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3 K
: r3 ! Sr.
a
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51
77E BLESSIS'GS OF GOVERXMEXT , LIKE THE DEWS OF HEAVEX, SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED ALIKE, UPON THE HIGH AND THE LOW, THE RICH AXD THE POOR.
X. - IT' i J 1
I S3 ii
!j 3 i? a iS N
: M ill
V !
i
e
JvEW SERIES.
EBENSBURG, PA. WEDNESDAY, JUNE. 25, 1S62.
VOL . 9---NO. 29
5
j y "7AKF.n. tie financial
-rv''rtl: ftl ways been
T " f"r, n as seccnel oi
'!'
.1il i 1 J
? rnnniir.rs
lion. "
OF ISMAXA.
j ,',,' 11 une of Representatives!
V.ju '21st 1SC2.
al policv of fi
considered ly
' j.nl honor nml national exist-
f" :: nation can Ioiip: maintain
r .r'l.'ex!tance which niake an i;n
f r,"-.-i!Cst uc of the resources "f its
1:t. ' "i. o fi-rxlaniontal orincinle of
v ----- k A
lihcrtv that the citizen shall
: v the wealth which th: 1 alter i'f
Y.'r-A eXMtrts rom the 1.jsti. of tlie earth
, ii!v to that portion winch lie may
I j . CaiiO' I ilj'ou i' i v i-ji vi. v. i'ivi-.
V:V-..vi-ir.titent ;in.l the lU-ssin;s of so
i- S.r He has ili i.oriini-m over the
i.,f lis toil hv Vii;.e rizht. nii'l v.-h !i
, ,: :t is inv.illed hy th Oovcrnment.
a ! impolicy .r frnn l. aifl the citiz.-n i
i nder the forms of law, it Ik-coii-. s
'.(t ohttv t.t repel the ii.ra.-ii n ami
-riii"i-r. In a free Coveinn;.' i t
,.,": !. through the peaceful in.-tru;ncn
., . halJot-lftx. ami a change in tl e
' - pc p'e who ar rc,ir.pt1!f f .r
. T . .rv o;-prr s-'on. In e"!i.-r..
r.l i'- TH'Ttular vr i.o lias no weight aini
; "., -Irani, the toj'ins mi'.li ms. vhf -r.
,.' v er.i'vre no m- re, ci.f .rce jtistj. -;
. v...-orl. Hut the r.irht t a ir.au V
.. ,.r aTl circunistaiices. i an i-i!,etert
.! i! : ir'.i r.atnre has hell it safn-1
; .i rnd ci.f. rccd it in every form in
hnn-.an wHI can aort itself.
i.t-n le.t to ttiese oosrrvaiions ov
T'.l lv conceive to he the nrS'ti'ml.
' r':".':or.? svtfm r-f finance wl i- h
r ;mi.o-eil np. n tli" profile of this
-v within the la-t twelve months, am!
I l,;ve not the claims of a'e or
: ': t :i f rieiic. yet I brj: to he ean.li.il v
! v tli" lion4 ami the n-nntrv while 1
.': iv v v:r w in that reear 1. Thcwints.
"v"-! p-. f'.e hop"!. t'o fenr. t!so feelinir
tr e thot'.'i't- fi the lalrin classs are
'.'Tii'iar to r.-'f. I was lorn on of then.
1 in their mi st, ami prrtooK o tl.e:r
t 1 represent s-ncit a re-'pie on mis i;r.
: 1 f-.t-l PiV heart sw-U with pn.le when T
h i :o :nv tvwivI the nonest. me toyai, ii o
a liijent. ar.'l the inh:s'.r."n roretltiiercv
L . ' ' i i r
v inierps' ji i ; 1 1 " iimi! i.ti i . i-ri-.rc
'r.v in tie il'-trihiUion of the hiioler:'; of
i O 'verrment sha.T 1 mv tt eme to dv
1 5 :?!i solemn rv" nee I here s.iv that
pi -ha'l prove faithf il to them to 1 lie ut-
t -' r.i ai;..fy. ano t!:'is prc-mofe the
t c-i-:-, i f .Vvrican pr.-pperitv ar.il dorv
- 'v ti.-l, i:; I.:." mrrcv, 'T'-a with n'.e an1
ing clrea l of recognizing an Appal'.ini: trc.th, j that m one year from now it will he equal
we have an unusual silence in official nuar- I to one sixth of evt-rythinj; the jj-ople poess.
ters in reganl to the extent of Government 1 No cunning avA stiuiieil speeches nia!e to
liabilities. We are, however, relieved in a
reai measure upon that point, hy the piate-
niisln:if ami ticcoive can hule th3 mikel fact
that this U the peopled leh!, am! that they
ments which have been made from time to J will have it pay. t.very sixin acre or ifn-t,
time on this fio..r. and especially by the I every tixth ox, every sixth horse, every sixth
chairman of the Committee of W'avs and sheep, every sixth hog, and eveiy s;xtii Uol
Means. Mr. Stevens, j who lias a riirht, to i lar. under the financial miMiiana-eiiient
speak on that suhjtct as ore in authority. ! and fraud of the party now in power, will.
