The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-08-19
wednesday Evc'ng, Aug. 1 9, 1852


wednesday Eve'ng, Aug. 9, 1852
A PURELY LocoFoco SPEEcH.-Last eve
ming, the Democracy was addressed by At
torney General Pugh, who happened in the
city. A very respectable number of Loco
focos, Democrats and Wings were in atten-
dance, Mr.. Pugh is representative of
Hamilton county Locofocsism, one half Of
which Is, by their own evidence, corrupt,
and the other half never get office. He is a
very imaginative gentleman, rejecting the
true issues in the campaign and supposing
many others which do not exist. He sets
up man Of straw and then fights the image
as valiantly as the gallant Spanish Knight
did the windmills. He is a very truthful
gentleman, declaring upon his honor that
ninety-nine out of ever hundred soldiers in
the Mexican War, were Locofocos, and are
still Of the same faith. The first declara-
ton was in all conscience sufficient de-
parture from the truth, without adding the
last against the published eavowal of very
many fthe Democratic portion of the army.
He is a very consistent gentleman, declar-
ing in one part of his speech that General
Scott is changing every day from one ':ism"
to another,an afterwards attempting to con-
.vlct him ofnow favoringiseveral measures of
public policy because his "principles are
convictions" The argument will do with
that class of men who forget the first por-
ton of the speech before they hear the Sec
ond. He pretends that he is a friend Of the
laboring man and desires high prices for
them, while at the same time he opposes q
Tariff for protection to American Industry,
and supports a party which last winter rais-
ei the ,cages Of Q6ice-hOlders. The friends of
free-trade and hard-money acknowledge that
their measures will tend to lower wages aid
the price of every commodity, and now if
they can only succeed in keeping the pay
of office-holders up, Attorney Generals and
other public servants will have a jolly time
of it. This thing ofprofessons ofl love for
the poor men who hclpto support the Gov
eminent by taxes, is the sheerest demagogu-
ism, and comes with very bad grace from
that class of men, who, in the year one of
the new Constitution in the hands ofits
frinds, nearly quadrupled the expenses of
Legislation, raised the salaries of State Off
GERS at least one-third and after all, by gen
eral confession, have done worse than moth
ing. 49, -.5, F-' .
So much for portions of the speech Mr..
Pugh thinks, that all the people ought to ex
pect of the Government is toprovide for the
punishment of crime and regulate the salaries
and conduct of office-holders. 1t is the old
doctrine revived. "Let the people take care
of the Government and then take care of
themselves" In other words, let the people
take care of and pay we'll the ofice-holders
of the country, and this will answer every
purpose. We might almost as we'll have no
government at all We had an idea that
besides having in view thepeace of the CON-
muDity, the constitution was framed for pro-
noting our common welfare and prosperity,
for this purpose bestowing various powers
upon the general and local Legislatures, in
edition to thatof passing criminal laws and
salary bills.
We have not the least doubt in the world
but that the principles and measures advo-
Gated I'm the speech last evening, have fair
embodiement in the person of the Locofoco
candidate for the Presidency. He thinks, too,
that the people expect too much of che Gov
ernment, and ought to depend more upon
themselves. Such politicians dislike theidea
Of having the public funds squandered in
works Of internal Improvement, as they very
much desire to have the largest portion di-
rected in another channel. But even this is
not the worst Of it. After denying all such
power to the government, they would rem
der worthless charters for associated wealth
and thus prevent entirely the construction ol
public improvements, the erection ofmanu-
featuring establishments, and all enterprises
which require the aid of associated capital.
In our opinion, legislatures should do more
for the people and less for themselves and
partizan friends. Instead of wasting half the
time Of session, for instance, in debating
the propriety Of raising their own per diem
that Of their clenhs and sergeant-at-arms
and the salariesof State officers, and Of Civ.
ing theprinting, at high prices andin viola:
uon Of the new Constitution, to partizar
newspaper, they should frame better digest.
eGlawEf for the State about which there could
mot be- so much doubt, that even the Attors
ney General himselfis compelled to differ
with,his party friends as to the proRercon
structionof important clausess ii
But we have not time to'foll6 the Attor-
ney General any further. We have nc
doubt but that he did the best he could for
his party and Ris.party friends. That is his
vocation, His Inconsistencies and incon.
gfuitieS are Chargeable rather to the subject