Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
August 25, 1792
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Extracts from Thomas Paine's letter to Secretary Dundas detail the low expenses of the US federal government, totaling about 66,275 pounds sterling annually, far less than Britain's. The editorial praises Paine's view that the US system is better organized and administered than any in the world, countering British reformers' criticisms.
Clipping
OCR Quality
96%
Excellent
Full Text
Extracts from Mr. Paine's letter to Mr. Secretary Dundas—London, June 6.
"The expense of all the several departments of the General Representative Government of the United States of America, extending over a space of country nearly ten times larger than England, is two hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight dollars, which at 4s. 6d. per dollar, is 66,275l. 11s. sterling, and is thus apportioned.
Expense of the Executive Department.
The Office of Presidency at which the President receives nothing for himself, 5,625
Vice-President, 1,125
Chief Justice, 900
Five Associate Justices, 8,937 10
Nineteen Judges of Districts and Attorney-General, 6,837 15
Legislative Department.
Members of Congress at six dollars (£1 7s.) per day, their Secretaries, Clerks, Chaplains, Messengers, Door-keepers, &c. 25,515
Treasury Department.
Secretary, Assistants, Comptroller, Auditor, Treasurer, Register, & Loan-Office-keeper, in each State, together with all necessary Clerks, Office-Keepers, &c. 12,825
Department of State including foreign Affairs.
Secretary, Clerks, &c. &c. 1,406 5
Department of War.
Secretary, Clerks, Paymasters, Commissioner, &c. 1,562 10
Commissioner for settling old accounts.
The whole Board, Clerks, &c. 2,598 15
Incidental and contingent expenses.
For Fire Wood, Stationery, Printing, &c. 4,036 16
Total 66,275 11
On account of the incursions of the Indians on the back settlements, Congress is at this time obliged to keep six thousand militia in pay, in addition to a regiment of foot, and a battalion of artillery, which it always keeps; and this increase the expense of the war department to 320,000 dollars, which is 87,795l. sterling.
But when peace shall be concluded with the Indians, the greatest part of the expense of government, including that of the army, will not amount to one hundred thousand pounds sterling, which, as has been already stated is but an eighteenth part of the expenses of the English government.
I request Mr. Adams and Mr. Dundas, and all those who are talking of constitutions, and blessings, and Kings, and Lords, and the Lord knows what, to look at this statement. Here is a form and system of government, that is better organized and better administered than any government in the world, and that for less than one hundred thousand pounds per annum, and yet every member of Congress receives, as a compensation for his time and attendance on public business, one pound seven shillings per day, which is at the rate of nearly five hundred pounds a year."
It appears from the foregoing extracts, that Mr. Paine does not think so badly either of the constitution, or of the administration of the government of the United States, as our reformers at home—he expressly pronounces that government not only to be better organized, but better administered than any government in the world.
That gentleman is in a situation to see the affairs of this country impartially. Well informed of what has been done, and at a distance from the factions which are among us, he judges from facts and their consequences, unwarped by the passions of rivalry, which are so apt to discolour objects, and give them a false appearance. The authority of Mr. Paine on this subject, it is presumed will have weight with the clamourers.
"The expense of all the several departments of the General Representative Government of the United States of America, extending over a space of country nearly ten times larger than England, is two hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight dollars, which at 4s. 6d. per dollar, is 66,275l. 11s. sterling, and is thus apportioned.
Expense of the Executive Department.
The Office of Presidency at which the President receives nothing for himself, 5,625
Vice-President, 1,125
Chief Justice, 900
Five Associate Justices, 8,937 10
Nineteen Judges of Districts and Attorney-General, 6,837 15
Legislative Department.
Members of Congress at six dollars (£1 7s.) per day, their Secretaries, Clerks, Chaplains, Messengers, Door-keepers, &c. 25,515
Treasury Department.
Secretary, Assistants, Comptroller, Auditor, Treasurer, Register, & Loan-Office-keeper, in each State, together with all necessary Clerks, Office-Keepers, &c. 12,825
Department of State including foreign Affairs.
Secretary, Clerks, &c. &c. 1,406 5
Department of War.
Secretary, Clerks, Paymasters, Commissioner, &c. 1,562 10
Commissioner for settling old accounts.
The whole Board, Clerks, &c. 2,598 15
Incidental and contingent expenses.
For Fire Wood, Stationery, Printing, &c. 4,036 16
Total 66,275 11
On account of the incursions of the Indians on the back settlements, Congress is at this time obliged to keep six thousand militia in pay, in addition to a regiment of foot, and a battalion of artillery, which it always keeps; and this increase the expense of the war department to 320,000 dollars, which is 87,795l. sterling.
But when peace shall be concluded with the Indians, the greatest part of the expense of government, including that of the army, will not amount to one hundred thousand pounds sterling, which, as has been already stated is but an eighteenth part of the expenses of the English government.
I request Mr. Adams and Mr. Dundas, and all those who are talking of constitutions, and blessings, and Kings, and Lords, and the Lord knows what, to look at this statement. Here is a form and system of government, that is better organized and better administered than any government in the world, and that for less than one hundred thousand pounds per annum, and yet every member of Congress receives, as a compensation for his time and attendance on public business, one pound seven shillings per day, which is at the rate of nearly five hundred pounds a year."
It appears from the foregoing extracts, that Mr. Paine does not think so badly either of the constitution, or of the administration of the government of the United States, as our reformers at home—he expressly pronounces that government not only to be better organized, but better administered than any government in the world.
That gentleman is in a situation to see the affairs of this country impartially. Well informed of what has been done, and at a distance from the factions which are among us, he judges from facts and their consequences, unwarped by the passions of rivalry, which are so apt to discolour objects, and give them a false appearance. The authority of Mr. Paine on this subject, it is presumed will have weight with the clamourers.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Us Government Expenses
Thomas Paine Letter
British Comparison
Constitutional Administration
Indian Incursions
Congress Pay
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Paine
Mr. Secretary Dundas
Mr. Adams
Congress
Indians
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Efficiency And Low Cost Of Us Federal Government Compared To Britain
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Us Government Organization And Administration
Key Figures
Mr. Paine
Mr. Secretary Dundas
Mr. Adams
Congress
Indians
Key Arguments
Us Government Expenses Total 66,275 Pounds Sterling Annually For A Vast Territory
Us System Better Organized And Administered Than Any In The World
Costs Less Than One Hundred Thousand Pounds Per Annum In Peacetime
Eighteenth Part Of English Government Expenses
Paine's Impartial View Counters British Reformers' Criticisms