^tckltubviXQ
JOSEPH W. HAMPTON,
.“The powers granted under the Constitution, being derived from the People of the United State?, may be resuinod by theo, whenever perverted to their injury or appre«sioji.”—Madison.
-Kilitor aiHl Fublii^licr.
VOLUME I
CHARLOTTE, N. C., MARCH 1, 1842.
NUMBER 51.
TERMS
Twenty-Seventh Con^rss:
Tue Mccidcnbur^ Jeffcrsutiian" is pubhshoa wcolvly, at
'I'lro l)oUar& and Fifty Cents, if paid in advance; or Three
Ji IIa it not paid bi forc the expiration of three months
from the time of yubaiTibing. Any person who will procure
HubscTxberi and become responsible for their subscriptions,
y.iall bnvc a ropy of the paper gratis or, a club of ten sub-
may have th.‘ pap-r one year for Tventrj Dollars in
' NCpupcr wiribculscor.tinuf-i wlulct’jc subscriber owf'S any
things if he i.s able to payand a failure to notify the Editor
of a wish to discontinue at h ast ove month before the expira-
t ,>.n of the time paid for, will be considered a new engagement.
Original Subscribers will not be allowed to discontinue the
p-i], r be fore the expiration of ihc tirst year without paying for
a full year’s subscription.
Adctrtisem,nitti will bo conspicuously and correctly inscrl-
= i at One Dollar \tvr square for the first insertion, and Ticen-
t)!-tire (’ents for each continuance—oxccpt Court and other
ludicial ailv rtis inenL=>, which will be charged ticcnty-Jireper
I'fnt. higher than the above rates, (owing to the delay, gene
rally, attendant upon collections). A liberal discount will be
made to those who advertise by the year. Advertisemeuts sent
I.! for publication, must be marked with the number of inser-
t. ms d t'ired, or they w.li be publisb'-'d until forbid and charg
fii aci’orilingly.
:i V !-• IS to the F.dit-ir, unless cuntainiag nron. y la sums
of J-'Lr^ Dollars, or ovur, must come free of post;ige, or the
amount paid at the oiric.* here will bo charged f.> the writer,
in ( very iii.tunce, and collected a? other accounts.
\Vt'(‘klv Almanac for March, 18A2.
/)A i
1 ‘I’ue-sdiiy,
Z Wrdnesday,
A Thnrs'lay,
1 Friday,
Saturday,
(i Sunday,
7 Monday.
Sun
RISE
G 22 j
6 21 I
0 20 ;
19 !
(5 iS j
G 17
() I()
Mooy’s PIIASICS-
Sun
f^KT. _
I'sls i“ “
i .'5 39 1
I 5 40 i liaSt Qnart(;r,
5 41} Xew .M )on
5 42 1 First duarlor,
5 ':3 I Full 3Io(.in,
5 44 I
D. IT. jr.
:i 7 50 i:.
12 12 53 M.
1!) l.:i M.
2ti 8 ;;o M.
Wt>ULD iuiurnt .‘^urh o!' his frif'nds aa desire
hi.s profi'ssioiKil services. th;»t he has removed
luri OHic(‘ to Mr. .J-^hnson's l.rick Liouse. two doors
:«Uove t’l'* 'iiroli'ia Inn." \vli re lit; t:uiy he found
;it all tiiiii's. utilfr;s iu'Ct;.s.s;i;l.y ubsciit.
'hurlo!ti'. l‘^chru:i!'vI'*-!’-. 4S...F
Hr. TlioiJinr Harris
'J'AJvES thif^ mrfhod to inform tlie ci-
li/ons of this \ iilaje, and of the sur
rounding country, that he Rtill continues
the I’KACTICK OF MEDICINE as
formerly, where he will attend to all ap-
plicatinns in his profession, with jiiinctuality. He
may always ho found at his Shop, opposite Colonel
Alex;tn;l(‘r’s Hotel.
All persons indebted to him by hook account,
nre [(artic.niariy requested 1) close them between
now and the February (Jourt, by ca.sh or note, as
Ilia hooks ir.ust positively he c.losed. Those who do
rot comply witli this notic.e inu:3t cast no reflections,
tiinuld they hav(; to settle Avitli an t)llli‘er.
