The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-19
From the New Albany Argus.
THE HARD TIMES.
Who is Responsible Therefor
Plain Answers.

Who is Responsible Therefor
Plain Answers.
Mr.. EDITOR.-The democratic papers
charge the republican party with the re-
sponsibility of the very hard times that
are upon US. Will you explain to re-
publican who can't see it in that light" "
how the republican party IS responsible ?
a REPUBLICAN.
REPLY.
The above communication comes to US
through the postofice. The question is
fair one, and we will answer it frankly.
" Republican" will recolect that gold
was selling at about 131 when this congress
assembled the 1st of December last 1t is
now over 140. 1t makes a great differ
ence in the whole amount Of government
securities. Still money is plenty. 1t is
loaned in New York at 4 to per cent,
and goes begging at that. This is an un-
natural state of things. Business is de-
pressed, manufacturers have sacrificed large
portions OF their fortunes, many laborers
are idle, large amounts of goods are piled
inlstores and warehouses, but no customers
come to buy. A large house in New
York, few days since, sold a stock of
goods that cost SS5, 900 for S95, 900 cash.
Thousands Of clerks are idle in New York,
and nearly all the merchants are losing
money. We have passed through many
severe commercial reyulsions in this coun-
try, and business for brief period became
stagnant. But did "Republican ever
know the time, previous to the last We ar,
in which money was plentiful and easy to
DC had on good security at a very low rate
Of interest, when business was staguant
and manufacturers and merchants were
losing money, and so many laborers were
idle? Plenty of money afoat, and panic
in business circles. Something unusual
must be the cause of this The telegraph
yesterday brought US this item from New
York: "There is not vessel now build
ing in this city" Let US see.
Congress has laid such taxes upon ship
building and materials, that the business
has been driven out of the country. Ships
can be built in Canada, in England-any-
where cheaper than in the United States.
So We get no revenues from this source
no taxes-for congress is obstinate, and
has driven away the business. For two
years, petitions from Maine to the Gulf
have been poured into congress, praying
that taxes which destroy ship-buildiug
should be repealed or lessened. But con-
gress is quite busy in the colored business.
and turns its back upon ship builders.
Congress has laid a tax upon cotton
upon one of the great producing interests
Of the country, equal to the profit on the
crop-and this is one reason why NO more
cotton is raised and shipped abroad giving
employment to ships, and bringing gold to
this country in exchange.
Congress has taxed manufactures TO an
unbearable extent and one Of them with
in few days since, on finding that his
profits and most of his capital were gone,
said: Within three years L have paid
United States taxes to the amount of my
capital, and this has made me poor"
Congress has taxed every department of
business since the war closed, to the full
extent oftaxation. Its object has been to
keep armies and bureaus at the south, and
to change the character Of our government.
This work has cost two hundred millions
of dollars, a year Place six hundred mil
lions ofdolIars, the amount improperly taken
from taxpayers and laborers the three
years. back into the pockets of those who |
have paid that money, aud it would great
ly relieve present distress.
Congress has paid no attention for three !
years to the interests of the country, but |
has squandered money upon schemes
which are destroying the union. Franti- |
cally mad, these who have ruled congress
have have done nothing but devise " re-
bills, appropriate money,
initiate impeachment bills, break down
states, and place their governments in the
hands Of negroes.
Two years ago the union was complete.
Every state in the Union, north and south,
was in harmony with the constitution.
The rebellion was crushed-slavery was
abolished. Then congress broke up the
union, and commenced what it called re-
laws. They were despotic
and not adapted to free institutions
From that time to this, there has been
confusion, trouble, distress.
Congress did what the rebel armies fail
ed to dot broke up the union.
What has been the result? The ten
producing and exporting states have been
in state of chaos. They have been
starving while they ought to have been
growing rich and prosperous-while they |
ought to have sold cotton enough abroad |
to pay for the surplus goods that are now
down on manufacturers and mer-
chants. They ough. to have been aiding
largely in paying the national debt. In
stead of that, congress, through freedmen's
bureaus, hos been issuing millions Of ra-
tions to the south and spending two hun
dred millions Of dollars in various ways to
'' reconstruct states which its laws have
destroyed.
Congress has violently stricken down |
representations deadly blow to the free
and the prosperity they would |
encourage.
1t was impossible for these measures of
despotism to be extended over the south |
without also iuAicting injury and distress
upon the north Had the states of the
south went on as they were two
years ago, with slavery extinguished and |
accession destroved-had not the tounda |