I am for a government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt; and not for a multiplication of officers & salaries merely to make partisans, & for increasing, by every device, the public debt, on the principle of its being a public blessing.

Summary

This quote highlights a preference for a frugal and simple government, with an emphasis on using public revenue to pay off national debt rather than expanding bureaucracy or increasing salaries to gain political supporters. The quote disapproves of strategies that intentionally increase public debt under the false perception that it is beneficial for the nation. The essence of this statement is the importance of fiscal responsibility and prioritizing the reduction of debt for a sound economic future.