Charlotte. Jan. 11, 1542.
tc
ni
I>r. J. 3i. Hiappoldt
HAS roniOA'cd to the Oflice directly op-
j)osite Maj. Joseph Smith’s Hotel, where
he may be found hy his friends and the
public, and consult;*d at all times, unless
jTofessionaHy en^ai^ed.
A report has been indu.strfmisly circulated
fir relative to his cbnr:.n's. They have been
]'roimunced extravagant. lie tak‘s this opportunity
to Rlatelo tiie public, that he holds himself ready at
any lime to compare charges, anil weigli his service
with any of tho Facility. II« wishes it to be dis
tinctly understood, that his CH.AUG'FiS shqll in alt
i be REAsoNABr.i:.
.Tan.-I. 1S42.
43...tf
Da. G. i. FOX
II iuit r-.'coivcd a large an l g. n^'val aiSortmcrit of
MEDICINEN,
i)yt'-S(ufi's. Perl'uuierv, 'I'liompsonian
Medicines, Wines jind Spirits for
medical use,
And a variety of other articles, all of which he
w.arrants genuine, and will sell low for c«5/».
Cliarlotte, April 27, IS40. 8....F
T) THE
Fashionable Public.
THE Subscriber resspect-
fully tenders his thanks to the
citizens of ChaJpIotte, and the
public generally, for the libe
ral patronage lie has recei
ved since he commeRccd the
Tailoring Business
in this place. From past ex
perience, he now has no hesi
tation in saying that he is
fully prepared to give general
satisfaction to all who may lavor him with their
patronage. All w'ork done in his Establishmen
will be wARRANTEft, SO far as making and cutting is
concerned. He has just received his
FALL & WINTER FASHIONS
©IB
■S8
will continue to receive regular reports of En-
?^'"h and French Fashions.
Ilis Shop will be found in the South-East wing
oi Mr. Leroy Springs’ brick building.
-4 liberal discount made to cash customers.
AL»EXAXDER BETHUNE.
REMARKS OF MR. CALHOUX,
In Senate, January 25, 1642—On the Bdl authorizing the is
sue of tive millions of Treasury Notes.
Mr. Calhoun said : There was no measure that
required greater caution, or more severe scrutiny,
than one to impose ta.^es or raise a loan, be the form
what it may. I hold that Government has no right
to do either, except when the public service makes
it imperiously necessary, and then only to the ex
tent that it requires. I also hold that the expendi
tures can only be limited by limiting the supplies.
If money is granted, it is sure to be expended.—
Thus thinking, it is a fundamental rule with me
not to vote for a loan or tax bill till I am satisfied
it is necessary for the public service, and then not
if the deficiency can be avoided by lopping oft' un
necessary objects of expenditure, or the enforcement
of an exact and judicious economy in the public
disbursements. Entertaining these opinions, it was
in vain that the chairman of the Finance Commit
tee pointed to the estimates of the year, as a sufli-
cient reason for the passage of this bill as amended.
Estimates are too much a matter of course to satis
fy me in a case like this. I have some practical
knowledge of the subject, and know too well how
readily old items are put down, from year lo year,
without much inquiry, whether they can be dis
pensed with or reduced, and new onfs inserted,
without much more reflection, to put much reliance
on them. To satisfy me, the chairman must do
what lie has nait even attempted : he must state sat
isfactorily the reasons for evejy new item, and the
increase of every old one, and show that the defi
ciency to meet the revenue, cannot be avoided by
retrenchment and economy. Until he does that,
he has no right to call on us to vote this heavy ad
ditional charge of five millions of dollars on the peo
ple. especially in a period of such unexampled pe
cuniary embarrassment. Having omitted to per
form this duty. I am constrained to examine for
myself the estimates in a very hasty m inner, with
iniperf»'Ct documents, and no opportunity of deri
ving information from the respective Departments.
But, with all these disadvantages, I have satisfied
mv.?elf that this loan is unnecessary—that its place
may be supplied, and more than supplied, by re
trenchment and economy, and the command of re
sources in the power of tiie Cfovernment, without
materially impairing the efliciency of the public
service, my reasons for which I siiall now proceei
to state.
The estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury
for the expenditures of tlie year, is §^32,997,258,
or, in round numbers, thirty-three millions, embra
ced under the following heads: the civil list, inclu
ding foreign mtercourse and miscellaneous,
atnounting to 84,000,987 37; military, in all its
branches, 811,717.791 83; navy, 88,705,579 83;
permanent appropriations, applicable to the s'ervice
of the year ■'jjil,572,90G, and Treasury Notes to be
redeemed, 87,000,000.
Among the objects of retrenchment, I place at
the head the great increase that is proposed to be
made to the expenditures of the navy, compared
with that of last year. It is no less than 82,508,-
032 13. taking the expenditures of last year from
the annual report of the Secretary. I see no suffi
cient reason, at this time, and in the present embar
rassed condition of the Treasury, for this great in
crease. I have looked over the report of the Sec
retary hastily, and find none assigned, except gene
ral reasons, for an increased navy, which I am not
disposed to controvert. But 1 am decidedly of the
opinion, that the commencement ought to be post
poned till some systematic plan is matured, both as
to the ratio of increase and the description of force
of which the addition should consist, and till the
Department is propetly organized, and in a condi
tion to enforce exact responsibility and economy in
its disbursements. That the Department is not now
properly organized, and in that condition, we hav^e
the aiuhority of the Secretary himself, in which I
concur. 1 am satisfied that its administration can
not be mide effective under the preseut organiza
tion. particularly as it regards its expenditures. 1
have very great respect for the head of the Depart
ment, and confidence in his ability and integrity.—
If he would hear the voice of one who wishes him
well, and who takes the deepest interest in the
branch of .service of which he is the chief, my ad
vice would he, to take time; to look about; to re
organize the Department in the most efficient man
ner, on the staff principle, and to establish the most
rigid accountability and economy in the disburse
ments, before the great work of a systematic in
crease is commenced. Till that is done, add no
dollar to the expenditures. iMake sure of the foun
dation before you begin to rear the superstructure.
I am aware that there will be a considerable in
crease this year in the navy, compared to the ex-
pen Jiture of last year, in consecjuence of the acts of
the extraordinary session. This may deduct sever
al hundred thousand dollars from the amount I pro
pose to retrench, but I cannot doubt that an impro
ved administration of the moneyed aflairs of the
Department, with the very great reduction in pri
ces and wages, n saving may be made more than
suflicient to make up for that deduction. In speak
ing of i.mproved administration, I comprehend the
marine corps. And here I deem it my duty to re
mark, that theestimaiesfor that branch of the service
appear to me to be very large. The corps is estima
ted at one thousand privates, and its aggregate ex
pense at 8502,292. This strikes me to be far too
large for so small a corps, of long standing, station
ed at convenient and cheap points, and at a period
when the price of provisions, clothing and all other
articles of supply is low. A -large portion, I ob
serve, is for barracks, which, if proper at all, sure
ly may be postponed till the finances are placcd in
better condition.
I shall now pass from the naval to the military
department; and here I find an estimate of 81;508,-
032 13, for harbors, creeks, and the like. I must
say that I am surprised at this estimate. All who
have been members of the Senate for the last eight
or ten years, must be familiar with tho history of
this item of expenditure. It is one of the branches
of I he old, exploded American system, and almost the
only one which remains. It has never been acqui-
esced in, and was scarcely tolerated when the Trea-
CliarlQtte: April 20, 1840.
I...tv
full to overflowing with the surplus rev-
sury was i „ , , »
enu& Olf aH’thT& extravagant and lawless ap^o-
priations of the worst of time, I have ever regard
ed it as the most objcciinnable—-unconstitutional, lo
cal in its character, and unequal and unjust in its
operation. Little did I anticipate that such an item,
and of so large an amount, would at this time be
found in the estimates, when the Treasury is deep
ly embarrassed, the credit of the Government im
paired, and the revenue from ihe lands surrendered
to tho States and Territories. Such an item, at
such a period, looks like infatuation; and I hope
the Committee on Finance, when it eomes to take
up the estimates, will strike it out. It cortainly
ought to be expunged; and I shall accordingly
place it among the items that ought to be retrench
ed.
