Virginia Free Press

The misrepresentation of the Loco Foco presses, on the subject of the Debt pushed over by the Van Buren Administration, on its retirement in March 1841, is completely refuted, by the Official Documents from the Treasury Department. The Winchester Virginian, and its kindred libellers, may patch up what statements they please, to mystify the facts, and repudiate the obligations of their favorites still their unblushing effrontery cannot dissipate the items below.

Read Register Smith's statement from the Documents quoted by Mr. Caruthers of Tennessee, and judge of the enormity of the attempt to impose upon your intelligence.

[27th Congress, 2d Sess.]
[House of Rep.]
Doc. No. 281.
Liabilities of the Treasury, March 4, 1841. Aug. 10, 1842 - read and laid upon the table.

Treasury Department,
Register's Office, August 8, 1842.

Sir - I have the honor to transmit a statement of the amount for which the Treasury was liable on the 4th March, 1841, prepared in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th instant.

I have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
T. L. SMITH.

Hon. John White, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Statement of the amount, and for which the Treasury was liable on the 4th March, 1841, agreeable to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th August, 1842.

Specific appropriations of all kinds undrawn on the 4th March, 1841,
$27,134,727 30

Indefinite appropriations drawn between the 4th March and 31st December, 1841,
1,771,269 46

Treasury notes outstanding on the 4th March, 1841,
6,621,334 44

$35,527,331 20

From which deduct cash balance in the Treasury on the 4th March, 1841, exclusive of deposites with the States and the unavailable funds due by defaulting banks, as ascertained from the books of the Treasurer of the United States,
862,055 81

Total,
$34,665,275 39

The above balance ($862,055 81) in the Treasury does not include the sum of $300,000 trust funds.

T. L. SMITH, Register.
Treasury Department, Register's Office,
August 8th, 1842.

Such are the facts, beyond all controversy on both sides, and the question is, who is responsible for the present public debt?

It will be admitted that the Whigs could not refuse to pay the debts their predecessors had contracted, and appropriations made by them, no matter how extravagant or unwarrantable they might consider them - they could not repudiate. This might do for Locofocos, but surely no one anywhere would require or expect it of Whigs.

Then, it is clear that the party on the 4th March, 1841, left the Government, then handed over to the Whigs, bound to raise over and above any additional debts they might afterwards contract, the enormous amount of thirty-five millions five hundred and twenty-seven thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars, ($35,527,325) Be it you say that this sum included the usual annual appropriations for the support of the Government for the year 1841 It is not material whether this vast amount of debt was of old or new contracting, it was cast upon the Whigs, and had to be met as demanded, or the Government disgraced by the ruin of its credit.

But this was not all the liabilities left upon the Whigs. Let us give a few out of many additional items, and prove it from the Records.

Appropriated at the Extra Session 1841, See Ho. Doc No 62 and Acts of that session.

Balance to Florida Military for services in 1840, doc p. 4, Acts p. 31
$19,398

Amount for same (Sedentary corps, I suppose, for six months' service, commencing Nov. 1840 to April 1841, same pages
297,213

for Georgia militia for services in 1840 and 1841, same. pages
8,495

for arrearages for roads, harbors, &c. same pages
40,000

for Greenough's statue of Washingion, contracted for by previous Congress, same doc. p. 6, and Acts p 32
20,100

for the Navy Pension Fund, which had been to that extent exhausted by previous administrations, and was of course a debt against the Treasury, same doc. p. 3, and Acts p. 17
138,666

$594,862

Here is a half million and more, appropriated at the called Session, for outstanding contracts and liabilities, not included in document 281, because not then actually appropriated, and consequently not noticed on the books as a pending liability against the Treasury. The large item of $497,657, to pay the democratic debt against the Post Office Department, to be seen in doc. No. 62, p. 6 and in the acts p. 33, is not included, because it is probable that the same amount was included in previous acts, and is therefore embraced in doc. 281.

Appropriations at 2d session of 27th Congress, and not included in doc. 281.,

For printing ordered by Senate 26th Congress, Doc. 293, p. 2,
$28,282

printing, binding, &c, documents ordered by Senate 1836 and 1837 same page,
12,250

deficiency in fund for contingent expenses of House, 26th Congress, same page,
98,335

repairs of building occupied by Post Office Department under contract with Amos Kendall, 1836, same page,
2,572

expenses of 6th census, page 10, taken 1840
110,000

arrearages since 1834, in General Land Office, page 19,
22,628

Florida militia, called into service in 1839 and '40, page 25 and acts 124.
166,242

Georgia militia for services in 1835, '36, '37 and '38, acts p. 84,
175,000

Louisiana militia for services in 1836, acts p 169
61,378

Maine militia 1839. acts p. 36, indefinite, but at least by estimate,
200,000

$876,678

Besides the foregoing, we found ourselves bound by solemn treaties to pay for the year 1842, and had to appropriate accordingly-

For fulfilling treaty with Miamies of Nov 28, 1840. [same doc. 293, p. 30.] and acts,
$383,750

same with Winnebagos, same doc. and page,
92,860

fulfilling about 42 other Indian treaties, for which reference is made to the same document and page, as well as the acts of 1842,
649,028

Total liabilities under Indian treaties for the year 1842 - many of these liabilities continue, but we only notice the amount for the year 1842.
$1,125,638

Add this to foregoing appropriations for other debts,
876,678

And you have the amount the Whigs were bound to raise in 1842 to pay democratic liabilities.
2,001,325