Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-04-15


s| In reply to the assertion of the
JefersoniaH, of last week, that the demo
cratic party is not more corrupt than any
other, we merely referred him to counter
assertions made by distinguished leaders
of his own party to the contrary. And as
our neighbor has furnished nothing in
proof of his statement resting the weight
Of his declaration upon his own response
bility, we have deemed it advisable to in
vito his attention to testimony in direct
conflict with his, aud to call upon him to
rebut that testimony with reliable facts
Of course, we do not intend to offer more
than a small fraction of the proof of de-
mocratic corruption; to give the whole
would be to write history of the party
for years past. In late speech in the
House of Representatives, Mr.. Stevens, of
Georgia, said;
"When he first entered Congress, in l843, the
expenses of the Government were only $50 900 600
per anum The country had gone through the ex-
pensive Mexican war, rih sirty-three thousand
soldiers in the feLd for thirty-three millions and
now, IN time Of peace, the estimates seventy
three millions. Many expenditures were wholly un-
Necessary, and reform was indlspensably needed
He believed forty millions abundance for the ma
tioni expenses
Hon Andrew johnson, Senator from Tennessee
also good Democratic notwithstanding to the
same subject said in recent speech ia the Senate:
alt is in the power Of Congress to prevent these
enormous expenditures: and if we do not interpose,
we are responsible for them. This Government,
sixty-nine years OF age, scarcely out of its swad-
dling-clothcs, is making corrupt use Of money
in proportion to the amount collected from the peo
pie as honestly believe than any other government
now the hai6itdbte GLOBE"
Gen. Shields, one of the Democratic Senators
from Minnesota, in the course of a debate in the
Senate, also took occasion to say:
II think it not saying too much to declare that
this country has gone faster and further in Ten years
in extravaganza, than most other countries have
done in centuries
Senator Toombs, of Georgia, another leading
Democrat, declared in the Senate that he believed
this to be the corruptest government on earth; ana
other Senators concurred in the remark
Hon. Nj. r. II. Garrett, of Virginia. in recent
speech, said
"Can any gentleman pretend that it is fair that
1t is just that it is legitimate, that the expenses OF
this Government, in time of peace should haze
doubled in sax gears? Look through the list OF
items, and You will find that the expenditures have
doubled in almost every item. Is there no place to
apply the knife The Committee of Ways and
Means tell you, that they cannot control these
penditures; then | say that the only way to conro
them is the same way that you would control any
other exiravagant person; that is, by stintng then
in money"
In addition to this, the Washington
States, of the 18th of March, after en-
umerating the various items Of frauC
developed during the investigation of thu
subject Of the public printing, said
"These are astounding Developments; but the,
are of piece with the prevalent practices in Tia
federal Capitol. From the by-ways and the high
ways of the government the rottenness of corup
ton sends forth nm inSufferable stencil. Why ar
the people so patient2 Why slumbers the indigna
ton Of the Democracy
Still in addition te this, Senator Wilson
on the floor of the Senate Chamber
charged the President with connivance a
fraud, in printing blanks, by wich Rice
of the Pennsylvania, the Washington
Union, Appleton, assistant Secretary @
State, and an editor in the interest of
certain member OF Congress, received froT
the Treasury Sj5,OOO without shadow q
equivalent. Senator Cameron of Pennsyl
vauia, confirmed the statement of Wilson
and called for a committee of inyestiga
ton before whom the proof should b
made clear and unequivocal.
We could add proof to proof, indefinite
ly; but let this suffice until oar neighbc
has shown how, and how far, these leader
of his party have varied from the trutl
The stereotyped subterfuge-"Know NJ
thing he"-will not avail as a deienC
here, because the authority given, is d,
moeratic authority, and can only be M
by an admission Of its truth, or proof
its falschocd.