Passing to the Treasury Department, I observe
an estimate of 843,932, for surveys of public lands;
and under the head of “ balances of appropriations
on the 31st December, 1841, required to be expen
ded in 1842,” 8200,000 for the same object, mak
ing, together, 8243,932, which ought either not be
in the estimates, or, if put there, ought to be credit
ed in the receipts of the year. The reason will be
apparent, when it is stated that the Distribution act
deducts the expenses incident to the administration
of the public lands, and, among others, that for sur
veying, and, of course, it must be deducted from the
revenue from the lands, before it is distributed among
the States, and brought to the credit of the Treasu
ry. It is, in fact, but an advance out of the land
fund, to be deducted from it before it is distributed.
There are several other items in the estimates con
nected with the expenses incident to the administra
tion of the public lands, to which the same remarks
are applicable, and which would make an addition
al deduction of many thousand dollar?, bat the ex
act amount of which I have not had time to ascer
tain. 'I’hese several items, taken together, make
the sum of 84,317,322 25, that may fairly be struck
from the estim.ates. To these there are doubtless
many others of considerable amount that might be
added, had I the time and means for full investiga
tion. Among them, I would call the attention of
the chairman to an item of 8158.627 17, under the
name of “ patent fund,” and comprised among the
balances of appropriations on the 31st of December
last, and w'hich will be required for this year. I
have not had titne to investigate it, and am unin
formed of its nature. I must ask the chairman to
explain. Does it mean receipts of money derived
from payments for patents? If so, it ought to be
passed to the Treasury, and classed under the re
ceipts of the year, and not the appropriations, un
less, indeed, there be some act of Congress which
has ordered otherwise. If it be an appropriation,
I would ask to whai is it appropriated, and to what
particular objects Is it to be iipplifcd this year ? The ^
chairman will find it in page 40, of tho document i
containing the estimates.
I would ask the chairman, also, whether the in
terest on the trust funds, including both the Smith
sonian and Indian, which may not be applied to the
object of the trusts during the year, have been com
prehended in the receipts of the year? We pay
interest on them, and have the right of course to
their use, till required to be paid orer. The inter
est must be considerable. That of the former, alone,
is about 830,000 annually.
I would, also, call his attention to the pension
list. I observe the diminution of the number of
pensioners for the last year is very considerable, and
from the extreme age of the revolutionary portion,
there must be a rapid diminution till the list is fi
nally closed, I have not had time to investigate
the subject sufliciently to say to what amount the
Treasury may be relieved from that source ; but I
am informed Lv a friend who is familiar with the
subjf ct, that a very great reduction of expenditure,
say S300,0u0 annually, for some years, may be ex
pected under that head. Under these various heads,
and others, which a careful examination might de
signate, I feel confident that a reduction might be
made by retrenchment in the estimates to the amount
of the sum proposed lo be borrowed by this bill, as
atncnded, w^ilhout materially impairing the eflicicn-
cy of the Government.
I shall next proceed to exat'Oina what reduction
may be made by strict economy in the public dis
bursements; by which I mean, not parsimony, but
that careful arid efficient administration of the mo
neyed ofl^iirs of the Government, which guards
against all abuse and waste, and applies every dol
lar to the object of appropriations, and that in the
manner best calculated to produce the greatest re
sult. This high duty jiroperly appertains to the
functions of the Executive, and Congress can do
but little more than to urge on and sustain that De
partment of the Government in discharging it, to
which it belongs, and which rrrust take the lead in
the work of economy and reform. My object is to
show, that there is ample room for the w'ork, and
that great reduction may be made in the expendi
tures by such an administration of the moneyed af
fairs of the Government as I have described. But
how is this to be made apparent .2 Can it be done
by minute examination of the various items of the
estimates and expenditures? Can a general state
of loosery3ss, of abuses, or extravagance in the dis
bursements be detected and exposed by such exam
ination? All attempts of the kind have failed, and
must continue to do so. It would be im.practicable
to extend such an inquiry through the various heads
of expenditures. A single account might be select
ed, that would occupy a committee a large portion
of a session; and after all their labor, it would be _
more than an even chance that they would fail to
iletect abuses and mismanagement, if they abound
ed ever so much. They lie beyond the accounts ;
and can only be reached by the searching and scru
tinizing eyes of faithful and vigilant officers charg
ed with the administrative supervision.
