Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-12-23

Congress has already been made familiar
with my views respecting the Tenure of
Office bill" Experience has proved that
its repeal is demanded by the best interests
of the country and that while it remains
in force the President cannot enjoin that
rigid accountability of public officers so es-
sential to an honest and efficient execution
of the laws. Its revocation would enable
the Executive Department to exercise the
power of appointment and removal in ac-
cordance with the original design of the
Federal Constitution.
The act of March ,, 1867, making appro-
priations for the support of the army for
the year ending June 30, 1868, and for
other purposes contains provisions which
interfere withe the Presidents Constitution
al functions as Commander-in-C Chief Of the
Army, and deny to the States of the Union
the right to protect themselves by means of
their own MALTA.
ON THE FINANCES.
He says;
at is one of the most successful devises
in times OF peace or war, of expansions or
resolutions, to accomplish the transfer of
all the preious metals from the great mass
of the people into the hands of the few,
where they are boarded in secret places, or
deposited under bolts and bars, while the
people are left to endure all the incOnyenl-
ence, sacrifice, and Generalization result
ing from the use Of deprecated and worth
less PAPER.
Ii 1889, when the Government com
menced operations under the Federal Con
stitution. it was buriened with an indebt-
edness Of seventy millions of dollars, crea-
ated during the war of the Revolution
This amount had been reduced to forty
five millions of dollart when III 1912 war
was declared against Great Britain. The
three years struggle that followed largely in
creased the national obligations, and in
1916 they had obtained the sum of one
hundred and twenty-seven millions
Wise and economical legislation, however,
enabled the Government to pay the en-
tire amount within period Of twenty
wears, and the extinguishment of the na-
tionalTlebt filled the land with rejoicing,
and was one of the great events OF Presl-
dent Jackson's administration. After its
1 redemption large fund remained in the
! Treasury, which was deposited for safe
! keeping with the several States, on condl-
! ton that it should be returned when re-
quired by the public wants. In 1Sl9-the
wear after the termination of an expensive
war with MeXico-we found ourselves in
| volved in a debt of sixtyfour millions and
! this was the amount Owedby the Government
in 1860, just prior to the outbreak of fhe
rebellion. In the spring of 1861 our civil
war commenced. Each year of its contln-
uance made an enormous addition to the
debt and when in the spring Of 1860, the
nation successful emerged from the con-
hict. the obligations Of the Government
had reeched the immense sum of S2,S13,
1892. 900. The Secretary of the Treasury
shows that on the first day OF November,
1867. this amount had been reduced to 81,
491, ,5O4, 450 ; but at the same time his re-
port exhibits an increase during the past
wear of $50. .G2j, 1922 for the debt on the
first day OF November last is stated to have
been 81, ,527, 129, ,552 1t is estimated by
the Secretary that the returns for the pas
month will add to our liabilities the fur
ther sum of eleven millions-making to
tai increase during thirteen months of for
ty-six and half millions.
In my message to Congress Of Decembe
4th 1865, it was suggested that policy
should be devised which, without beins
oppressive to the people, would at once
begin to effect reduction of the debt, an(
if persisted in, discharged fully within (
definite number of years. The Secretary
of the Treasury forcibly recommends legis
lation of this character, and justly urges
that the longer it j. deferred the more
difficult must become its accomplishments
We should follow the wise preccdents es
tablishments in 1899 and lslG. and with
out further delay make provisions for the
payment of our obligations at as early q
period as may be practicable. The fruits
of THAR labors should be enjoyed by om
citizens, rather than to be used to build
up and sustain moneyed monopolies in Oul
own and other lands. Our foreign debt is
computed by the Secretary of the Treasury
at eight hundred and fifty millions; citi-
zens of foreign countries receive interest
upon large portion Of our securities, and
American taxpayers are made TO contrib
ute large sums for their support. The
idea that such debt Is to become perma-
nent should at all times be discarded, as
involving taxation to heavy to be borne,
and payment once in every sixteen years,
| at the present rate of interest, of an amount
equal to the original sum The vast debt,
/ if permitted to become permanent and in
creasing, must eventually be gathered into
| the hands of few, and enable them to ex-
/ ert dangerous and controlling power in
! the affairs of the Government. The bor-
rowers would become servants tothe lend
ers-the lenders the masters OF the people