, from the Acts now before him. he it not entirely sati fled that they are greatly "odcr estiinatuJ." The geniletnan t!jeu"proeeed Jhus: 'Now, this sunt of $92,000,000 does not include any of the f illowiug items of expenditure, and I wish gen tie men- to add those, upon their own estimate, to this aggregate: For protecting works commenced on our numerous rivers aul harbors, the luw-st estimate of which is $1,500, 003; and then there is your Calendar of uue thousand private bill demanding your attention. There is the peustuii bill for the old roldier of the war of 1812. proposed by the gentleman from Teuuessee, Mr. Savage, requiring $8,000. WOO per annum. There are the ten new war steamers, proposed by my friend from Virginia, (Mr. Bocock.j $2,500,000. The French spoliation bill, urged ao forcibly by the gentleman Irom Massachu'jetts, Mr. Da visJ which, if passed, will require $5,000,000. The , duties to be refunded on goods destroyed by fire I do not know bow tuueb. ; Claims growing oat of. Indian ware ia Oregon-ad - Wash ngton, urged by the Dalegato froul Oregon, and certified by an executiva officer, - $5,000,000. Tben we bare the Pacific rairroad, , foretaste of .tbe cost of which we have hai in ,$1,000,008 erpended al ready in the itiblicatioa " erf the "report of the su rrey - i " . ' ' ' A 2 : . .Pi at two .of th' measure enar&erated in thu fir oidble list by" the gentleman from, Ohio have received the anction of Congress- the addition f "eVven ateamer for the Navy,' and for that rjf pese an appropriatioa ot $ 1,2 SG.CC 3 is La8'a embraced in the regular oara! bill; and the 3oaat ctceuarj to pa the prirat claims si. lowed by Congress. . What sum will be required for ihis latter purpose cannot now be determined, but J imagine it will exceed his estimate of $1,-000,000 . The bill to refund duties on goods de s troy fd by fire was defeated in the -House before the gentleman's speech was. delivered. Bear in mind the fact, that none of these measures have been recommended by the Dopartments or the President. "' ' ; --'- - -- - Having thus noticed the gentleman' estimate, I now desire to inquire whether he is not in favor of "all the measures he hs referred to, and whether he is not ready to give each and alt bis cordial and hearty approval? ' Are hot bis political associates, or, at any rate, an overwhelming majority of them, in favor of ail these measures, and are they not ready to cast their votes in aid of their passage? Whatever may be the gentleman's in; dividual position, I apprehend there can be little, if any, doubt as to the position of the larger portion of his political friends. I now come to the estimates of the Secretary Of the Treasury, and to the recommendations of, the Committee of Way 8 and Means, made to Congress at the present session: The Secretary estimates that of the appropriations for 1833, there will be expended during 1859, Permanent and indefinite appriations,....t7,l 65,224 49 Add for. collection of revenue from customs 1,150,000 00 $16,586,538 35 8,315,224 49 Recommendations for the year 1859, as reported by the Com- . inittce of "Ways ud Means,.. 52,395,048 22 All other appropriation (estimated) at the present session,.. 3,000.000 00 55,2tf5,018 22 Of this sum there will - be expended during " . the year 1860, ..15,000.000 00 TO, 295,018 22 $65,196,861 06 When the gentleman from Ohio made his estimate ot $9-, 000,000 as the expenditures far the year-1859, he was sadly mistaken in his calcula .tions."; Against his conjectural estimates I now oppose coojectural esUttiaies of he Secretary of the Treasury: and it is palpable that the gentle man has been mistaken to .the extent of only about $27,000,000. Is it to be wondered at that, with such errors as I have pointed out, the shrewd editor of the New .York Tribune, in his issue of the 3d of this month, in noticing the gentleman's speech, should have saidi "We should have liked it much better 11 it had worn no party aspect. and bad been undeniably noa partisan ia . its Scope and bearings?" ' ' I propose to examine into the estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury a little further, to show that be has exhibited sound judgment and prac tical knowledge or tbe duties ot bis otlice: The annunl estiinatt-s of appropria tions Bubmltted are...... . .$50,312,913 13 Other estimates referred to tii Co tain it tee of Ways aud Meant at v- r-: rious times durina the session. ...... 