The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-09-11
What PrOduc e. d our National
Debt.

The radical press have one answer
for the popular protest against ex-
ccssiyc taxation, unequal taxation
and eternal taxation. That is,
that it was caused by the rebellion.
But this is only partly true. A
large part of the debt was cause by
the plundering which commenced
with the war, which fourished du-
ring the war, and which has been
kept up in full blast, since the war.
When Cameron was still in the
War Department in 1862, and sus.
tanned by the whitcwashing vote of
Representative Conkling, John P.
Hale, a republican Senator, said
II tell you, sir, believe, and declare
it upon my responsibility as Senator of
the United States, that the liberties of this
country are in greater danger to-day from
the corruptions and from the profiisacy
practiced in the various Departments Of
Government, than they are from the open
enemy in the field.n
In 1862, Mr.. Dawes, of Massa-
c1usstss, e..g 2 republican !s!i member Of
to investigate frauds, said:
"The gentlemen must remember, that in
the first year ofa Republican administra-
ton, which came into power upon profess
si0ns of rctrenchment and reform, there is
indubitable evidence that cannot be doubt
ed aboad in the land that somebody has
plundred the public Treasury we'll nigh in
that single year as much as the entire
current yearly expenses of the Govern
ment during the administration which the
people hurled from power because of its
corruption ......
Don Piatt, leading republican
of Ohio. through the Mac-a-check
Press of june l, 1867, said:
"From the hour ofhis TLincoln's1 first
Inauguration up to that of his death, the
thieves were all in Office. 1t was impossi-
BILE almost to lay hands OH an official and
not touch man made ricfby his position.
This was especially the case with the
monyed offices. Honest men stood aghast
at the impunity with which stealing went
on. All cries of shame at the outrage
seemed unavailing. All opposition was
thrown away. Thieves were turned out
to be succeeded by thieves, and colossal
fortunes were made in an hour. The am
liable old President cracked jokes over the
rascality, and said that in his appoint
| mcnt's he had to run his hand into u sack
Of fifty snakes to find one cel.n
The Suppressed Report made to
Mr.. Fesscnden, shows that in May
1864, S. NJ. Clark, Superintendent
of the Currency Printing Bureau,
changed his accounts so as to show
a less liability by $4,000. 600 to
the government, than the fact was
that Clark and Gwynn spent $3, :
600, 900 from public funds, pretend
cdly in the public servicc,-but
really for private purposcs-that in
Nov. 1864, Clark made return
which failed to account for $54, :
OOO,O Of government money
manufactured by him--that Clark
did not account for the spoiled i'm
pressions Of notes, bonds and coup
ons delivered to him. and the
amount thus unaccounted for is un-
known millions--that various EN-.
bezzlcmcnts besides these, arc charg-
cd upon this officer.
These charges were repeated from
time to time, and were confirmed by
the report of a clerk, detailed for
their special investigation. At
length Clark was removed. bnt the
enormous fraud, and cmbezzlcmcnts
referred to, have never had any fall
or public investigation.
Such facts explain the vast bulk
Of the National Debt. These are
the rascalities and frauds which
compel labor to yield up it's earn.
ings, and property to furnish its
quota, to meet the demands of the