The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-06-19
Another National Evil .
jane 1855.

Hon. John Sherman Of Ohio, delivered o
sPsseiif III the if5dSe or HrpTr55ntatiy5S IN
May last, on the Expenditures ofthe General
Government" We copy quito portion Of
IL this week in which statements are made,
and backed up by the figures, which should
startle every American. We would ask all
to perusc this extract carefully, IL they have
not access to the entire speech. What does
Mr.. Sherman show? lie shows what must
seem evident to every one, that the federal
government seems to be Fastening 20 bank.
ruptcy. One year ago there was n surplus
OF more than Sl7000oo0 in tho treasury , It
is now demonstrated that before another year
has elapsed We shall have National debt Of
over G0,0oo,ooo, and by tho close Of the
present administration, we shall probably
have debt Of more than Sl00.Oo0,000. In
view of this state of things, the n. Y. Post
has the following;
Every department of the government
seems to sweat corruption. Even the Cabinet
ats in speechlcss Indifference under charges
which are fatal 10 the reputation Of its men,
bsrs. IL is the common impression brought
,Ehome now from Washington by visitors, that
the legislation Of the country was never under
Sueh corrupt influences as ut this moment
In view of these facts, friend urges that the
Republican members stop the supplies with
which this current of corruption Is fed. lie
writes ,: We shall never get on whilst we SUP
ply our opponents with money TO carly on
elections. Our friends nrc awakening to this
point, and begin to understand that they
now represent the laboring class, who derive
no benefit from the expenditure
There IL no doubt that il ~ the duty of
the Republicans to resist the laIgc appropria-
tons which ore constantly made in Congress !;
hut our advice cannot accomplish anything.
The difficulty lies further back Tie state
governments have grown so weak undor the
new constitutions which have been framed at
the North since 1885, and the Federal gov.
eminent has in consequence. grown relatively
40 strong. that We have no longer any state
influence or state psrticS- We have no yigor-
Gus party tribunal before which to- hrraign
and try unfaithful representatives, and by
the aid. Of which to sustain faithful ones who
~ the discharge of their duty, chance to incur
thAL hostility ut the administration al Wash
ington. The representative who, in striving
to be honest and true 10 his constituents, Is
obliged to array himself against an ,ntlminis.
tratiop measure, has no reliable pnrty 10 fall
back upon, and If he is ambitious, the chances
will be, in nine cases cut Of ten, that he will
conclude to treat patriotism and principle as
nuTsery-room complaints, which people out
ksews az tbey. nuigrow, their liability. to the
measles and whooping cough. With the
patronage now at tina Disposal Of the Execu-
tive, and the manifold temptations which il
has the means of addrekAlng TO theclassNho,
for tha nlpat ppt, atiniu, Congressional dig.
nitg nowadays, tits idle TO ask or expect
any. party to resist, with any effective degree
OF anspimity, the expenditures which the
government sets its heart upon making.