Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-16
f. Promises and performances.

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g., .. -----------s..------- f., .at
Promises and Performances.
F." LIE THIN the chief engineers of the
Radical party there never existed, politi-
cally, more gracelcss set of dcceivers--
men more profuse in, their promises and
professions and as utterly regardless of
their performance, Not one promise made
the people who placed Il en- in power have
t.bey fulfilled, hut have deliberately viola
ed every pl!dse. Strong language, say
you. But to the proof. Hi(p~A..
They promised to administer the laws
according to the Constitution. Almost ev-
cry provision IF that instrument they have
v iolated and jisregarded under the plea of
"higher law" and denounced it as a
covenant with hell andl a league with
death. Ita direct violation, and the SUBJ
stitution of the imperial will of Abraham
Lincoln, with the refusal of him and his
party to abiie by the decisions Of the courts
and o xccute the lars of the land plunged
the country into civil war and filled it with
misery and woe. .r -.,s- e.
They promised to restore the Union-to
give us a Union of free, equal and indie
pendent States. Have they done it? No;
on the contrary they boldly declare that
the Union of our fathers shall never be re-
stored, except on certain conditions, and
those conditions-the equality Of races
are degrading and insulting to their own
race.
They promised to administer the Gov
ernmcnt with economy. Have they done
this? Let debt of three billions of dol
lars. people burdened with taxation the
like of which was never known since time
began, answer this question. As if not
satisfied with this. they have added to the
peoples burthens by the most reckless and
extravasant appropriation of the public
funds to their own use, in defiance of com
mon honesty, and the sustenancc of pet
schemes and projects having for their aim,
not the public good, but the maintaining
in position and power of hordesof greedy
vampires of their own political faith.
= They promised that honest. Icapable and
efficient officers should be appointed to ad-
minister the laws. Let the thirty million.
missing from the Treasury during the adj
ministration of Secretary Chase answer if
their promise in this particular has been
kept. Until this has been accounted forit
would be folly to particularize the count
less other felonious depredations upon the
public treasury.
They promised equal and exact Justice
that every man should be equal before the
law. Their idea of equal and exact justice
is defined iii the enactment of law where
by the capital of the couatry is exempt
from taxation, aud its industry is taxed to
the highest degree-alaw which cxcmpts the
rich man from taxation and compels the poor
mechanic, the toillng tiller of the soil, the
manufacturer and sturdy labore.r to. pay
tho taxes of the country "a law which
maintains privileg- ID class in our midst
creates a bonded aristocracy to lord it over
the humble classes and grind them in pow
erty AMI destitution into tho very dust for
all time to come . .t... ..r#-
Thus we havo sketched a few Of the
promises Of this party. andcomparcd them
with their performances. The comparison
might lie extended interminaLly, but we
have given enough, VIC think, to satisfy any
candid mind that this party has proved it.
self unworthy the confidence and counte-
nance of any people. ..0 /
,E5- Since the day Frank Thomas voted |
int Congress for Negro Suffrage in the Dis
trict of Columbia no. word of condemnation
has escaped from the Radical press or par
by for that vote. On the contrary, in many |
Of their district meetings his vote has been
endorsed. Andsyet tiis is the party that
: - &C., ~ a.. 80 ez.z1.zI A. :