There is but one Avay in which Congress can
act with efiect in testing whether the public funds
have been judiciously and economically applied to
the objects for which they were appropriated ; and
if not, of holdisg those charged with their adminis
tration responsible, and that is, by comparing the
present expenditures with those of past periods of
acknowledged economy, or foreign cotemporaneous
service of like kind. If, on such comparison, the
diflfer«nce should be much greater than thev should
be, afler making duealiowancej those w’ho have the
control should be held responsible to reduce them
to a proper level, or to. give satisfactory reasons for
not d^ing it; and that is the course which I inten.d
to pursue. They who now have the control, both ! aggregate amount of imports; and in 1840 it had iri
of Congress and the Exvcutive Department, came
into power on a solemn pledge of reform; and it is
but fair that they should be held responsible for the
reformation of the abuses and mismanagement-
which they declared to exist, and the great reduc
tion of expenses which they pledged themselves to
make, if the people should raise them to power.
But I am not so unreasonable as to expect that
reform can be the work of a day. 1 know too well
the labor and the time it requires to entertain any
such opinion. AH I ask is, that the work shall be
early, seriously, and systematically commenced. It
is to be regretted that it has not already commenc
ed, and that there is so little apparent inclination to
begin. We had a right to expect that the chair
man of the Committee on Finance in bringing for
ward a new loan of -^5,000,000, would have at
least undertaken to inform us, after a full survey of
the estimates and expenditures, w’hether any reduc
tion could be made, and, if any, to what amount, be
fore he asked for a vote, adding so great an addition
to the public debt. I cannot but regard the omis
sion as a bad omen. It looks like repudiation of
solemn pledges. But what he has failed to do I
shall attempt, but in a much less full and satisfacto
ry manner than he might have done, with all his
advantages as the head of the committee. For the
purpose of comparing, I shall select the years 18-
23 and 1840. I selected the former, bpcause it is
one of the years of the second term of Mr. Mon
roe’s administration, and which it is admitted now,
administered the moneyed aflairs of the Govern
ment with a reasonable regard to economy : but at
that lime it was thought by all to be liberal in its
expenditures, and by some even profuse, as several
Senators who I now see. and who were then mem
bers of Congress, will bear witness. But I select
it for a still stronger reason. It is the year which
immediately preceded the first act, professedly pass
ed on the principles of the protective policy. The
intervening time between the two periods compre
hends tbc two acts of 1824 and 1828, by which
that policy was carried to such great extremes.
To those acts, connected with the banking sys
tem, and the connection of the banks with the Go
vernment, is to be attributed that train of events
which has involved the coontry and the Govern
ment in 60 many difficulties: and, among others,
that vast increase of expenditures which 1ms taken
place since 1823, as will be shown by the compar
ison I am about to make.
The disbursements of the Government are com
prised under three great heads; the civil list, in
cluding foreign intercourse and miscellaneous;
the military, and the navy. I propose to begin
with the first, and take them in the order in which
they stattd.
The expenditures under the first head iiave in
creased since 1823, when they were 82,022,093, to
85,492,030 98, the amount in 1840; showing an
increase, in seventeen years, of 2 7-10 to 1, while
the population has increased only about to 1, that
is, about 74 per cent.—making the increase of ex
penditures, compared to the increase of population,
about 3 G-10 to 1. This enormous increase has
taken place although a large portion of the expen
ditures under this head, consisting of salaries to offi
cers and the pay of members of Congress, have re
mained unchanged. The next year, in 1841, the
expenditure rose to 86.196.5G0. I am, however,
happy to perceive a considerable reduction in the
estimates for this year, compared with the last and
several preceding years; but still leaving room for
great additional reduction to bring the increase of
expenditures to the same ratio with the increase of
population, as liberal as that standard of increase
would be.