3,900.917 91 i $54,222,861 04 So much for the estimates of the Secretary. Now, I : present the . regnlK? approprltious fo tbe service of the year 1859, amounting to the sum of $53,458,233 22: Pension,..;. 709,500 00 Indian, regular,.;....... , 2,338.104 49 . ' ' v sunidemeiital, . 059.937 86 " ; deficiency,. ............... ......... 339,595 00 Consular and diplomatic........... "912,120' 00 Military Academy......................... . 182,801 00 Naval,.;........ 14,508,354 23 Sundry eiv "II,;...-... , 5,557,143 07 Legislative, executive aud judieial,.. 6;134,093 61 Arujy,........ii.i..;;....w..;; V.; 17,146,808 40 Mail feteame,... i.....i 960,750 00 Post Offlce... 3,500,000 00 Conectiujr revenue Iroui import per. muitent, additioual, -1,150,000 00 $53,453,233 22 To which add: Treasury uots...i....lS5S. $20,000 00 Mauuiaeture of arms " UiOO.000 Upoiiaes investigating ooinittoos 1858,.....:...... 25,000 00 Treaty Lte'Smatk, 1868. 408,731 00 Deficiency La printing.. Ac, 1858. 311,189 58 Defieiency for year .9,701,209 89 Deal, dumb, blind, . : Disc. Columbia, " . 3,000. 00 Expenses investigating - couiuiitieus 1858. 12,000 00 Clerks Oregon to re-. - ' ' gister & receiver t . 7,000 00 Ituuning Texas boundary line, . . 1859; 80,000 00 Incidcut to the loan of $20,000,000 ............. . 5,000 00 ; 10,976,130 91 $64,434,36413 Estimate: Otbr uppropriations, billi not printed aud iitdcjini'e, including all pri- - vate bills,.,...,.......'..,........... 3,565,636 ..T ' $68,000,000 00 - - - .- - . . -.- :- .Thus wo find that the expenditures Tor the year ending June 30, 1859, amount to the sum of $d8,000,000. iuslead of $92,000,000, as esti. mated by the gentleman from Ohio. If the wishes of tbe President and Cabinet, and a targe majority of the Democratic uie tubers of Congress, could have prevailed, the expenditures would have falleu below tLis Bum. The result, however demonstrates most conclusively that the conjectural estimates ot the gentleman from Ohio were not within millions of the true amount, and should cause tbe people to distrust all theoretical aud imaginative calcubitioos on subjects of so much importance, to their welfare.' , And, in this connection, permit me to express my cordial approval of the sentiments embodied by the President in his annual message, ia which he declare tbat ',-"-' ! . ; "Au overflowing Treasury has led to habits of prodigality aud extravagauce in our legislation, it has mduced Congress to make large appropri ations to objects for which they, never would hare provided had it been necessary to raise the amount ot revenue required U meet them by increased taxation or by loans. We are new compelled to pause in our career, and to scrutinize our expeu-' diture with the utmost Vigrtanpe; and iit perfonn-lug this duty! 1 pledge my co-uperatioa to the extent of iny coustituaptyti competency. ' .- It ought aa he observed at ihe.aatne lime that true public .eoououiy des not coosistin withholding the means uecesaary to, ncdornprisfa im portant-national objects intrutted to us by the Couiiution, and especially such' as may be nev Cesaary for tbe common defense. Ja the present crisis of the country it is our; duty to confine oar appropriations to object of this character, un les1 in ca" where justiee, to Individuals .niay demand a difforeut course. Ip "all caicS ;are ought to be taken ; that the money granted by Cocgres shall be faithfully and economically ap- .plked. . .. . . . . ... .. ';lnde the .Federal Constitution, 'ertryjbill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a la,' be approved and signed byJthe Presideat; aud, if not appTOTedhe shall return it with bis objections to that Ilou&e ia which it orfgiuated la order ta perform, thia Jiigh . and responsible duty, suQcient time most ba allowed the Jfresl dent to read and esaorine every bill presented to him fir approv&U "Unless this be afforded, tLe Constitulioa becot3j a deudLur ia tLU j.r-ticular; and ereo worse, it becomes a mean of deception. . Oar caasliiacstai accirj tha Presi dents approval and signature attached to each act of Congress, are induced to believe that be has actually performed this duty, when, In truth, nothing. is, in many cases, more uufouoded. "From the practice of Congress, such an ex amination of each bill as the Constitutionrequires bas been rendered impossible. The most important business of each session is generally crowded into its last hours, and the alternative present ed to the President is. either to violate the constitutional duty which he owes to the people, and approve bills wbich.