From that source "we learn that our ex oci'i- i in one year from to 1 ay, he covered and
dit. ires have, for man v months pas?, exe -o.;- : swallowed up by the amount t l t ie liovcrn- j nor the cre:'.ti..n of h mot hani:.-
ed the enormous sum of $:j.000.000 per ! uent debt. It will be final to an ii.teri-st , can war thor.-li a f.reiirn and di.-tant one,i
lav. One vear's expense at this rate every taxable substance in the lan.l of xv hich we pakl the . Idier substantia'. v tl
reaches the sum of S 1.005 .000.000. That I sixteen and two-thirds per et i-.t. l-.v ry i-u
our indehte :n- ss at thi-- nvmcnt is o.jua! sin-ss man knows that in the private trails
to that vast nrnot:nt will har.il v denied i anions of lite Midi a rate of intent ts a
by anv iutelli-ent and candid person who speedy prelude to individual tuiii la l,mi
has had the opportunity to oWrve the jfo I wi- pays it ; ai d the nat;. n "U whieh .-neii
fusion and recklessness with, which the re- a w. i-i.t is impose.! is on the hunk of ,,vor-
.r, o-l tl... rndit i .f 1 1 G. avrr i , n-l-1 ' V.he! Pl: 1 V' b Oik I U p'.CV. lit t Ills CSl llllate it
hi
r.tit, sir, I am well aware that I wiil lie ! of Tennsylvania over which supplies arc to
met l:ere by the familiar cry that these ter- le fchippe-d. aud he is invcstetl with th con.
i.on; t -Apcin-uures are necessary to maintain
the existence of the Government and to car
ry on ti.e war in which we are enaetl. To
tr-l t,f $-2,000,000 to purchase equipments
for our ariny anil charter vesse's for trans
porting troops and supplies. lie takes uo
oath, and gives no bond." o o
" Such a system of public policy
must lead inevitaUy to personal favoritism
at the public expen.-e, the corruption of th?
public morals, and a ruinous prolliacy in
the expenditure of the public Treasury, or
p.inizin an army f.f sappers '.n.l miisers
whoso covert assaults on the nation wou'd
s.-arctly bs hts effective than tlie open as
saults of its traitorous cnemus."
I'd holiest adiniil- i . , ..1 :. .
istration r f.Tam. s r,-k. in i.r. porti n to ., c " . . . , .
the numb,,., enal-man f r Ln-but f. U? ctnry of ar pretend th.,t
little more than ,.,.e.f,.,:rth the anio.n.t x- t"c,Mtwd. peril and the necessity for im-
I inc-ii.uc action jusi.n-.ti iu-"-c ris;:oi!Mi ie lx
: jieiiJitures of the jitibhc nvniey uiih r.o stt
U' lt.ent for f -ur months aftt-rwar ;s. ven if
this auction I return a plain and explicit
denial. From whatever quarter it comes,
whether f.om high places or low places, it is
not true. The public debt up to this hour.
Iand to the extent of its fearful proportions
na.Mioi neen tne wrkel a national necessity.
i nt w-xt-
in
the
same that we pay him now, cjst this Oi
vernment. under tin
pen
d.-d
on a w;tr w:ed
anioiin
our very
ih
steps. Of comve, I, In not d-nv that heavy i
ave been used si::-e this ni-.-t tt'.-natnral i will be seen t!;at 1 have taken the figures . I j exjuiuts have been properly incurred ; but j
trife fell I ke a blight upon the land. A i the census report as tUy w.te ma.le wh.-n j that fn.'vi and ciin-o in their darkest hues
i;
i
S
B :
i
'tie more than . ne ye;r ao we beheld the
mflained and wrathful visatr" of civil w:ir
for the first time disturb, like a hah ful
comet, the peace of this Uepubl.c. Sine
then 'oattli's have iwe:; fniht, jnal in
mind ers en'.!U' d, iu l.t-i oi.-sui of coi..?ii-s and
in the ha t' v !. ;.''- tii. .-lain, to the re-
i powned copihcis of ;rv icnt 'orv. Viotorv,
t.-o, under ;m i.vi-t ' :.'::iu Pr vidi n c . has
ohosc-i th '-t.iiihtrd of ti e G iV'TVnicpt.
apl eiT arpiii s are s-e adilv prrf tatmcr that
iriep-f sc. pe i f c initry in which the ban
ner ".f rev. h.i. been r -.itcd.
15 ut ass-i!i'.i!'.'4 that the spiiles of fortune
". !M coutini'o r;-st i:j op i'.nr ario:-. ..roi
that n rv-rs" ro in sf.i.e f. ir fitir trcvps.
'.ii." is l.htir.er to the thinkin" to i.d
copsideripu ti-e
an ovcpvl c-Jminj amount I
the uni -i. tiled calm of pe.i-e and pr. sikm Ay t have f.Wol'.eu
j gave to property its liiiiiic-t vi.nte. tie pecuniary liabilities of the peojile, I
i extent the ravages of war ha e depretiatt-d I stand n a.lv t prove. I shall ask no man
this v.ilue it is iiiijiossible to calculate: but j ft decide without the evidence t" sustain so
! that the. property ol the pe. j d e ( 1 the I nit .1 j serious
a
ir
I
..-n- the pi rrnr wf hive l en
:n a nv t vf-p, -i-dmis war. It ps
: e-'i t:;' first. pr.p rti irs rf tt-
T,:e p-.zti'tniV. .Anv - e viV
j. . st.irf-- of ti:;s ro.hct t'vit
' . f this l ::ivc"tV -.-- t T"a'1-
" w;:;.:!i its uvi.t;
nv
nn :
vet pot'lltiS is plainer to th
which r s i'vs the fntur- bv
oast than th fact that the cx;o:i-is r.f ti is
Government for the ensuing y ar will fu.ly j
eijii.tl. and most iik-ly surpass, what -e
have witncfsi t in the year that h.-.s j-.s j
l..sed. .s nr ar-nies push forward their :
Oohur.Tisipto t' distant parts f a oesn' iti d j
and inn ovrishei and h-sri.' mviitrv. tho j
difl-.cu'tv ."il l cost of th.-:r Mprrt wi!! ra- '
pidly m'-'tiply. The value ef transpi rta- j
tion v. iM almost double the i rice of theores J
transported. There has been mti -h find's i
jested :sn.l crude I'oehima'i m on this fl.tr I
in rrird to snbsisfing nur forces or. tl pr- !