'i’hat the Senate may form some conception, in
detail, of this enormous increase, I propose lo go
more into particulars in reference to two items; the
contingent expenses of the two Houses of Congress,
and that of collecting the duties on imports. The
laUer, though of a character belonging to the civil
list, is not included in it, or either of the other heads;
as the expenses incident to collecting the customs,
nre deducted froia the receipts, before the money is
paid into ihe Treasury,
The contingent expenses {they exclude the pay
and mileage of members) ofthe Senate in 1823 was
812,841 07, of which the printing cost 86.349 56,
and stationery 81,631 51 ; and that of the House,
837,848 95, of which the printing cost 822,314 41,
and the stationery 83,877 71. In 1840, the contin
gent expenses of the Senate was 877,447 22, of
which the printing cost 831,285 32, and the station
ery 87,061 77; and that of the House 8199,219 57,
of which the printing cost 865.086 46, and the sta
lionery 836,352 99. The aggregate expenses of
the two Houses together rose from 850,690 02 to
8276.666; being an actual increase of 5 4-10 to 1,
and an increase, in proportion to population, of about
7 2-10 to one. But as enormous as this increase
is, the fact that the number of members had increas
ed not more than about ten per cent, from 1823 to
1840, is calculated to make it still more strikingly
so. Had the increase kept pace with the increase
of member?, (and there is no good reason why it
should greatly excrcd it,) the expenditures would
have risen from 850,690 to 855,759, only
making an increase of but 85,069: bat, instead of
that, it rose to 8276,666, making an increase of
8225,970. To place the subject in a still more
striking view, the contingent expenses in 1823 were
at the rate of 1^144 per member, which one would
suppose \vas ample, and in 1840, §942. Tiiis vast
increase took place under the immediate eyes of
Congress; and yet we were told at the extra session,
by the present chairman of the Finance Committee^
that there was no room for cconomy, and that n5
reduction could be made; and even in this discus
sion he has intimated that little can be done. As
enormous as are the contingent expenses of the two
Houses, I infer from the very great increase of ex
penditures under the head of civil list generally,
when so large a portion is for fixed salaries, which
have not been materially increased for the last sev
enteen years, that they are not much less s# through
out the whole range of this branch of the public
service. ^
I shall now procced to the other item, which 1
have selected for more particular examination, the
increased expenses of collecting the duties on im
ports. In 18‘^ it was S766,699, equal to 3 86-100
peTr cent; on the amount collected, apd 98-100 on the
Gieasedto .^1,542,319 21, equal to 14 13-I0p per
cent, on the amount collf cted. and to 1 58-100 on
the aggregate ainoum of iho imports, being an actu
al increase of nearly a million, and considerably
more than double tiie amount ol 1823. In 1839 it
rose to §1,714.515.
From these facts,'there can be l;‘tlc doubt that
more than a million annually may bo saved unt^er
the two items of contitigent expensf^ of Congress,
and the collection of the customs, without touching
the other great items comprised ynder the civil list,
the executive and judicial departments, the foreign
intercourse, light-houses, and miscellaneous. It
would be safe to put down a saving of at least a half
million for them.
I shall now pass to the military, with which I am
more familiar. I propose to confine my remarks
almost entirely to the army proper, including the
Military Academy, in reference to which the infor
mation is more full and minute. I exclude the ex
penses incident to the Florida war, and the expen
ditures for the Ordnance, the Engineer, the Topo
graphical, the Indian, and the Pension Bureaus.
Instead of 1823, for which there is no official and
e.xact statement of the expenses of tiie army. I shall
take 1821, for which there is one made by myself,
as Secretary of War, aud for the minute correctness
of which, I can votich. It is contained in a report
made under a call of the House of Representatives,
and comprises a comparative statement of the expen
ses of the army proper, for the years 1818, ’49, 20,
and '21, respecUully, and an estimate of the expense
of 1822. It may be proper to add, which I can
with confidence, that tho comparative expense of
1823, if it could be ascertained, would be found lo
be not less favorable than 1821. It would proba
bly be something more so.
