Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-12
From the Abingdon virginian.

From the Abingdon fhElhinn.
Hand Book for Old Line Democrats.
We have culled few extracts below, for the
special study Of Old Line Democrats. They are
taken from the speeches Of the Hon. II. A. Wise
at the time he was warning against the Democrar
CIV, and contending for "the union Of the Wings
for the sake Of the Union !" We insert them now,
because Mr. Wise believes what he then said 70
be true, as he has but recently said In his speech
at Alexandria, II have no recantations to makel"
In speech in 1887, Mr.. Wise referred to Old
Hickory US follows;
Truly, truly, it may be said, sir, that the eyil
which Andrew jackson did lives after him. lie
was the most fortunate man that God ever per-
mitted to riot in success and TO triumph over much
that was good. He warred without ceasing upon
the Bank of the United States; he rendered u an
odious monster and killed II in the confidence OF
men. Yet all the time that he was in power, and
welded that power against that institution u was
fructifying the nation, sustaining exchange, nam
tanning credit, q sound currency, regulating IN
measure excessive bank issues melting out to labor
its reward, :nsuring confidence in trade keeping
prices steady and advancing, and in every way
warding off the evil day. until after Jacksons term OF
Office expired His monster lived TO keep him and
his power and popularity alive until It was too late
to rebuke him for the mischief we now endure. ~
gave us seeming prosperity, which was all ascrlDed
to General jackson, and verify his enemy was made
to praise him."
Mr. Wise, in a speech in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, on the 2lst day Of Dec, 1888, spoke
as follows Of the then Democratic administration
"Let gentlemen understand me. ] measure
my terms. speak in no spirit OF bravado. de-
claim not when say that if a majority Of this
House would do their duty without fear, favor, or
affection the Secretary Of the Treasury would, be-
fore this House adjourns, be impeached II ever
felon deserved the hangman's knot, the Secretary
Of the Treasury, Levy Woodbury., deserves I'M n,
parchment! That is the proposition which VIII
now proceed to demonstrate"
In 1883. during the reign Of Martin Van Buren,,
Mr.. Wise, in a speech in the House of Represent
atiyes reviewing the administration Of General
jackson, and after saying that the Old Hero had
been long enough in power to concetre snsqufty
and BRING forth corruption and crime, scorsc, te,.
fold 6lacer than had euer before been perpetrafed
went on to say:
aThe cry Of corruption was now heard from an
other quarter--the trumpet blast came LOUD ana
long from different point of the field. me fost
Office Department was first charged with every
crime IN the calendar of malversaton and malfea-
sance in Office The charges were denied, those
who made them vilifed, and Investigation was
scorned and scoffed at until the complaint became
| too popular to be UNDECIDED longer; committee
| was at last granted by both houses of Congress,
their investigations could not be stifed, and their
reports from both sides, in both branches OF Con-
| gress, exposed more bribery and corruption more
aagrant violations Of official duty and crying abuses
| of official power and trusts, than had ever been
| charged or dreamed to exist. The administration
| made a narrow escape; they ran the gauntlet
through this exposure, and they were by It taught
| lesson which they have ever since remembered
not foolishly again to grant or yield to another m
| vestigation. To appease the public indignation
Mr. Barry the only honest man among that de'a 81
thieues was given over to the tender mercies Oh
| what I? a foreign mission. O. b. Brown was per-
mitted to resign with eclat, and the gains ne had
laid up against day of trouble from the profits OF
/ favored mail contractors, and the rest and worst
| of the robbers were retained in their places
Mr. WISE in his celebrated speech on the hoor
Of Congress in 1885, with reference to the investi-
CATION Of the Treasury as managed during Gen.
4 Jackson's Administration, addressed Mr.. FOLK,
who was then Speaker, as follows:
s.Sir. the whole party, from the President down
to YOU sir resorted to every device to evade, and
| finally defed and denounced, all inquiry and all
/ investigation You all attempted to bell the cat
i You warned the rats You hid them. After os-
tensibly giving full scope in the resolution OF In
quiry to gull the people with fair pretensions you
shut the doors of the Departments; you sienced
all resolutions and interrogations in the committee
rooms"
In 1888, Mr.. Wise, in a speech in Congress, Civ.
ing the history of the Investigating Committee,
asserted that "millions Of the public money had
been applied by the officers of the government 70
| ,:.--A-.--4I fen enc knowledge OF the adminis-
tration," and attributed their dishonesty to the
Democratic blood in their veins, as follows:
"Sir, will put to the gentleman and to the
House case in simple equation--in the rule Of
three: If Samuel Swartwout, who was conserva-
i tive, and SO but half genuine locofoco, stole a
million and quarter, how much would he have
stolen had he been fulbloodeds 4 suppose at
least two millions and half. 1t seems, however,
that he got all the money before he turned con-
sentative. Sir, even allowing he had any Wing
blood in his veins, can the gentleman ascertain
whether 1t this the other sort Of blood that
prompted him to these depredationsS Certainly
the locofcco predominated in him.