Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-22
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Ono Million Dollar Appropriation
Adjournmmt--A Policy Temperance
Zoxdtioa, dc, dc.
Correspondence Of the Americana
WASHINGTON ID. g., March 10, 1867.
Mr. Edit~,--1hc most interesting item
to philanthropist and statesman heroabouts
is the proposition before Congress to ap.
propriatc from the public treasury one mil.
lion Of dollars For the relief OF destitute
persons 10 The South, to DO distributed with.
out regard to politics, religion, race or col
or. That there are thousands Of those
who were our enemies now suffering for
food is no longer doubtful aud that many
of them will die of outright starvation is
equally certain, If assistance is not sent
them. rs plain as Is this fact, yet there
10 strong opposition 10 Congress to this
measure of relief. The opposition il not
confined 10 either pariy, Prominent men
of both parties favor and oppose. II will
be n specimen Of inhuman legislation if
this Congress fails TO grant the relief ;
and this will appear tho more inhuman
because the members 9f this Congress are
essentially the same as the 18th, which
voted more money out OF the treasury by
Gar than any other ever assembled since
our iorelaihers made their celebrated cup
Of cold tea, in violation OF the kindly
feelings OF their molher--a nice part of
which went TO their own private accounts.
lis true It Is said that "charily begins at
lomo,' but this "chariiy' Is not that
which Is expressed in the words, "ir thine
enemy hunger, feed him"
Were we yet in a stale Of war, We would
be under no obligations to those who
were outside Of our lines, but would be
TO all those within our lines. All are
now within orr lines aud all arc q pait Of
the great Christian BROTHERHOOD Con.
gross does wisely in declining the assistance
of tho high priests of the Coniederaey in
sieadying the ark of our government
with their hand polluted with the blood Of
martyred heroes and their countenanees
yet smiling with delight over their starry
ing victims in prison pens. That is state
manship patriotism, justice but to with
hold bread from tie Starving, though that
starvation DO the consequence Of sin, is
neither.
The prospect now is that Congress will
soon adjourn, or take recess. The va
cant Offices arc being first supplied with
officers, by the harmonious action Of the
President and Congress. A supplement
TO the reconstruction bill will be passed,
vetoed, aud passed again next week, and
then the pressing work for the present will
DO done.
Do you notice how quietly and philo-
sopbicaly the excitement on reconstruc-
ton subsidies since the adoption Of pct
icgl La that the 39,h Congress did the
country great good.
The South now knows what is TO be
done, and if those who plunged the couu-
try into trouble will permit it, tho peoptc |
Of tho South will reconstruct easily
pleasantly aud loyalty the democracy will
soon DO going for the coloied voters. and
il is hoped We will have good time gen.
orally
Inc temperance reform Is active NJ the
nations Capitol now. Liquor dealers have
had n harvest during and since the war.
IL is ascertainod that moro than one
half Of the taxes paid in the Districts on
account Of the liquor monopoly. tits pro-
posed by those who don't drink 20 save rs
many as possible from the effects OF intem.
pcrance, and save oDe.half Of tho taxes
that are so oppressive here, Us IN most
cities, Nothing wrong in that. 1t would
be an interesting question for competent
committee, appointed by the Commits
sioncrs Of Franklin County, 20 investigate /
just what proportion Of the County and
other taxes are consequent on the exis-
tence Of retail liquor stores. There is
ease coming at once within the range Of
taxation without representation good
democratic doctrine. Our people are
heavily burdened by taxation. More
than half Of that tax is paid to support
privileged class-liquor sclers-and TO
deifay the expenses they create.
Less than one-third ofthe people have I
representation in that interest. Taxation
without representation" In behalf of an (
oppressed people may ] commend this
Investigation 10 the County Board In
hat investigation include only dollars and
,cnts leave out Of the computation ru-
ned hopes, broken hearts, the widows
sorrows and the orphans cries.