-for want of time, it is impossible he should have examined, or, by his re fusal to do this, subject the country aud individ uals to great loss and inconvenience. . ''Besides, a practice has grown up of late years to legislate in appropriation bills at the last bour of the session ou new and important subjects This practice constrains the President either to suffer measures to become laws which he does not approve, or to incur the risk of stopping the wheels of tbe Government by vetoing an appro priation bill. Formerly, such bill were confined to BpeciBc appropriations fcr carrying into effect existing laws and the well established policy of the country, and little time was then required by the President for their examination." Conservative men of all parties have expressed their approbation of these sentiments, and it should be cause of gratulation with all that the President has adhered to therrl. with "so much firmness and courage. His course at this session has saved millions of dollars that would have been uselessly expended. It has given to the country cleaner appropriation bills than we have heretofore had during my service in Congress. lie has in this respect inaugurated a policy that will insure results importaut to sound legislation, and of lasting benefit to the people. It is a practical measure, well calculated to bring about a much needed economy in public expenditures. For it he deserves the thanks of the people, and they will be gratefully accorded. So true a friend to economy has the President shown himself, and so anxious" is he to secure it in his administration of the Government, that he has again, this day, in a special message, endeavored to impress upon Congress his views on this interesting subject. . Who oan fail -to indorse these sentiments in bis speciaf message ? " Who can hesitate to accord to theui his entire approval.?, . - - . "Adversitv teaches useful lessons to nations as well as iuC.viduals. The habit of extravagant expenditure, fostered by a large surplus in the Treasury, must now be corrected, or the country will be involved in serious financial difficulties." Under any form of govern meat extravagance in expenditure must be the natural consequence when those who authorize the expenditure -feel no responsibility in pvoviding the means of payment. . Such bad been for a number of years our condition previously to the late monetary revolution iu the country. Fort unately, at le'ast for the cause of public economy, the case ia now reversed; and to the extent of the appropriations, whatever these may be, ingrafted on the different appropriation bills, as well as those made by. private bills, over aud above the estimates of the different Departments, it will be necessary for Congress to provide the means -qf payment be fore their adjournment. Without this, the'Trea sury will be t-xhausted before the 1st of January, nd the public credit will ba seriously impaired. Ibis disgrace must not fall upon the country. Tbe gentleman, then,, charges that the expenditures now arp extravagant beyond all precedent, and that they are wholly - inexcusable upon any fair ground.- Before proceeding to reply to the views which be presents in this part of his argu-J orient. 1 desire to call attention to some historical facts that are important in this connection, and which are indispensable to a correct judgment upon the issues he has tendered. Aud first, as to the number of States and organized Territories, and their area, iu 1815; and the number of States and Territories, and their area, in 1858. At the former period wehad eigh-teen States, covering an area of 504,412 square ujites, aud five organized Territories, (exclusive of the District of Columbia, covering an area of 254,452 square miles. In 1858 we havethirty-two States, covering an area of 1,602,000 square miles, six organized Territories, (exclusive ot the District of Columbia.) covering an area of 1,40 1,000 square miles. Besides this, we have the Mesillu valley embracing 78,000 square miles, and Indian Territory, embracing 187,000 square miles. In 1815, therefore, the States and Terri tories covered 759. 