diic-s i f thf coni.try we in. a e. This. ) w- i
ever, is siniplv ore of those unse.hstAnM d
theories which, unhandy f-r th" r..v!irv.
'ave ph-ntifnllv abonpited in this body
since r-ur national cahipiities; came upon ps.
All the "reat authors on the art of show'war
its absurdity, and our own experience has j
already cxp.-flci it- it itns alreaoy !en j
found that where ore army has swept over j
the (vip:!rv. 1 ut a barren reception aw;iits j
a-.t. thT : and esr c-id!y is this the eas when j
a retreatinc: army is 'mplled byth" str- n'cst i
Piiiit.try re'.s- ns tn h-.ive n t! in f ir t' r -iv- j
States is tt-day w rtii mo;e than two-thirds
j .f what it was otm ear ag", win n.-t l-e iie I
! tetide 1 : and to ti.e ext ut : that d p-c i a- I
! tiot. is the pro o.tion wh eh tie pu'-ik- j
i debt bears to it increased. j
! Hut again. Iy the census rtp. i t f.om ,
which I have ju.-t quoted we fiuO tn.tt ti e
j p. p:dation of tin: United States in the year
i lsno was a little more than thiity ntiiliops.
;(.!' this j-i uiatiop al-iut five millions are
; voters. A ue incut's ca'cu ati. n in ti.e
' siinj lest ru'es t f ;:riti.rnelic sinovs t'.iat eacii
' i:i iiduai v. .ter of the-e iii'e n.iiiii us is in
debt tj-!.iy JU0 on account oi" ids pmpor
ti -itof t!ie iinnu d txpen-i..s. a:.d that one
I year lance he uiil l: in hht H00 oil tin
; s;-inc a. ci unt.
asure.
fp:
I d. he
to -j etk ki
:l 1 r.i:In--r ni
I make it. sir. with r.o I
lit not in such things. I I
i dly of my fe'l .wsnian. I '.
aise than censure. Pef re i
mv gr. it .In.'g" I can say tht there is !
not! i n; in my heat t which desires to dra; '
d.iwn r won:..! any l.-unian Ix-ij g in the '
wi ie v Id. I v.-ould rather I '.ft men up. if '
in my power, than abase them. I loe.t'. '
their a -pr-tbaM' n. Hut when there wishes ;
and. ds;rs of mv heart vtand in t!ic wav nf I
my public duty, they must all be suppressed. ,
j ,1'-t'' h.-wever ungracious and unph a- j .Y..iftable irM.u p., ;i .jVct nn-
V.. ere had be-.n t:o responsible and ox t.-i-i-enced
public efiicvrs in New Yolk to J fcif.rm
the duties?"
On t!;e subj-rt of buying arms, as ci.-d.-.-.te
l by the late Secretary of Wr, the
c .n.n.ittee -tatea loss of over ninety lh "Usai d
l -liars to the Govei t.m. ut i:i oi e transaction,
and ny :
" Xo G jvermri.t that ever has existed
can sustain itself with such ims rovidenc? in
the management of ita a":aii s "
In regarJ to the purchase f hcr.-cs and
wag. .iw fT the public s-.ivice the c. naulttce
siitn -jjt as f.'I'.ows :
It appr..rs from all the evidence nhkh
is detailed iu the rec -rd of evidence acc ni-
panviu this report, that the parties to tl.ee
The liahihtv of mv
Indiana, accoidiii;
wl.i h ha Wen enact, d :.ait i r bv ti e
pre-. lit O ngress will -v S JUO.Of'O.ftoo. ..f
which cnoi lnolls sun. the people 1 1 tlie dis
ti:ct which I have the hon-.r to r j-res.-nt
v.ill Man ! charged with S tnctiiii g over
twelve ii.tdi. ns of l. .liars.
Where, sir, iu all th? dieary histoiy of
j rotl.cate nations were over such burdens as
t! cse imp .! ..n the should, rs i f any peo
ple in so slioit a time The 2n..uiiii:!
.tit. most be performed ; and in the case
c-r.sideration it seems, to my
.toons justice d.-mands the
The authors of a grinding
the weary hands of honest
n-.ipd. that ri-i
task l-ef ..re me.
t xto;tii. lo rn
own gredt State . f j j.,i..irs iXTO er.enttes to the human race, and
to the. line of saxaiioii j tn .,,, j ie5M treite..
