Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-09-26
The Republican Corruptionists.

The following description Of class of meH
who aourishcd IN the days of the Revolution
taken from Spencer's History of the United
States. would indicate that the Shoddyites and
other Black IRupublcan corruptionisss of our
dsy, are worthy defendants of ius'rious sires
We had supposed they were race born oil the
present times but it appears that during our
6rst struggle for liberty there were vampires
Seeding upon the body polite, and in every way
tbwarting the designs of the Government while
protesting to be its warmcst friends almost as
shameless and corrupt as the men who have
whils furnishing our troops with Shoddy uni
forms and wooden .soled shoes denounced Demo.
Gratis as traitors because they will not abandon
their party organization, and by fusion with
them, endorse their schemes of robbery Never
was there written better description Of these
Republican leaders, and VIC cannot believe that
the taxpayers of this State will longer counter,
ance their dishonesty by keeping them in office
If influenced by no higher motive, their pecu-
mary interests should induce them to place in
power the only party that ever conducted the
Government with honesty or economy, and We
have confidence, that they will 90 it,
Read the following, and answer if it is not u
faithful picture Of the men who, afraid to 60
bcfose the people with the sins of Republican
ism on their heads, are now attempting 10 dodge
the responsibility by getting up "Peoples Con.
veutions," and while dcnouncing others and
crying out for the Union, are stealing the last
cent from the public treasury.
There sprang up in the midst of this people
contending for the precious boon OF liberty, a
shameless thirst for gain, an unbridled lust after
riches, no matter by what means acquired The
most illicit, the most disgruceful ways, were no
let to this dcvouring passion. As it happens
but too often in times Of revolutions, there had
sprung up q race of men who sought to make
their private advantage Of the public distress.
Dependence or independence, liberty or no lib
crty--as has been eloquenty said-were all
one TO them, provided they could fatten on the
substance of the State. While good citizens
wero wasting themselves in camps, or in the
discharge of the most arduous functions; while
they we're dovoting 10 their country. thoir time,
their estates, their very existence, these insa,a.
bic robbers were plunderiug and sharing out,
without, blush, the public fortunes. All pri.
waite contracts became the object of their usur.
GUS interference and nefarious gains; all army
supplies enriched them with peculations, and the
State often paid dearly for what it never obtain
cd. Nor let any imagine that the most sincere
and virtuous friends OF their country ever made
SO pompous parade Of their zeal. TO hear
these vile beings, they only were animated with
genuine and glowing patriotism. Every c'i-
zen of eminent rank, or invested with any pub
lie authority whatever, who refused to couuivc
at their rapines, was Immediately denounced as
lukewarm, tody, loyalist, sold to England it
would seem that the first duty Of those who gov
crned the Republic in times of such distress,
was to fill the Golfers of these flaming patriots.
That their own praises should always have hung
upon their lips is not to be wondered at; for
there has never existed robbcr who had not
been first a cheat but what seems really strange
and almost staggers belief, is that they could
have found partizans and dupcs. This public
pest spread wider every day 4; ii had already
gangrened the very heart of the State The
good were sienced the corrupt plumcd them
selves upon their efrontery; every thing presug,
ed an.approacbng ruin and England's hope
was, soou 10 see it.