8o4 square miles, "while in 1858 they cover 3,268,000 square miles, an area tour times aniMine inira iarger now man in 10 10. In 1815 the strength of our Army was 10,000 men,while in 1858 its strength is 17,984 men In 1815 the Navy comprised 9b'8 officers, of all grades, (lucluding marines.) In 1858 the officers had increased to 1,336. . Iu 18 lo the num ber of men cannot be ascertained, but from the best evidence that ean be obtained, the number was about 5,310. Now th number is 8.500. Iu 1815 we had 52 vessels, carrying 1,119 guns, 25 vessels with no armament, 4 bombs, and..! 1 guu-boats making 92. In 1858 we have 10 ships-of the linejxarrying 872 guns; 10 frigates carrying 500 gnus; 21 sloops of war carrying 426 guns; 3 brigs carrying 10 guns; 1 schooner carrying '4 gars; 8 screw steamers of the first class, carrying 268 gucisj 6 of the seeoud class, carry- tag ea guns; L ot the. third class carrying 11 guns; 3 side wheel steamers of the first class car rying 24 guns; 1 of the' Second class carrying 0 gnus; z ot tne third class carrying b guns ma king a total of 2,221 guns. Besides these there are two tenders for the screw-steamers, and one tender for the side-wheel steamers, and lire per manent store aud receiving ships. Captain Wright, of the engineer department, to whom I applied for information on the subject of fortificatious, saysi : 1 am hot aware of any records in this office giving the number of fortifications in the Lfoited States in 1815, and believe it would be a work of much labor and time to ascertain with certain ty what the. number was. Many of the works bearing the name of forts were merely improvis ed field works or batteries; while others, like those ou State n island, for tbe defense of the entrance to the harbor -of New York, were State works,"' : As to the number of fortification ia 1853, Cap tain Wright says: - "there ara at tbe present time, under tbe charge of the engineer department, fifty -six dis tinct .permanent works of fortifications oa the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, and on the northern take frontier, which are either complet ed or iu course of construction. In addition to these, appropriations were made at the last regul ar session of Congress for. ten additional works, on which little or nothing has been done toward tbe commencement. ' ' ' . ' . The number of light honses. and light tessebt prior to 1815 was 49. In 1858 lighU of all kinds, including beacon light and light vessels, existing and authorized to be built, number 602. About 33 have not been finished, but ate In tbe course of construction. . T In 1813 we had 90 "couectot of the revenue, and 77 aurreyors, and in 1821 we had -631 infe rior officers in the revenue eemce. in loia tbe nomber pf collector is 116, and the number of surveyors jl J making; - 225. .The tiumber of inferior oCcers employed ia the collcvtioa of tha nvaaaa is 8,083. 'i : - - , -r- "..."- f The Humbef of land office ia 1815 M I9i-The number 1853 is SS. . . , , , 4 r -' The expenditure for the Indian service in 1S15 amounted to lU.yS. 1 TL.asamai service tow require aa expenditure of $4,150,433 33 mated at 1,400, and tbe amount paid to them was $98,000. At this time the number bas increas d to 13.186, and $1,365,717 54 is now required for their payment. . ; These facts, thus presented, clearly 6how the condition and extent of our territory, the larger portion of which has been acquired since 1815, the period at which the gentleman sums up the annual expenditures on the third page of bis speech. Since that time we have acquired the Ploridas, Texas, New ilexieo and California, and the Gadsden purchase. Under these circumstances, no fair or just comparison in regard to the expenditures can be instituted between the years 1815 aud 1858. It would be about as fair aud wise to institute a comparison between the expenditures of a child and those of the full. grown man. The gentleman is a recognized leader of his party, and to this position he is fairly entitled by his intelligence and character. He was a member of the last Congress, and I desire, as he is now preaching economy, to call his attention to some of the legislation of that Congress, in which he participated, and tor which he and his party so far as the House is concerned, are responsible, to a great extent at least. The submarine telegraph bill appropriated 5 0,000 per annum to that scheme until the in cussing this question. If the charges are well founded, it is an exceedingly, easy matter for gentlemen to designate the items ia" the annual appropriitions that are not justified by a proper regard for economy. r If you are for reform, present your measures, let them be examined, and, if they are wise and just, you can rely upon our support to aid in their passage. If you are in earnest, you will do this; but, unfil it shall be done, you cannot convince the people of your sincerity, .Cease -your denunciations, give us the details, bring