Sir, as e irly as hit July, when this Con
gress first met in extraordinary session, the
taint f corruption was perceived in the at
mosphere of tlie capital, and a committee,
since so celebrated. as r iis'.! to inves igate
a,-:d to exposf-. The restnt of a r-rtion of
tl lai . rs f that comtnitw is licforc tLc
country in t'-e shnjx? of n volume cif ever
e'even luu.hed p.ifs. The majority of that
c .ir tnittee are f:ien's of the party now in
priv.rr. and the evidence which thev have
furnished is entitled to full credit. Would
that a volume f it couM he placed in the
bands of every tax-paying voteT in the
country! I's .1 rk labyrinths of proven
Ctiilt oti jht t" ,-e expired by" f very itite'.'iv
.-pt mind. I'.y the solrmn testimonv of
.ri"t! t UrSU"-r. I..st-ee i
v fi d !. and war. wih i
,i
a--.
la
t
I
e -
t
"
t
i
:
t
-t .11
s:strn e i f is t l- l
f n tiien marks i
iro-i mailed ban . s 'ircr.-s the lio-om i f ni-
nto s-e- :ty. .Vt t'.-. i- r- e
rr.r. at the he ! -f rf-
. :.:.a n
1 ,TM
.rf.
1 tl e
n 1 read v r an pex-
o.titv. Tl octmtrv hi-- -'-.w. d
'..'. -nd throughout ad it - v t i
i f.-rvid h-vc f r the G.ver:
tad.ers p.adc i. Ti . t . so-.".'
nc.d as it may seem to s. p.e. nr f
:( i.i war is rv.iK-y, phdr
Vi-'f.o it nrn-des doi" t p.i- ve and
t !!..;. an 1 the purse ..f the n a-
' I ".i d in the pockets of the p"o
. in v'.nv t f these facts, what has
. "r-e f.f those in authority sine.
c. -r.p-.enred in regard to the tjreat
! nati .Tial ecof.oiov? II ive our
;i - cirt-f-il-y husbanded ? Have
rv-n-ys be n strictly guarded
h i:id i f tlie plunderer? II ive our
;h p's hoen held to a rh:id accpnta
t;:;-;r use tf th" hard earned reve
; ' utitry? Has fuvmrial integrity
" ' ''itnhiet of thos.: iu whom the
their trust when the present
r ''! ... c;,im: in to jiower ? Has
! . b.rp nbsrtd by tho-e
t .cir way to popular confidence
enunciations of toe aliened
f-rmer Administrations? I
a partisan nor in the stunt of
I can rise altove all such cn-
: hr.i. these are cjnestions in
' i" ".! . f all parties h ive a deep
' ;':,, i:rj interest, and they are
t -i whi.'h all m.-n in e- erv part
'. ;'ry who desi.-e an honest adniin-
i '-Tlr T lll.tir o.V.ir n m -i. q .l.-in.i
I'- s-;-:-, t;s ami startling emphasis. The
4 !7 niu-t cf.me. and of which im
I ' -t. r.'.s-.ry will make an everlasting
I N .ne w-hteh bows the head ami
't-k of eu-ry 1 'vcr of his conn
rue with humiliation'and with
::;re
! :-.l(:r:.i:i
I ,w-
ri.ne t'tut
iA i ere -1
d to a-' , i' ted i: I
'and n'-ver I'Tov.- :i -. i.
. fs r - ar -s" l a 1 V f' tl e:r
V '.
It.d
1
a-
I
r the
will
; t"
Ull.
ns ..f
I ti t a a
I T rr.:st
V;
n' re.! will ! . 1 1 e
rerrafi:.ir ?oi; n,
h'-e.' r :d.!e t p ee: i's in
r-fs. ,! !;,h' will be h ft
n:i; :-re :: ff, ar.d tl- ,t ilt
oved. Mur fut p'v tr t'-.s
ve move with our armies fr.ni the
:a! s. tno- uirioeiitir.il tl-.e public e
;!. hi Ules at everv step. It IS S-'Fe. tlidi.
to c .nchide :1 at the year tint is to r-p.n.
and r. wl i ii we are j.,t entering the
.i-c.nl y. ar of war wi!' swell the inde' ted
of thi- (b-Ve'T;!!.? n o tl e ahlT-p-.i:. r .-UP:
,.f 000.000 f:oV T!ds anennt wil' !-av
accrued, ab. :i the
faiiiv cadcl ip.oi
task of inee'iicg
taati. . I' is -i task
low beholds, the
time the tojbi ci!:- p is
to cr.niT'K !,re the -vr:irv
ins av. fn! proT.oi ti. ps by
. that no eve whh h
ted
chl
Id
IS
s'i:i will ever see c- P"! p1
f I - i n. and v ill pot 1
f .1
? k ca'mly and carefully at a few
r,"t rf alluriiij and captivating
"t ti res of cold and repulsive re-
vail w hich a pleasing and hope-
J weaves around its obj-ct with
r.v.i
i - I StTV
5 1 1" ' -nle t!ie people int.. a slumber-
- 1 si) . r , . . i
- ; , ' s- 'tiriiy must, lie torn away,
f. n-' '"'d 1 e hid from the honest eve
irar .oV.i-iy. It is the duty of the
If 'T,T,:,at',ve b fully portray those facts
. "'' 1' stance on which th governintr
J "T thU ,rce fountry, the people, will
! - ca!h,l upon to act.
i
:n .re than a !-n- .bed yars. who will e-seape
the v'sits of the l-Vdetal tax gatherer in the
incessant labors of future rreneraf "ons to
wear awav the se idy dp ipl .iv.js of a pir
pet ual tax this mountain of debt. This is
no hiiih wrought or extravagant statement,
hut a sad and nv lancho'y tru.'h. as each sue
reeding v-ar f the approa.-hing future but
v-i:l but too trulv bear witnfss.
