Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-27

was one wear ago VIII not be prptended and
to the extent Of that depreciation l. the pro-
portion which tbs public debt bears 70 it, in-
creased.
BUT again. BY the census report from which
have just quoiei. VIC find that the population
OF the United States in he year $50 was little
more than thirty millions. OF this population
about five millions are voters. A moments cal
eulation in the simplest rules OF arithmetic shows
that each individual voter of these five mill
ions Is in debt to-day 5000 on account OF his
proportion Of the national expenses and that one
year hence he viii be in debt 500 on the same
account The liability Of my own great State Of
Indiana, according to the rule Of taxation which
has been enacted against her by the present
Congress, viii be 500, 600 600. Of which
enormous sum the people of the District which
have the honor TO represent, will stand charg-
ed with something over twelve millions of dol
lars.
Where, sir, in all the dreary history Of profit
gate nations, were ever such burdens as these
imposed on the shoulders of any people in so
short time' The mourning children of Israel
captives in the bnck-yards of Egypt were scarce
~ more slaves to their Egyptian masters than
the American people win be 10 the constant de-
mands and exactions of the national debt. Ii
viii come upon them like the lean and hungry
kline rising from the river of Pharaohs dream to
devOur the well-favored and fatfeshed cattle of
oil the land. Tell me not of the blessings of a
public debt. That cry is simply the cheat and
the falsehood by which men who have abused
their authority seek 10 cover up the outTages
which they have inflicted on a contiding people.
II is as old, too, crime in high places, or the
principle of base cupidity in the heart of man.
The Phari.ees of Jerusa lcm over their boarded
gains, the kings Of Babylon on their touches of
gold, Alexander at his gorgeous banquets, the
Sultan in the midst of his soft dallianccs of ex-
pcnsive love, corrupt, cffcminate Roman Sena-
tors in their villas of magnifconce the Bourbons
of France surrounded by the splcndors Of the
Tuilleries, the S;uarts of England clinging to
their maxims of kingcraft, lustful tyrants, de
bauched princes and dishonest statesmen of all
ages and every cline have all talked wisely and
profoundly of the sweets and comforts which
flow TO the people from thai fountain of bitter
waters-d great JUldc DIT. II they can convince
the people that this monstrous heresy i right,
then all check or restraint on extravaganza and
wastCful indulgence at once are Withdrawn, and
avarice and corruption are left free TO prev with
unbridled license on the substance of the nation.
II l. alarming, sir, that this fatal doctrine is
found creeping into the debate Of the American
Congress. Has il come TO this! Has this great
nation, so famed for its wealth and pecuniarv re-
spon>ibiliiy been driven so soon to seek refuge
IN the miSchicvOus principle that it is q national
benefit to be sunk in Indebtedness 1t becomes
the people before If Is too lale, arouse them
selves against this baleful dogma of despotism,
and prove 10 the world that they are worthy of
the freedom which they as yet possess. Let them
seek wisdom and warning on this vital subject
in tie teachings of that great founder of Ameri-
this question, in 1913, he said
were funding our national debt We card
much about "a pl1c deb being public ble>Sing; that
the stock representing creation Of active capital
,oi '4ie -, commerce 9rS .,nd "Feu
lure This paradox vas well adapted 10 the minds Of
believers in dreams ard the guS of tina size entered
bDna pie into il.
We warranted then in affirming that this parody
On the principle OF public debt, being public blessing
and its into the blessing # private instead oi
public debts, Is ridiculous the or nal principle
And again, in letter TO Albert Galatin. this
profound statesman and political philosopher
says:
liable Size, it, entire discharge will be dspaircd Of aud
We shall be committed to tue ENGLISH Of deb cor
ruption, rotenneSS closing with revolutions. The dis
charge of the debt, Iheref vital the destnes Of
our Government, aud hangs Nj. Madison and
self alone
But, sir, am well aware that l viii be met
here by the familiar cry that these terrible ex-
pendltures are necessary TO maintain The ex-
i'tence of the Government aud TO carry on the
war IN which we are engaged To this assertion
lrcturn plain and explicit denial. From what
ever quarter it comes, whether from high places
or low places, il is not true. The public debt up
~ this hour and to the extent of It's fearful pro-
portions, has not been the work of a national ne
ceSsi.v, nor the creation of honest hands The
Mexican war, though foreign and distant one
in which we paid the soldier substantially the
same that we paw him now. cost this Govern
ment, under the wise and honest administration
of James X. Polk, in proportion TO the numbers
engaged-man for man-but little more than
one-tourth tire amount now being expended on q
war waGed M our very door steps. Of course 7
do not deny that heavy expenses have been prop
erly incuucd but that fraud and crime in their
darkest hues have swollen 10 an overwhelming
amount the pccuniary liabilities of the people /
stand ready to prove. i shall ask no man TO de-
eide without the evidence to sustain so serious
charge. | make it. sir, with no pleasure. de-
light not IN such things. | love TO speak kindly
of my lellowman. | would rather praise than
cen,ure. Before my great Judge can say there
i nothing in my heart which desires to DRAG
down or wound any human being i'm the wide
world. would rather lift men up, if in my pow
er than abase them. love. too. their approha-
ton But when these wishes and desires of nv
heart stand in the way of nay public duty, they
must all be suppressed. The duty. however un.
gracious and unpleasant, must be performed: and
IN the case now under consideration it seems TO
iA.Ait A'tfAt ii-AttNhu' justly tNC
task before me. The authors of grinding e,z-
toriiou from the weary hands Of honest labor are
enemies of the human race, and should be so
treated.
Sir, as early as last July. when this Congress
first met in extraordinary session. the faint Of
corruption perceived in the atmosphere of
the capital and committee, since SO celebrated,
was raised TO investigate and TO expose The
re ult of portion OF the labors of that commit
tee Is before the country in the shape Of volume
of over eleven hundred pages. The majority of
that committee friends TO the party now in
power, and the evidence which thev have fur
III he'd i entitled TO full credit Would that
4 volume of il eonld be placed in the hands Of
every taX-paying voter of the countrv lis dark
labyIinhs of proven Guilt OUGHT 10 he explored
by every Intelligent mind. By the solemn testi-
mony OF this committee no branch of business
with the military and naval affairs of
this Government seems 10 have escaped the hun
gfy gra>p of unlawful avarice and pecuation. ,
From the smallest article of food which enters in
10 the soldiers ration, 10 the purchase of cattle
for an entire army; from the blanket on which
the tired soldier sleeps at night TO the fori
hcalons for the defense of The city; from the pis
tol ut the soldiers belt 10 the cannon at whose
brcech he stands in the day of battle: from the
mcancst transport >lo0p 70 the mightiest man-of.
war afloat. everywhere and on everything we
mud the impress OF tayoritism and of fraud. The
report ofthiS committee Is before YOU and submit
n few extracts in proof ofmy statement. SPEAK
If IN fra. aat-la al he ho II.