forward yOur measures of retrenchment and reform, and thus furnish practi. cal evidence of your disposition to remedy what you consider existing evils in the Administra tion of the Government and ia our svstera of legislation. Another qaestion which ha attracted a large share of public attention is the proper disposition to be made of the public lauds. It is undeniably true that the Opposition in the North and North-west, as a party are committed to the policy of railroad grants. In the Thirty-Fourth Congress, when the Opposition had undisputed control in this House, the House Committee on Public Lands reported seven bills, making grants of alternate sections of land, six sections in width on each side of the respective roads, to the States of Iowa, Florida, Alab am a, Lvouitiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, aid Mississippi, covering thirteen million six. hundred and eighty-six thousand three hundred and four acres. A like grant was also made to the Territory of Minne sota, which passed the Senate by aye 32, noes 10. Of tbe ayes, twenty -one were Democrats, nine Republicans, and two FilImorcAmerieans. The ten who voted in the .negative were all Dein ocrats. When this bill came to the House, it was amended by arrant for Alabama, and as amended was passed by yeas 87, navs GO. Of the yeas sixty were Ripublicins, eighteen Dem ocrata, and niue Fillmore-Americansj of the nays, twenty two were Itepublicans, twenty eiht Democrats, arid ten Fillmore-Amerieans. If I had time I would refer to the votes on such bills on other occ sious to tho w that the Opposition cannot be relied upon to husband the public lands and so to manage them that they may be a source of revenue to the Government. In my view, such dispositions of the public lands are wrong in principle, unjust to the old States, and of mischievous policy. Such erants build up monopolies, and monopolies are always prejudical to individual interests and the equal rights of all. ' In 1848, the Opposition raised the cry of extravagance against the Democratic party, and in the then existing condition of tho public mind, succeeded in obtaining possession cf the Govern ment. Taylor and Fillmore were elected to the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the United States, and entered upon the discharge.of their auties on tne 4tn 01 iiarcn, laiy. iney came into power avowing their purpose to retrench ex penditures and reform abuses which were alleged to exist under the Administration of their prede cessors; and the people were induced to believe that these great results would be attained. Du ring the administration of Mr. Polk, the duty of carrying on the war with Mexico devolved upon him, and, as a necessary cousequence, the annual expenditures were much larger, than, under other circumstances, they would have bveni In tbe four years his expenditures amounting (ex elusive of the public debt) to $165,381,020 58 being an annual average expenditure of $11;,-' 345,250 59. In. the four years of Taylor and Fillmore the expenditures (exclusive of the public debt) amounted to- Jlb5,t83.li50 48 being an annual average expenditure of $11,420,912 C2 This Whig ad ministration, therefore, of Taylor and Fillmore, cost the people $75,656 01a year more, in a time of profound peace, than the Dem- ocraiic aamimstration 01 l oiK, cost tnetn in a time of war. ' If such was the result in that instance, may we not reasonably anticipate a like result if the Opposition shall succeed in the next presidential struggle? The same men who elected Taylor and Fillmore now constitute the body of the Opposition arrayed against the present eminently patriotic administration. It is, known to this committee that during my entire service in this body I have labored zeal onsly to reduce expenditures. So decided has been my public action on the subject that it has subjected me to the fierce denunciations of agents and all others interested in large expenditures of tbe public monev. Indeed many of my political associate ia the House whose views anon this Subject are more liberal than my own, not unfre- qaently complain of the course which a sense of duty to those I represent constrains me to pursue. While i have resisted all appropriations for custom-house, marine bospital, court home, post oflice, territorial and District buildings which are now dotted over this district, the States and Territories, and ia the construction of which millions of dollars have been most profligately dissipated, the Opposition ia