Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-03-17

question Tor tue past twenty -nNc years
whether there was any more Federal
party among Us. Mr.. Buchanan has
proved, at least, that there Is q Fed
eralist among us. He is an apt Illus
tration of that law of our being whNh
makes old age and imbecility remem-
Der vividly and turn fondly to the
early teachings of youth. and to forget
all that was learned in ripper years.
Mr.. Buchanan was taught in infancy
and early life the doctrines of Federal
ism; for time from policy he dis
guised his opinions; but now when age
is upon him he instinctively turns TO
his first lessons. and asks for an in
crease of executive powers which Ham
ilton never dreamed o!-for the power
to involve this great nation in war
without consulting Congress: for so
millions of dollars to be placed under
his control for purposes which he does
not even condesccnd to explain to your
representatives. He believes that un-
der the Constitution he has now the
power to force an odious Constitution
upon the people of Kansas against
their thrice repeated remonstrance.
But what is the pretence for the thirty
millions? Why, he wants it to facil-
itate the purchase of Cuba. when Spain
has already said that she would not
sell Cuba, and would consider an offer
to buy it an insult. 1t takes two to
make a bargain. That homely old
adage is yet true, as Mr.. Buchanan
will find. But he wants to facilitate
negotiations for the acquisition of Gu
ba. Oh yes, gentlemen! | suppose
he wants that sum for the purpose of
paying off some demands upon the
corruption fund of 1861 Two years
ago the Treasury was overllowing with
SIT 900, 900 overplus; we had so much
money in the Treasury that the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury advertised for
those holding Government bonds to
come forward and have them paid; in
deed, he offered and paid a large pre-
MUM on them. We had so much
money we aid not know what to do
with it. Now we have had two years
of Mr.. Buchanan's mal-administra-
ton, and we are in debt this day be-
tween $40 ,000,0 600 and $50, 100000.
and no means of payment provided
Mr.. Buchanan, to be sure. with tears
in his eyes. has asked Congress for
specific duties. which his own friends
deny him. Whether Congress sees
the validity of the doctrine or not,
there is one specific duty in connec-
ton with this administration which |
recognize fully, and that is the specific
duty of beating this administration in
1860. He has now an empty treas
ury. and his remedy is to spend 500,
100000 per annum, and give Sl20,
000, 600 for Cuba. He is now entirely
helpless, and without the Republicans
he can not pass the ordinary appro-
priation bills. The administration
stands this way: the Democrats who
did not leave him upon his Lecompton
policy have left him upon his tariff
policy, until not a corpora's guard is
left, not even enough to give him a
decent burial. The administration is
to:tcring its downward way to an in
famous grave-a grave upon which no
patriots tear shall ever fall.
hope no Lccompton man will say
| am dealing in denunciatory terms.
| feel no such thing in my heart.
hate the sin, yet love the sinner But
Democrats say they are prosecuted.
saw to-day the speech of Lecompton
leader-l won't profane the name
Democrat l glory in the name OF
Jefferson, and in the presence of true
.Jeflersonian Democrat | could bend
my knee; but | draw distinction as
wide and deep as the gulf which divi-
ded Lazarus and the rich man, between
Lecomptonism and Democracy-in
which he said they were all prosecuted.
He said that you might go to every
jail in the country, you might go to
every penitentiary, and you will find
four-flths of the inmates are Lecomp-
ton Democrats. Oh yes, they are
prosecuted, but not for righteousness
sake! Now | feel no such disposition
to persecute Lecomptonites; if they
are easy | hope they will have good
time of it.
Now, is it not true that there should
be a proper Interpretation of the. con-
stitution and enforcement of the laws
that there should really be purifi-
cation of the administrations of the
Federal and State Governments. The
example OF those high in authority
has corrupted public AMI private NOR
ais; frauds have become so common as
not to excite any wonder or surprise.
The wonder now is that this high Off
Ger and that contractor have had the
opportunity to defraud the government
out of millions and that they have only
stolen hundreds of thousands Among
officials dishonesty is now the rule,
and honesty the exception.
But gentlemen, you need not fear
for the institutions of the country yet,
for dark as is the cloud which over
hangs our destiny, there is still a silver
lining to 1t. Our two greatest dan
gers-Buchananism and Lecompton-
ism-will soon fl. common grave;
they were lovely in their lives. and
in their death they were not divided" !"
Locofocoism lis growing small by de-
grees aud beautifully less"
They talk about the consistency ana
immutabiity of Democracy; they say
they never change. Let us see how
this is. Do you remember the Pom
roy letter of my colleagues competi-
TOR nr Eitch9 Whan tba, la,.ar az =.