It is slid, however, le-e an
r-h
ew-
he
re
thr u:crh;ut
th
country, that we arc a na.
J ct.i;di-n of Israel, captives in the brick-yards
1 ol Egypt, were sc ireely nioie si.ive to their
I HjMi.ui masters than tiiC Ann ri-an people
! w i.l be to the constant demands and exac
tions of tue nitional debt. It will coin
Hpitn them like the lean and hungry kine
risiiir from ti.e river of I'haroh's dream to
devour ihe well favore.1 Tind fat lh-shetl c.-.ts
lie i.f all the land. Tell me not c f the bless
ings of a publie debt. Ti.at cry is simply
l iicche.it and f..lshoo l l w hit ii nu n tvim
! :;e at-ti-ed licir authority set k t t cover up
! the outrages which they have ii.Jht.'.l on a
j cot. tiding pei le. It is as old. t , a- ctiine
! in l.igii piac s, r the j iin ijl s if i a.-e
i ior- n: ti e heart if m. in. Ti." I'liara
m; - i .i -J tu - l'e:'l ov r their hoiohd g Or s.
! ih- hi'igs l;.il.hn on their caul i-sil yil-!,
Alexander a. h;s ecorgv banqu. ts, tt.- (
S.dtau in tie midst of his s .fl i'.o'ia.ic( s i.l )
j tX ensive I. -e, corruj t, fe. ininatf Koman
i s- nai- is iti their villas o! t.af hie n.aguili
c nee. th" ii ui botu of pr.inee satrouu.icd I y
i the sph ndois of the Tulhri.-s. the Stuarts o
1 Kngiand clinging to the ir.axiius ol kingcraft,
' lust I' ni tyrants, nebauched piinces-, air-1 dis
! honest state.-ni'-n "f all ages and evt ry clime
! have a'l t-dked wisely and pr- fi uu i y of ti e
; sweets and con. forts which l: w to the pe..
. pie from that foUiiiaiu of hitter wawis a
tr-'tt j)i!''i'- ihht. It th.-y cm c n ince the
ie- . e that ihis monstrous h ti s- i right,
then all cheek and ve. trainl oi: extravagance
aud wasteful indulgence at once are with
' ih'.iv.-r., and avatice and inrni :' ' "t are l.-lt
1 free to pn y with unbrit.h.t i cense .n the
. sn'osraiice of ti,c nati. n. It is A .i nong. sir.
i that tics fi:al doeliine is f uin.i ci t . pi;.g int.-tie.-
" -bates of the American Congress, lias
i it come to tl.io ? Has this gn at nation, so
' famed for its wealth and pe nniarv respm si
: bilitv, beep driven so sim t.. se k refuge in
i the Piischevioiis princi i-h' t hat it is a pation
i al benefit to be sunk in i.i.iebtuess ? It be
comes the pooplo, before it is too late, to
! ar- use themselves against this balefal dogma
of despotism, an prove t the world that
th"y are wot thy (I tlie Ireitloui wucii they
as vet in
this
n.n.itte' no l tanchof Vn;sin"vs cop.s.
t-ect"d with the militsTv and naval affairs of
this Government seems to have escaje.I the 1
hungry s'rasp .f imlawfu! avarlc and jiccp-
tt;e smallest artic!. of I to!
derstan.ling with each other, an-! eng ig-d ia
a sysHm of cornipt j ecuniary gains by
means of rcpiisitii lis and rece'p's j-igt;c-l in
blank, and false invoices, at a time when
the over-taxed finmccstf tie Gov. r.inient
and tha confident.- ..f a generous at .1 patri
otic ptople deiiiandtd the most ri-id integ
rity." Sir, in view of this dark record t-f atr'x-i
ous guilt, it is no won.Vr that the el airptan
of that committee, Mr. Van Wyck.J in lis
speech f February 7th, on this floor, shoiild
exclaim :
"Tlie mania for stealing seems to h:ve
run through ail the relations of the Govern
ment. Almost from the general to the
drummer l-oy, from those nearc-t the throne
of power to the merest tide waiter. Nearly
every man who deals f r the Government
sinis to feel eirelcsire that it would not l.-ng
survive, ami each had a common right to
plunder while it lived."
Again, the chairman says :
While it is no justification, the example
m
latt.-n. In
which or tors ir.fo the soldier's rt'iep. to th
purchiise of oatt'e for an entire r.rn-y : fror.
t't e b'anket on vhi.-h the tire- s hlicr sleep
at Tilght to the va-t f rM'h'at ions far the de
fense f a city : fr
di. r's Lit to li e
c stan-1 i'l ihe .
n.eai - t trai s-t
man ' war a
m t' e ; isto! r.t the se--
eanpon at wh.se urfeep ;
ay of l atth- ; f.-..m the ;
rt sioo to the pdglitirsf
t. e-vervwhere and on
i
I 1 ! ...... ..... :.. .1 .. ll..i. .r-'.i.'i.U ..f ft f
' I!-s 1.-W1. s. i .11 .11 v i .-- - -
Government. Asa u Pel ai thing p.or.e tut
fav.irites gain access tla re. : :i I ifoi.e to-.r
I can obtain contracts which bear enormous
'refits." " Tie lh'j art en nr whh'n 1 a; ai
j lowed consj'iracits afar lidding had U en
j closed to !t fraud the G -vt rr ! 'it of the
j lowest bid. and by :dl- wing t! e guilty t-
reap the fruits -..f their e-.i i.e, Las tt.M.lt t-
corue
rfa.i . io.
eve r l1
i-m :n !
m;ttc i
of .