this House at the last session of the last Congress succeeded ia appropriating for these object no less a sum than $5,445,651 48. Ibe appropriations ior these objects alone, during the Thirty-Fourth - Congress, amounted to tbe monstrous sum of $8,633,390 48! The countty will be astonished to learn that for the Capitol extension, the dome, and. a few works of art, 4,378,000 have been appropriated since 1852. ; An enormous amoili t has also been appropriated' to the aqueduct, that can only be told in millious. , I have resisted ail these .things to tbe extent of my feeble ability, but who of the Opposition has come to ray aid? Now an l tbaa, some one of them has raised his voice in opposition, bat it is Bn&eniabla that aa overwhelming majority of that party has voted (or them. Tbe nineteenth amendment of the Senate to the civil bill at this session made appropriation for eleven customhouses, in different part of the country, and 00 agreeing to that amendment the vote was yeaj 60 ( DmocraU, 18 Opposition. 32;) - nays 73, (Democrat, 51; Opposition 22.) .1 have resisted the increase of salaries, and the multiplication of ofScer and Government employees; Dd have, ia all fair atid honorable moj-s, endeavored to reduce the expenditures to. the lowest praeiicable suaotiot coaaisteat with t proper regard to the putlie interest and aa eTeetiv .'ttimiubtratioD of the Goveremect. - .: , Such Lat Len my cour-; ti a Rnre'entatTve of the C0 le. and I r!o tender ta tha'i cn'leiuan I mf cordial cooperation ia all wise, iuit, and propose for the reformation of abases or the reduction of expenditure. I think th expenditures maj be curtailed without detriment to the public service; that the camber of officer may be diminished and man j salaries reduced wit h-out prejudice or embarrassment to the prompt, ' intelligent, and faithful disposition of the public business. Tbe gentleman will find this side of the House ready to second all efforts he may make to this end. and all he has to do is to introduce his measures at the earliest practicable moment. He bas been rather dilatory heretofore, considering the magnitude and importance of the work before him, but still there is ample time during the next session to accomplish all that may be needed to inaugurate "hi reign of economy. ; - . There is still another point the "endless job and contracts," to which the gentleman has referred. What those ''jobs and contracts" are f have no means of knowing, and the gentleman has not informed me. For all "job , and contracts" that were to let, I imagine at least one bidder could have been found among the He pub--lican in the last Congress. The result of tha investigation at the close of the last session-showed very conclusively that tome ; of the Republicans kept an eye opon to "the main chance," and that they were the recipients of such, plunder as was to be appropriated and enjoyed. Suspicion attached to no member cf the Democratic party in that House. , I heard this remark, in regard to ''job and terest on the investment should reach six per cen.t., and then $50,000 for twenty-five years.-The company had the use of two of our best vessels and their crews. But six Democrats voted for the bill. On the proposition to pay $186,765 85 for books for members of Congress, only eleven Democrats voted for it. The appropriation ot $100,000 for the Capitol dome was voted for by both parties, and therefore each party is responsible to 4he extent of the support given to it The bill creating a Lieutenant General, and increasing the pay of the officers and mea in tbe Army, was passed by the last Congress, and wa most cordially supported by the Opposition party iu this House. During the Thirty-Fourth Congress, $16,022 was appropriated to pay pec diem and mileage to Archer, Fouke, Turney, Reeder, Miiliken, and Bennett, for contesting the seats of member re turned to tbat Congress and ia all those cases the contests were decided against them. The yeas and nays show that the Opposition are re' sponsible for this expenditure. During the same Congress river and harbor bills, fooling up the sum of $745,600, were pass ed by the Opposition and vetoed by President-Pierce, greatly to the annoyance of the geutle-man aud his party. At the first session of the same Congress appropriation amounting to $3,-189,739 were passed for forty-one cm torn-houses, court houses, post offices, and marine hospitals. Of this number, only eleven were recommended by tbe Administration. At the ttird session of, the, same Congress, appropriations