The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-08-05


sytem that begets wealth. No wonder
that the people cannot see what has be
come Of five hundred millions of dollars
collected as revenue each year since
the war closed The pubic debt has
not been appreciably lesscned, and
three years of peace has equaled in its
burdens four years of war. This year
the war department has expended over
one hundred and twenty eight millions
Of dollars, when the year before it ex
pended but ninety. FIVE millions. The
longer we have peace the more the
army costs. And the navy row costs
over twenty-five millions annually in
peace, while formerly, in peace, it cost
but twelve millions. From July l,
1865, to July l, 1868, the cost Of gov
eminent was over eight hundred and
twenty millions of dollars, and the esti-
mates for the year ending July {,
1869, are over one hundred and ninety
seven millions, making for the four
years ending July 1 1869, over one
thousand millions of dollars as the cost
of government. For four years of
peace preceding the war, tie expenses
of government were only a fraction over
two hundred and fifty six millions for
the whole time. These ~extravagences
have grown out of a strained and violat-
ed constitution. The administration
of the government since the war closed
has run riot with the rights and the
money of the people. The Democratic
party with the aid of all conservative
men in the country propose a remedy
for these evils. We propose to return
to the Constitution, and giving it a strict
construction, administer the govern
meut accordingly. The war has gwen
rise to extravaganza aud to unhealthy
aud inconsiderate views of government,
and especially to a morbid appetite for
wealth and disregard Of the people. A
new administration would benefit the
country, for the reason that the public
officers and THEFT assistants would be
fresh firm the people, acquainted with
the views of the people and not SO in
g%enious and inventive in modes IF ap-
propriating the public revenue. Short
terms of office are favored by the Cons
ritution. A Democratic and conserva-
tive administration would save the
country millions of dollars by its mere
presence at the capitol. But we pro-
pose reforms in vital respects To
withdraw the army from the South and
reduce it in numbers; to abolish the
freedman's bureau and leave the people
Of the South to industry and labor for
their own support to lift the negro
yoke off the necks of the white people
of the South, that their industry and
prosperity may revive and that they
may be able to contribute with US to
pay and bear the burden Of the war ;
are self evident, constitutional, duties.
Force has prevailnd too long. Its
violent in titutions must give way to
public liberty and constitutional rights.
The people of the South must have
their own State governments. They
must regulate their own affairs deter
mine who shall vote, and who shall
hold office, aud who shall represent
item 10 Congress, and who shall govern
them The freedman's bureau, the
military power, Congress, the negroes,
have no authority to prostitute civil
liberty to maintain corrupt leaders
The white race has the mental and
moral superiority. 1t is the ener-
getic, all conquering and civilizing
race of the world The negro race
must contest its rights, not through
bureaus and advantitious despotism,
but by the ordinary means employed
and Known to the human race. Cap
acity, energy, achievement, are the
sole means of getting a position-The
want of these their destiny. This is a
government the institutions Of which
must be fixed by white men, and all
struggles TO amalgamate it and divide
it with any inferior race, without the
the consent of the white people, are
unnatural and will end in anarchy.
No right to despotic sway, tyranny,
or cruelty, is claimed for the white
race.-The Begro should be protected
in his rights of person and property
and afford. d advantages for mental and
moral improvement, but to act as arbit
er we the rights of white men. as
judges, jurors, as associates, as equals
in government, without the consent III
the white race is prohibited by the
Jaws Of nature and the civilization Of
the age. The Indian, the Asiatic, the
African, can never act as a superior on
American soil The reconstruction
acts of Congress must be swept away
and the original rights of the white
people of the South restored as sug
gested by the Proclamations of the
President in 1868 and 1864, and acts
and resolutions of Congress before the
war closed, or economy, Constitutional
government, public faith to creditors,
peace and prosperity are mere specula-
lions in our future history. The public
debt never can be paid uoless constitu-
tional government lis restored. The
people of the North will be robbed as
long as the South is enslaved. Will
the public debt be paid sooner by a
policy that is squaudering the revenues
as fast as they are collected policy
that promotes public misfortune, or by
economy and a settled and Constitu'
tioual government. The bondholder's
interests are identical with the peoples
under the Constitution. Every cent of
the government debt must and will be
paid in good faith, and it seems to me
there ought to be no dispute as to when
or how it ought to be paid. The bonds
ought to be paid so soon as they mature
and the means can be procured by a
lo-o ,ofo o-J opefikutiopo mode hu I