;jg ve Ii- il the in-. press of favorite
of f -a'ld The report ff tins crtfn-
; 'n-f. r; me. and I submitted a f-w
i-i proof of iiiv st.item'" t . Sr eak-..n-ra.-is
for cattle made pv t1-. War
IVpnrtmei t duri"
r.-ianagen eut bv Mr.
Cm ri n. ti e e-op.-.v.ii'.f. e sav
' We liave here not cn'v evide'ice rf gross ,
inisi-.ia- ag.'iiicr.t. a t tal disregard if the in- i
terests of the G vcrnment. an i a total reck 1
... Ms in the expendltnve in the funds of I
liie ei-iverninetit, i-tu
to be'.i"ve that th 're
ti.-n of in. xh.iiistibh- resource's, almost film- ;
Ions w. a'th. a id that burdens which would ;
c:wie oth'-r Gover. --ments to reel and stagger. I
:tre ;is light as feithers to us. This is a (
ph-as-ng ttibute to cur national vanity : it'
sounds well in our selfsconiT.la-ent ear. We
have 1 1( n so loi g xaltcd in happiness over '
aM other people, so long blessed in every
epj ivment ab-ve what (i d h;is ever vouch- :
safed to ar.v other nation, that we are even .
t . .i . i. .. : . . . n i
ISSOSS. lA'L lliei.l sit-tv -K. i-t;itui iliiii
warning e-n irus vuai sui-j-ei m uieu-atn-ings
of that gseat fouiv'er of American l)e
niocracy. Thomas .Jcilers .a. I)i.scussing
this .piestiop. 1810. he said :
At- the time we were fun iing our na
il debt, we l.ear.l mncli a!i..nt : juioiic
there is iverv reason
was a colbisii-u upon
the j art of t he employees of the Government
t. assist in to! Ling the Treasury, for. when
a c i sri. titi- vs oilicer refused to pass rattle
pot in accordance with the contract, he was
in effect superse-ded by one who had no co-i-sci
ntiops seruples :n the matter, and cattle
that were re jerted by hi.s j-r'-decetsor were at
e-nce accepte'd.
WitTi such a sta'f i things existing, if
i.Ph -ers of the G .vernment who shoUM be
Am! we'.! might the aV.e and ft.nicss nn"n-l-.r
. f ti -..-:. tint t-c if ru Massachusetts.
Mr. liw-s in view f these i-velati' ns.
a'.s assert, as I e did lei" Tr the liuu.-a and
country, that startling fi ts Live come
t the u.t c? -f tiie co!.i:i.:F.tc ; n ! to the
p ti. e . f the whole country, touclrrg the
nio-'.e and m anta r e f the expenditure of the
public m y ;" that " iu the first year of a
Kepuh'.ican A innnlst ration, wli- h came into
power upon pnie-ssions of rel-r:n ar ! re-s
trenchment. there is in.luhin.bhj cviderce
abroad in the land that soni h.tdy has plun-love-1
the public Treasury well r.ih in th.it
sit-le vcar as much as the entire current
the Gcvemment during
veai It e xpenses ot
the .opui:istratiop w! ;.c
imbued w ith patriotism and inte-ritv enough j , lor, ' as Wt.Jl as the already
h the pe. p'e Lnrle I
from jM.wrr Ik i ausecf its cortnptiorv- And
further, tliat those heavy measures e f taxa
tion which l ave b. e n l r ought f rward by
the Committee e f Ways a.id M'.ns w-uhl
f ill tike a eiead pall v.pou the public, un
less Ik fore them g-s bis assurance, that
th'SJ vast an! extreme measures in.-tituted
to resucitatc and revive and replenish the
Treasury, are not me-re.y tor ir.e-aus am.tr.er
r:-Ji
f the means of -he Treasury 1 "K.ket.s Tf public plunderers."
tnm
de-
leht. being'a public blessing;' thutl estcek
ret resenting it w .s a orc.tn -n oi active rap.
tal f-r the ailni" nt of Comtnere-e. inanufao
tures and agi i uiture. This paradox w as
well adapted to the min is of believers IP
uF.s e f that size cntt red
.itllltlg
l '-snn.p tl. it :
. . , ". niai sit nils iriue; no etne
4 o- r nt;r, accuracy, estimate
the
' v sj . , I t .T . ..1 T 11. T . ' r .
