The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-06

| mihued plOckheads. Our contemporary used Q
very appropriate term to designate thesestupid
little politicians. They are conceited set Of
fellows without brains, who think they are a
mighty power and should control the affairs Of
the country as we'll as the opinions and personal
conduct Of men. But they are not the only
narrow-minded blockheads, by long way.
The term may be applied to Greeley himself
for his vagaries about specie payments, the
currency, high tariff, socialistic theories and
misplaced philanthropy. Looking at the man
agement Of our public affairs, this expression,
unfortunately, Is applicable 10 most of those
in official positions
How fifty this term-narrow-minded block
heads-may be applied, for example, 10 the
Judiciary Committee of Congressl This Com
mittee was appointed ostensibly to investigate
serious charges against the President and grave
matters affecting tho administration of the gov
ernment The people were led to believe thst
there was evidence enough before Congress-
and in the hands Of those who proposed the
Committee to justify investigation The Com
mittee has virtually concluded it's labors
|
RESULT What, after many months Of
searching inquiry and after the expen-
diture Of a large sum of money, has
it discovereds A mares nest; nothing
more. A majority of the members have agreed
to censure the President, finding no ground for
impeachment. OF course they must do some
thing to endeavor to save themselves, Congress
and The republican party from ridicule; and
they could do nothing less than make up case
for censure. And what was the nature OF the
investigations of This Committee OF narrow
minded blockheadsf Great questions OF public
policy? No; they were chiefly confined to
matters of a private nature--of miserable
Harry. These sapient committeeman were
anxious to know what the President drank and
how much he drank; whether he drank Bour-
bon whiskey or wine; how much water he
mixed with it; if he used sugar, and how
many times day he took his toddy. They
wanted to know who went in the front door
and who in the back door of the White House,
with a great deal more of such contemplate and
impairment stuff Such has been the work in
which they were engaged for months, and such
is the result.
But the greater part by far of the members
of Congress have shown themselves to be in
other respects narrow-minded blockheadsf
Look, for example, at their policy in keeping
the. wounds OF tho war open 50 long for mere
partisan purposes, when the country needs
peace, restoration and harmony, in order to
stimulate the productions of the South, to
relieve US of the immense expense of q large
military establishment and the Freedmen's
Bureau, and to enable us to meet the enormous
demands of the Treasury Department. Look
at the acts passed for bountics, for jobs of
every description, and to protect certain local
interests by burdening and restraining the in
dustry Of the country generally. The most
rigid economy Is needed, if the country is to
be saved from an addition to the debt, or if
either the interest or principal of the
present stupendous debt is to be paid.
The utmost freedom should have been
given to industry and trade, and pro-
duction should have been stimulated by re-
moving as far as possible the burdens upon it..
But instead of that the most lavish and reck-
less expenditures have been made, and indus
try has been burdcned and paralyzed to the
utmost limit of forbearance. Look at the stu
pidity of Congress in giving to the national
banks monsrous and dangerous institution,
the profits o. a national circulation worth over
twenty millions year !; currency Of three
hundred millions, the profits of which rightly
belong to the government and the people, and
which should be saved and applied to- the ex-
tinguishment of the debt. Look, too, at the
insane attempts to contract the currency, and
thereby to reduce the means and increase the
burdens OF time when money should be
abundant, in order to increase production and
to bear The weight of debt and taxation. Never
were there such blockheads composing great
legislative body. Never was country so
much in need of statesmen.
What shall we say of the Secretary Of the
treasury Mr.. McCulloch, through his recon-
mendations to Congress and through his imbe-
cile management Of his department., has been
greatly instrumental in bringing us to condi-
ton verging upon bankruptcy. We say verg-
ing upon bankruptcy, because the Treasury is
being emptied faster than il is supplied. The
expenditures are greater than the income, and
the national debt, instead Of being reduced,
hereafter is likely to BIO increas d. He, OF
course, is q national bank man; for he cannot
see beyond bank interests. Banking was his
vocation, and though he may be capable Of
managing q small country hank, he has no con-
ception ofnational finances. He recommended
a contraction of the currency, and proceeded
to contract il as far as Congress stupidity gave
the power, until he found danger staring him in
the face. Instead of letting the volume of cur
rency remain as it was, particularly as the coun-
try was prospecting and the debt being paid, until
| q large portion of the whole Of the debt could
| be liaudated in the same dep reciated money