The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-11

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i From the National Intelligencer.]
I EleCtioneering Dodges.
i "Major General Howard has formally
| ordered the discrimination of the Freed.
mems Bureau in South Carolina, and will,
as speedily as possible, close the bureaus
business in other States. ~. Y. Trio
lane.
i This sort Of deception will hardly mis-
lead even the unwary. The trick has
been repeated too often to have the least
merit of novelty, and is now regarded as
only barefaced attempt to impose on
the public BY wilful Misrepresentation
The Freedmen's Bureau has just been
Iextended another year by the influence Of
Gen. Howard, who first pretended to re-
Icommend its abolition. That fact is the
4 best answer 70 the false statement Of the
Tribune, and reveals the real sentiment
lof the head of this corrupt political ma
ichine, who has worked it only for selfish
or party purposes. There is not the re-
motest intention of closing the bureau
Inow, and never has been. The best proof
iof it is the law recently passed by an un-
divided Radical vote in both Houses of
Congress. It forms an essential element
of their programme in the Presidential
campaign, and was renewed for that OBJ
Iject expressly. The proof is to be found
in the Senate bill proposed by Mr.. How
ard, by which the President is deprived
of all supervising authority, "and the
present Commissioner" (Gen. Howard, }
is rendered Independent of the army reg
uiations and of all proper accountability,
until the 1st of January next, thus COW
ering the Presidential election. That
proposition reveals the plot; while anoth-
er introduced by Mr.. Pomeroy as a se-
quel, proposes to transfer the Indian Bu-
reau to the Freedman's Bureau, and thus
fasten itpermanently on the Government.
The Tribune is we'll aware of these facts,
and yet has concealed them for party eff
feet.
| Radicalism has takeI sudden and vi
olent spasm of reform since the New York
Convention. But this pretended zeal
comes rather late in the day, and exposes
its own motive. Nearly eight months
have been squandered in factious agita-
tion and in desperate effort to get pos
session Of the Executive Office. All the
great material interests have been treated
with the utmost neglect and contempt by
the dominant party in Congress. Pre-
cious time and money have been wanton-
| ly wasted in prosecuting the President
and in attempts to rule or ruin. And now,
at the eleventh hour, when all is confu-
sion, when everybody is worn down with
fatigue, the session about closing, and
when the New York Convention has
| framed its indictment, the very men who
have all along treated with scorn the se-
serious public business rush forward with
| political schemes for reducing the army,
4 for higher protective tariff, and for 9th .
er purposes, all intended to counteract
the effect Of their past criminal omis-
sions, and to propitiate people whom
| they have outraged by neglect, extrava-
gance and unparalleled corruption. These
4 electioneering expedients have had their
j day, and can succeed no longer. The
! eyes of the country are at length opened
! to the iniquities which have been prac,
ticed, and the mischief which the rule Of
! Radicalism has produced. Professions
have no value from sucha source, because
the most solemn promises have been made
| only to be violated. This affected repent.
ance is like that of the hardened criminal
| who goes to the gallows protesting his
i innocence, in the vain delusion that his
guilt may be doubted and his bad char
acter redeemed. As the individual is es.
timated by his life, so is party judged
/ by its recorded acts. Seven years oi
bloated power and unexampled tyranny
confront Radicalism, and demand its ex.
pulsion as the only meansleft of rescuing
the country from most serious perils.
i Inasmuch as the New York Post and
: other papers have been deceived by the
artful "dodge" Of Gen. Howard and his
Radical friends, we publish his own tes.
timony to show that the Freedmen's Blu.
reau has not been stopped, and that this
i whole movement is sham, got up to de-
| ceiye the public: saGta
4 WAR DEPARTMENT.,
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, F FREEDMEN,
4 AND ABANDONED LANDS,
! WASHINGTON, July 6, 1868.
Brevet Major General R. r. scott, Assistant
Commissioner, Charleston. South Carolina:
4 GENERAL: Your method of reducing
| the number OF agents of the bareaw, anc
gradually transferring the duties devolv
ing upon them to local officers of State
appointments, meets with my APPROVAL
1t will embarrass you less to select al
army officer, who viii heartily cooperate
with you, to act as assistant commission
er, and to have all civil agents replaced
by army officers, carefully selected. Thes,
officers had better be as few in number al
possible. Your own appointment will b.
continsed until suitable officer can bt
selected to relieve you. Meanwhile
please make your recommendations tt
effect Vhe changes of reduction above
t suggested as soon as you can, and nami
an officer to actas assistant commissioner
, | r believe yonr local MAGISTRATES will rem