With these remarks I shall begin with a com
parison, in the first place, between 1821 and the es
timate for the army proper for this year. The av
erage aggregate strengih of the army in the year
1821, including officers, proKssovs, cadets, ai^ sol
diers, was 8,109, and the proportion of officers, in
cluding cadets, was 1 to 12 18-100, and the expen
diture ^2.180,093 53,* equal to .■j$2G;3 91 for each
individual. The esinnaie for the army proper for
1842, including the Military Academy, is .^4,453,
370 16. 'I'he actual strength of the army, accor
ding to the return accomj>anyIng the message at the
opening of the session, wiis 11,109. Assumingtliis
to be the average strength for this year, and adding
for the average number of the Academy, professois
and cadets, 300, it will give, within a very small
fraction, 8390 for each inJividual, making a diirer-
ence of $136 in favor of 1?21. How far tho in
crease of pay, and the additional expense of two
regiments of dragoons, compared to other descrip
tions of troops, would justify this increase, I ai7i not
prepared to say. In other respects, I should sup
pose, there ought lo be a decrease rather than an
increase, as the price of clothing, provisions, forage,
and other articles of supply, as well as Iranspoira
tion, are, I presume, cheaper than in 1821. The
proportion of officers to soldiers I wouid suppose to
be less in 1842 than 1821, and, of course, as far rs
that has influence, the expense of the former ought
to be less per n>an than the laUer. With this brief
and imperfect comparison DCtween the expense of
1821 and the estimates for tliis year, I shall proce f
to a more minute and full comparison between *!;«•
former and the year 1837. I select that year, be
cause the s’rength of the army, and the propoition
of officers to men (i very material point as it relates
to the expenditure) is almost exactly the same.
On turning to document 1C5 (H. R. 2d sess. 20t[i
Con.) a 1' tter will be found f'roin the then Secreta
ry of War, (Mr. Poinsett) giving a comparative
statement, in detail, of the expense of the army ]>ro-
per including the Military Academy for the years
1837, ’36, '3'J and '40. The strength of the army
for thi first of ihesa years, including officers,
professors, cadets, and soldiers, was 8,107, being
two less than in 1821. 'I'he proportion of officers
and professors, to thecadetsand soldiers, 11 46-100,
being 72' 100 more thnn 1??21. Tlie expendituie
for 1837, 83,308.011, being -S 1,127.918 more
than 1821. The cost per man, inlcluding officers,
professors, cadets, and soldiers, was in 1837 S408
03, exceeding that of 1821 $144 12 per man. It
appears by the letter of the Secretary, that tho ex
pense per man rose in 1838 to IjjiiOl 35; but it is
dtie to the head of the D>'partment, at the time, lo
say, that it declined mider his administration, tho
next year, lo .^381 G.”>, and in tho subsequent, to
ife’SSO 63. 'i'here is no statement ibrthe year 1841 ;
but as there has been a falling ofTin prices, there
ought to be a proportionate reduction in the cost, es
pecially during the ])rescnt year, when there is a
prospect of so great a dt clino in almost every arti
cle which enters into the consumption of the army.
Assuming that the average strength of the army
will be kept equal to the return accompanying the
President’s Message, and that the expenditure of
the year should be reduced to the standard of 1821,
the expense of the army would not exceed l$2,895,.
686, making a difterence, compared wilh the esti-
mati-S. of •'ii) 1,557,684 ; but that from the increase of
pay, and the greater expense of the dragoons, can
not be expected. Having no certain information
how much the expenses are necessarily increased
from thosjj causes, I am not prepared to say what
ought to be the actual reductions, but, unless the in
crease of pay, and the increased cost because of the
dragoons ar« very great, it ought to be very cons^-
ilerable.
I found the expense of the army in 1818, inclu
ding the Military Academy, to be §3,702,495, at a.
cost of §451 57 per man,’ including officers, pro
fessors, cadets, and soldiers, and reduced it in 1821
to $2,180 098, at a cost of S263 91, and waking
a difference between the two years, in the aggre
gate expenses of the army of §1,522,397, and §185
66 per man. There was, it is true, a great fall in
prices in the interval; but allowing for that, by ad
ding to the price of every article entering into the
supplies of the army a sum sufficient lo raise it to
the price of 1818, there was slill a difTerence in the
cost per man of §163 95. This great reduction
was eflected without stinting the service or dimiiii-
shing the supplies, either in quantity or quality.—
They were, on the contrary, increased in both, es
pecially the latter. It was eflfected through an ei*
Document 38, (H. R ) 1st session, 17th Congress.