for the same purpose Were inade to thirty-one buildiugs of a like kind amounting to $2,084,000, only four of which had the recommeudatioa of the Administration. ' . During the 6amV Congress appropriations amxJunliug C8 the sum of $2270,000 were mada for the extension of the Capitol, the dome, aud works of art. It was out of this pprqfriatit.i forthe Capitol extension, if I am rightly informed, that dciks were purchased at ninety dollars each, aud chairs at seventy dollars each, furthd new hall of tbe House of lleprescutativea. The appropriations for the several items of'tLj contingent fund for the House of Reprosenta tives for the Tbirty-Third. Congress amounted to $903,100 56. The appropriations for the same objects for the Thirty Fourili Congress ran up, under the action of the Opposition in this House,-who had tho majorityo the sum of $1,087,770, showiag an increase m this hrauch of expenditure of $184,669 44. ; . At the last session of the Thirty-Fourth Con gress the Senate returned to this House tbe sun dry civil bill with one hundred aud three amend merits, covering appropriations to the amount of $3,771,816 45. It came to this House ou the Jast night of the session, when we had no opportunity even to read the amendments in the Hoase. On the recommendation of the Com mittce of Ways aud Means, the House rejected all the amendments, aud the bill apd amendments1 thus rejected went to a coinmiltee of conference, who reported the z&xl mjroing thatthe Senate should recede from ameudmeuts coven ing $713,256 01, aud that the House should re' -cede from its disagreement as to tbe residue.' When tbe readiugof the amendments was cilled fur, Speaker Uanks decided that they could not-be read, aud the House was brought lb a vote on the adoption of the conference report and thus, without any knowledge of what they were doing, the members voted away $3,058,560 41 of tbe public money, by 87 yeas to 67 nays.- Of the eighty-seven yeas, fifty eiht btdjuged ta the Oppositionj . ' ... If I had the time, I would refer to some of the votes on the Senate's amendments to thj sundry-.civil. bill at the present session. Forthe customhouse and marine Lopitl amendment? for the amendment directing the payment to tLe" State of Maine of usurious interest on money borrowed to carry on the Aroostook war; for thtf amendment appropriating to Gales &, Saaton,-$310,000 for the publication of the American State Papers; and other amendments that might be enumerated, a decided majority of the yarr came from the Opposition side of the House. The gentleman complain that our foreign intercourse expenses have ran up to an enormous figure. The gentleman evidently does not understand the subject It will be recollected . that awards paid under treaties and other pay. ments of a like character are embraced ia tbir expenditure. By way of illustration, I take th year ending Jane 30, 1819. when the appropriation for this object was $5,903,593 72, made under a Democratic Administration, and Abe" year ending June 30, 1853, mad 3 under an Op'' p-3ttiort Administration, when the appropriation1 v was $950,871 30. lathe former year $ 5,5 55,-354 79, was used to ful 511 treaty etipulauou . with' the Mexican Republic, the bling of tho Two Sicilies, and the Sepublic of Peru, leaving a balance of $313,641 93. Ia the laUer year oalv $297,155 57 was required to pay awards leaving a balance of $553,715 73 for foreign intercourse proper almost doable the amount used for this purpose, ia 1819. How will tbe gentleman explain this increase uuder Oppaa:-" tion rule? - , , 'Sweeping charges of extravagance, such as the gentleman has indulged in, do not strik my mindis the mOit satisfactory mole of di-coutracts,' with no small degree of surprise Irom the gentleman from Ohio; and I am? run, from my knowledge of him, that, in Lis moments of calm reflection, he will er the injustice bo . haa done to the officers cf the Government In this connection, permit me say that th Democratic party passe i tha tariff bill of 1537- a measure of vast interest and importaaca w x.I sectiort of tia couolry. At the present sesisa aa iovestintUon into tbe mola cf iu passage was ordrAd, and it i a oarco of prl' an! pleasure? tofel that no: a rn'emSer of iLj Te-nra.1(2 party of either tba Ilousa or th Ee.. zr . .. - j. fOuh 1 whd wa even suspected of te ; i : - - e-f Jfl hU ct:on opon this mwiatj t ' f-or other improper considerations. . - ' - I have heardit said ofen and .again is. t. 3.. U-39f ijarifij ti press- Tc'.i t.t t .1