Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-09-03
Democratic Taxation and Finance.

We extract the following from the
able speech of Senator Sherman, of Ohio
delivered at Hillsboro, Ohio, August 20
1868:
Now. fellow-citizens, it is for you to
say whether the Democratic party is
likely to improve upon this system OF
taxation and finance. Will they devise
a system of taxes, yielding SO large a
sum, that will fall more lightly and
equally upon the people than we have
done? VIII they devise a cheaper sys-
tenn? The entire actual expenses of col
lecting $263, $40 ,26l uf internal revenue,
last year, was 81, H. ,0S9, or only 92 per
cent-less than three per cent. This is
a less percentage of cost than for collect
ing the customs, or for collecting the city
or local taxes of any city, State, or Coun-
ty in the Union. Is it likely the Demo
cratic party will reduce your expendi-
lures, or manage more wisely your public
debt? On the contrary, when the rebels,
by their agency, are restored to their old
power, infinite demands will be made on
the Government, and with certain sue
cess. There will be property destroyed
during the war, cotton seized and sold
for the United States, pensions to rebel
soldiers, and claims without number, sup
ported by those who will have control
ling political power. We have sample
of Seymour Democratic economy in the
city of New York, the most eXtravagant
and corrupt government i'll the world,
where thieves and robbers pursue their
avocations in open day, with the baton
and uniform of authority on their per-
sons. 1 will not pursue this matter
further. The Republican party of this
country is composed of the great mass OF
the farmers, the professional, mechan-
ical and laboring men of the Northern
States. They will not have to go to the
Democratic party, constituted as it is, to
learn lessons of honor, honesty or econo-
my. In the future, as in the past, we
will be able, under the prudent advice
of Gen. Grant, to meet new questions as
they arise, and decide them so as TO pro-
mote the honor and welfare of the whole
country.
And now, my felIow-citizens, [ need
scarcely, in conclusion, point you to the
admirable ticket given us by the Chicago
Convention. Gen. Grant was not nomi-
mated merely by a party, but because his
nomination was demanded by the etern-
al fitness of things. His remarkable
military career, commencing under dis
couragement, was pursued with steadi-
ness as infieXible as fate-with conf
denee as sure as Christians hope-and
closed with a triumph as complete as
that of Washington. Surely such SER
vices are deserving of recognition by a
free people; and the peculiar qualities
of his mind admirably fit him for the
duties of President now. He is reticent,
and will embarrass us by no foolish
speeches. He is firm, as Buckner, Bragg,
Lee, and President Johnson found out.
He is generous, and will do as much to
heal the asperities of the war as any man
ought to do. His election will secure us
peace, safety and order. And he is sup
ported on the ticket by gentleman
whom l have known foI twenty years
with whom / have lived under the same
roof for several years, and whose char
acter, qualities and habits / can speak OF
with personal knowledge; and can
only say what everybody says of him,
that Schuyler Colfax is a man of the
purest character, of fine abilities, and
has all those traits which could induce
you to trust him as friend and repre-
sentative.
Let us rally to the support of this
ticket, with the same spirit with which
our soldiers followed Gen. Grant during
the war, and we will bear our country to
triumph and to peace.