Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-24
PUBLIC ROBBERY-CAE 1T BE
STOPPED?

STOPPED?
There is no branch Of the public ser.
vice, either national, State or municipal,
in any section of the Union, where there
are not frequent evidences Of theft on
the part of those entrusted with the
money of the people. So widespread
and daring has become the practice OF
embezzling the public funds, that honesty
has become the exception and dishonesty
the rule. The attention Of the people is
called to it every day in one form or
another. 1t takes all shapes-one day it
comes as a observation-disclosures an act of
open robbery and fight 20 parts unknown
again as a stupendous fraud upon the
revenue, in whisky, tobacco, petroleum,
or some other taxable article of COM
merce. In the meantime the bearers of
our tax burdens, the honest and hard
working masses, are getting inpatient
under these daily Accommodations of debt
and thievery. They anKiously inquire if
it is not possible that stop be put to 1t
Their public servants snake their heads
in doubt and uncertainty. They are I'M
able or unwilling to suggest remedy.
The newspapers, each succeeding day,
produce new exposures of frauds and
stealings, and denounce rascality and
corruption. But still the work goes
bravely on, increasing and to increase.
The thieves are never caught and, if in
rare instances they are caught, they are
set free without punishment
Under this course of things the rOgues
are the only prosperous class Of people IN
the country. Industry languishes, the
people are disheartened, their burdens
increase; and it would seem that the
country is rapidly coming to that pecu-
liar condition where thieves are the only
gentlemen, and honest people are their
slaves or serls
These reflections arise upon the SUBJ
Joined letter received yesterday, from
gentleman well advanced in years and in
wisdom, who, for long period of our
history occupied distinguished positions
in the councils of the nation, as the rep
resentative of the people of neighbor~
ing State When the great lights of
American craftsmanship were snuffed
out by the poisonous damp" of igno-
rant fanaticism, he retired to his sabian
fields" and now tends his flock, and for
years his name has not had public mem
ton. The daily peculation Of the hon
est peoples money has enlisted his voice
again; and he sends us the following
suggestions and reflections, which we
lay before the public with great pleasure,
and in the hope that they may be turned
to good account:
To the Editors of the Union and Dispatch.
The late elections in some of the North
ern States has called attention TO the grow
ing evils of plundering the public treasury,
and scarcely a paper is published without
some new notice of astounding frauds and
robberies in collecting or disbursing the
national revenue. Is there no nay to stop
it If not put a stop TO, Will 1t not destroy
republican institutions wherever set up?
Can the United States stand the practice?
Will the people bear the taxing and col
Letting millions, aye, hundreds of millions
from them to be distributed among set of
greedy rogues and swindlers, whose num-
bers are increased as the taxes are increased,
and whose thievings meet with impunity
in proportion to their numbers and infiu-
ence? Shall the public press make no effort
to attack and break up this system by some
responsible system of fiscal action on the
part of government?
How would it do 10 lay off the Union
into suitable collection districts for assess
ment and revenue, and when defalcation
or robbery of the revenue takes place, re-
quire every recipient of revenue in that
district to make it good out of their respec-
tive salaries in proportion TO the amount
of their several annual receipts? You need
have no fear but honest men would take
Offices and become responsible for one
another They would inform themselves
when one of their district had love of
fast horses or "a fight with the tiger" and
soon put stop or have him removed. 1t
ia better that those who receiue Gbunddnty
and live upon the fat things of the land
should bear losses, than the laboring men
who toll and toll, and when the public are
robbed are taxed over again to make it
good. "Where there is a will there is
way If my view is defective offer bet
ter, for love of republican government will
not long sustain free republican swindling.
LowNDEs.