''-' puou5 1 tit u l.sraicoi '.::e
? Clr-n . . r .( . ... f
.f . s-1. oi me times that either ironi
-i-n a-1 ir.e,-, j,ac: 0T fr, ,m tn ghr-nk.
now unwiuir.g or nnal.Ie to realize the tact j ,i,(..A!11s an, the
that the hand of afihetion has at last r.illen I it,,un ;tjc jt.
upon us villi :i force almost as crued as that j .. -(Vf. arc warr.inte.l, tlen
which visite.l .lerusalcm when 1 itps rpramp- ; ty,at tj,is j,aro,ly e.n the principle .f a public
eel l-efoie her walls. It ia true, however. ' (, .. , i.jn., a pphlic Mes.-ing and its muta-
that- v.-e abound in wea.ih. It is true that ;, ,n ;nIi the bleSsirir of private instea.! nnb-
our lap has 1 tn filled with treasure: I'!t ! ,1. ,s a, ridiciil.u. as the original
princij Ie itself.
to have a care
'ire readv tit assist speculating cot. trae-tors to
ext.-rt upon and defraud the 'Government,
where is the system e f peculation to end.
.,,! how so.p mnv not the finances of the
I Gi-vt rnment be reduce! to a wofid. bank
ruptcy f"
Again, op the same sul i; ct :
In this matter tii- re is pon h evidence of
gross mismanage mi nt and culpable careless
ness in making contracts, together with a
reckless improvidence ef the means of the
Gove-.nn.ent. F.vi.h nor exi-t of large con
tracts f-r cattle having len ma.le without
any advertisement for bit's.' or any effort
beii.2 made by the agent-of theft tvernment
ti satisfy themselves wletle-r the prices to
I3ut. sir. passi.ig on from the evhtenct; T
fr;tud and ei rrupt'.nn in t'ue ini.-inaiiagenier.t
of cur i ullic affairs, as furnished by the
pr.wd".ngs of this House. I proceed to
other lh-lds. The resu't f the l.'.rs ..f this
comniittee are lefore the e-.-nntry. an! I can
do no more in my br'n f hour than t"cx
tract a few conclusive -ent-ne.-s. Put in
vestigation of this kin 1 lias not !? coffined
alone to this body. The ot -er bra- e h of
Congress has had the su' j- ct r.f e ffhi-d ...
linq'f.encv als-J f..rce.l upon their artcn:i. n.
I hold in my Land an p rt f the Senate
G nimitte-e on Naval Aff .i.s. rr-hi'.ing to ere
stnc'.e transacti-.p in whi- h the G .verprnent
suffered a los- ef $70,000. I real fu-m it-
be paid wire exhorbitant, or even extortion- , concluding porti t;S
tlrings ia this we. rid exist principally t y
comparison. I bat which constituted im
mense weralth a little more than a year ago.
in view of a public debt of less than fifty
millions, diminishes rapidly wl.cn brought
to bear n a debt ef fortv times that amount.
Iy the census report of 1SC0 we find that
the assessed value of all the real and per
sonal property of the entire Unite 1 States,
ooth loval and rc'oellious, is Sl2,00f,T5c,.
585. Thus it will be seen that our public,
ekbt is now equal to ono twelfth e.f all the
taxable property of the Government, and
And again, in a letter to Albert Gall'i'in.
this profound btate-sman and political phi
losopher says :
lint if the elebt. should once more be
swelled to a formidable size, its entire dis
char.'C will Le elispaireel of, "and we shall be
committed to the rlngiish career of debt. Cor
ruption, rottenness, closing with revolution
The discharge of the eitbt. therefore, is vitM
to the d.stinics ef our Gtvernmcnt, and it
Lau-3 on Mr. Madkou and yourself alone.
ate."
Sp' aking of the employment eif Alexander
Cnmmings by Cameron, then Secretary of
War. to fid! an important contract by wh:t h
the Government has 1st large sums of
miinc-y, the committee sav :
It is said to 1-e peeessarv. pot nn'r that
ju.tr.-e should be .'.. pe. but that the public
(should be satisfiel that it is done ; and in
I this view your copin.itte-e regret.that m t,;0 J
rity e.f New V'-rk a man c .;! ! r. t l-e ; r.m!
i to transact the l.usit.es f. .r the Navy I
ate amount e.f the public money was paiJ
for so inconsiderable a service, was iccua.irly
unfortunate. The country was engaged in a
war iu which its very existence was at
stake, lie ration had t-on aroused, and
was contributing men and money without
stint to defend the national life, vindicate .
the national honor, and restore the rightful
supremacy e.f the Constitution aDd the laws'.
The energies and the industry of the coun
try were to be taxeO1 as they never had beeri
before, and the pressing nwssitiets of the
Government had compclleel it to resort to
new and untried sources of revenue. Th
hut of property and the mansions of wealth
were alike called upon to aid in bearing th
burden which reledlion and civil war had
thrown upon tlie nation. All this wa
liorne, and would have bee Lome cheerfully,
if the tax-payers had seen, or been convinceal
that the ir i;i..nc-y was to be faithfully and
economically applied to the purposes for
which it was raise h i;-at when the-y ss
immense sums lavished upon personal er
political favorites for smad and inronsik-r-bie
services, cofl'dce in the Government
is impaired, public credit is para'yzevl, and
the vert existence of tlie nation is iruptni
ed." And in commenting on t Lis Elanr.irg state
rf corruption in the Navy Department, a
viry distinguished Senator Mr. Ha'eJ use i
the following strong language :
" When the country was taxing itself as
it never had before, when it was bleeding at
every pore, when new and untried sources
of revenue were resorted to, when yon were
taxing the necessarit-s of toe humblest in
habitant of y nr land, and when the LitvJ
wis ttra:nir.g itself and a'l its citizi-ns, and
tliry were sending their young men. to tho
fi-ld and giving their money to the Treasu
ry lit that tin.e ar.d in that henr when ii
seemed as if the very existence of the na
tion stood in the sa'e, eieul.tful which way
it was to turn George I). il organ, a mer-e-Lant
e f New York, a brother-ia law of the
Secretary of the Navy, was receiving frora
the hard earning of this hard taxed people a
compensate n t-epnil to about twelve thou
sand elo'lirs a month."
