Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-28


Mr. Buchanan, or where wholesale frauds have
been perpetrated in such a wholesale manner.
From the findings of traverse jury in New
York 1t appears that political partizan was re-
appointed to the important office of Postmaster
IN that city when it was known to the appoint
ing power that he was a defauter to large
amount in the very office to which he was re-
appointed. The report of the select committee
on Naval Contracts and Expenditures, made in
1909, reveals numerous instances of the most
astounding corruption. Contracts were awnr-
ded TO those who used their money freely for
the purpose of favorng the Lecompton swindle
and other pet schemes of the administration, to
the prejudice of lower and more honest bidders,
and to the detrment of the service, A Cabi-
net officer and confidential friend Of the Pres,-
dent, who went into Office poor, lived fast and
is reputed to have retired rich, issued many
millions of fraudulent acceptances, and one of
his most in innate friends in a subordinate Office
stole million or more dollars worth Of state
tonds, deposited in trust, to cover up this ne
farous transaction. For year previous this
same high official had been engaged in sending
all the available arms belonging to the govern
ment to the seeding states, which arms are now
in the hands of the secessionists. All this time
he stood high in the confidence of Mr.. Buchun-
an, who was conversant with his misdeeds. At
last he was suffered TO resign with profuse ex-
pressions of esteem on the part of the Presi-
dent!
When Mr.. Buchanan came into Office he found
an Overlooking treasury. Its plethora was so
great as to excite the following remark in the
inaugaral
"Our present financial condition is without parl-
lei in history. No nation has ever before been en-
barassed from too large surplus in its treasury"
This is the only embarrassment" that Mr..
Buchanan has removed. The administration
has practiced upon DR.. Sangrado's theory of
medicine until but little is left of the patient.
Instead of twenty millions in the treasury we
find that sum all gone, more than twenty mil
lions of treasury notes or promises to pay in
circulation, loan of eight millions advertised
for to meet the outstanding and rapidly ma
turing obligations of the government, public
creditors hanging around in vain to get their
money, government securities instead of COM
mending premium sold at a great discount,
twelve per cent interest demanded and paid for
loans and the exercise Of great caution neces-
sary at even these exhorbitant rates to keep the
wheels of government in motion. Our nation
is not likely to again form an exceptional in
stance of embarrassment from too large sur
plus in its treasury" The heroic practice of
depletion so thoroughly persevered in by Bu-
chanan and his constitutional advisers has fully
dispelled all such apprehensions.
During the past eight years the democratic
party has had the control of the general gov
eminent. In 1853 Mr.. Pierce came into office
with votes of all but four of the states. The
country was nearly unanimously agreed upon
the maintenance of the compromise measures
which had been adopted during preceding adj
ministration and agreed to by both political
parties. Flushed with their then recent victory
and in the pride of their strength they COM
menced the fulflment of their contract with the
slave power by repeating the Missouri Compro-
mise, for the real purpose of extending slavery
into Kansas. The North became justly indig-
nant at this outrage, and its Indignation result
ted in the formation of the Republican party in
1856. After a severe struggle upon issues in
volved in the repeal Of the Missouri Compro-
mise, the democrats triumphed in the election
of Mr. Buchanan. But their victory was only
gained by still closer alliance with the slave
L., III. =. Il.
years, has proved destructive to those who placed
themselves within its fatal influence.
Mr.. Buchanan found when he came into office
an overfowing treasury and united, prosper
Gus couptry. In the direction of Kansas only
was any cloud to be seen and that was appar-
emily not bigger than mans hand. He COM
menced his administration by protuse profess
sions of love of the Union, of honesty and of
interruption. He closes his term of office with
divided and discordant nationality, with
seven states seeded from the Union and in
open rebellion, Selling the national treasure
wherever it is within their reach and trampling
upon and insulting the natl nal flag, with
treasury in debt and discredited, and with trea-
sun e'dIiHS hlH III ue iuCe Oh every nanu.
During his administration peculation has pre-
vaded every department, corruption has become
systematized and made legitimate, and the pub
lie money has been squandered to promote the
viest partizan ends.
The present condition of the country is the
Legitimate fruits of the democratic policy of the
last eight years. It's emphatically democracy
gone to seed.' A heggared treasury, divided,
discovered Union, rebellion and treason avowed
by all grades of public servants from Cabinet
officers to tide-waiters, the means of public de-
fence either in the hands of the secessionists or
rotting at our whaves in dsmantled condi-
tion,-such is the harvest reaped from demo-
cratic principles; such is the condition of gov
eminent as surrendered by Mr.. Buchanan into
the hands of the Republicans. Democratic
policy and mismanagement have brought us to
the verge Of destruction. The work of res
toration and Reconstruction is all that is left
for the Republicans They will commence the
discharge of that patriotic duty on Monday
next.
A BURNING DISGRACE.
1t is humiliating in the extreme that partizan
n,alica should ha cor,ia1 m euch nm ou,o,.