lie further says :
I regret to se?e what has been stated in
several of the papers, not rhat they believed
this was an bone'st transaction, uot that it
was a fair one, not that it was one that do-sc-rved
lo receive tlie approbation and sinews
tion of the G tvernment ; but the excuse i,
tLat it i not Lalf so bad as wLat Las leeu
de-ue in other cases ; and I Lave no doubt
that is true. I have no doubt that if soma
of the Investigating G.rnm!tlces go on tbey
will find that there have been trnsacliorB-ce-mpr.rrd
with which TO.Cf'O was a smll
sum : and that it will be considered ungra
cious to call up one ef the-se pe tty offenders
that has only taken J70.O00, and deal with
hiia when fheio are t-thers g 'ing e-il tt.-gge r
:ig u.aler tlie loud e.f hundreds t-f thou-
Sall.S.
Yu are ubout to call upon this pe,spl
I t large t.ixe: : you are id-ut to call eu
them for a Lirgj loan, to rnaintaLi the ptil-
tic faith and to enable yorcr srudes to pro-e:
cute this .r successfully. I u.-k y.-tt, Seti-t-.-rs.
:ti wlat face you can go home to
your coustit ;i'--.ts w hen they se-c this thing
v. hich they jilt kno-.v at-1 understand; when
th: y see that JTO.O.'O have lvn paid lor the
services of en.e man f-r less than six months
a time e f such elistrcss as tliis, and aj pea!
yiur own people ami ask them tjcorce
forward ar.d put thc-it h?ndc in their pockets
and their shoulders to the wheel and torwr.r l
this car ? Sir, I do cot know what olLcr
men may lo; I cannot; I dare not. I
should expect the fieger ef sc. ru from tie
hut of poverty to point rce out as reckless
and faithless f,.r l-ing here a member tfthe
Senate, in this !. our e.f cur country's peril,
if I had fane i to rebuke profligacy iu ihe
expenditure of the pu lie mou-.-y. let It la
when and where it may.
A jain. this Senator cxcl.iir, from Lis ex
tensive knowledge cf tie management of our
ahairs .
I do nrt know but I may cvr stirri,
cr.tfiely over estimate, the cbaraener f f tliis
transaction ; but I tell ye.u. sir. I Where,
and I declare it upon tny responsibility ns a
Seuiit r e f the Uriteil States, that the"ii!er
ties e.f this country are in greater elanger to
day from the corruptions and ! m the prr
f.igacy practiced in the various I pa":nier.tj
of this G vernment than it is from the opea
enemy in tho field."
Sir I might here pause j n.l dwell upon
this terrible accusation, coming f.-em a queN
so high and so fully entitled to credit. A
tnsti'e army Las l-e.cn for & year in si ht of
th:s Capitol". Treason has ltsurpetl by far
tho largest portivn e.f the territory of the
Cnred States; cur tivtrs have l-cen turned
toh! ;.ed; t.iir mr.taais Lave Wwiie Gul
gcths ; eiur valleys are the burial tdace-s of
our t..-rt-Porn. siaiu in mi e; u.e .. i it
mother-, wives, and eUu-htcrsgc.es up from
one e cean to the o'hras the voice of llacha.d
we p:ng f- r 'her children, and refusing to I
comforted 1-. cause they at pot; the very
sun above !r leads seems veiled in mourn
ing ovr the f.iner.il sorrow if this once
Lap y J cple ; r.nd yet ; amidst r-f thee
thit-he-iiiec: signs .i national calamity, it is
jinn .unce-i l y a Senat -r w ho helped to place
this Administration tn power, and empha--i.-.l
bv an appeal to his senatorial honor.
th it a more ueaelly evil than them fc'd c-m
bine 1 is i.ow ssaulting the existence cf the
Mr Ciiiiiii-.i.i'r.s had no rp.cral acouain- ! tiartni-r.t. out of the fan.ilycor.necti. no.
taucewith business in New: York. He had I the Se-cretary, for however pure and honest
Wn a r.ewsi.ai.er editor in Pennsylvania for ! Lis purpose may Lave 1-e-en in the s lection.
the Muhllshcr of another paper f.r wine I other m--tiros than a single pur,- to sul- G .vernment" tnat the LWrties cf th:.
. htel n months. He was the intimate ,ter- I serve the public interests may p-slb'y ha ve j ce-tiutry are m gie. er danger to-Jay ; fr,r,
o.t Mrirl f.t of. tV- Secretary of 5n,Wrrod the choice that was made. 'I he j t. e crruptions aim iim me preagacy
w. nennroiOeil with the internal ar-! trr-.e too. at which this arrargeu-nt was
111 ,-v- - - - - - - - -
couainteel
rui.y nici.U and connections cf the raiW-'s ! yiaJe by wi.ivh sttcr
bs-pr- .p'ir'.iiu
and fr.tpi the
prct".-od in the vj.rh.UR Dcpait'nen's ethis
ti .reran., ut thn tt t? t.-. ni U.e cpru crcrr;j
r
ir