Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-03

I Ihe lowest possible amount Tor which this
partisan enterprise can be completed will be
eight millions of dollars.
Are the people Of this nation to be impov-
erished, in order that the day of niggerism and
fanaticism may be long in the land?
Are the masses of the country to be merci.
lessly taxed, robbed, and ruined, in order that
corruption may prosper, love of power be sat
isfed, and the supremacy OF Radicallsm be as
sured?
We look for such response to these ques
tions as will wipe ont the denominations OF the
bayonet, restore civil and constitutional govern
ments to the South, exclude the African ele-
ment from the sphere of politics, and re-estab-
lish the American Union upon the ancient
ton.
| REMEDY POSSIBLE.
Let us recur to the remedy for the manifold
wrongs to which we have referred.
The reconstruction question, whatever diff
cuties it may present to bitter partisans, is ca
pable of a safe and easy adjustment through the
exercise of an honest and liberal patriotism.
The simple application of the principles of
the Federal Constitution will remove every OBJ
stacle and effect peaceful, permanent, and sat
isfactory settlement.
| 1t that instrument possesses the perfection
with which every lover of his country invests it,
1t will not be found wanting at the critical juno
| ture.
The Constitution which has blessed the peo-
pie with liberty and crowned this land with
greatness will not now prove inadequate to the
designs of its authority and leave the vital nte-
rests Of the Union at the mercy ofrude chances
and political passions.
Let its provisions be applied, and representa-
tives of the South, elected by the only qualified
voters of that section, will take their seats in
Congress, subject only to the condition imposed
upon members from other parts of the land ;
| the natural relations between the Southern
States and the General Government will be re-
sumed, and the Union Of the States, triumph
antly restored, will return In form, in fact, and
| best estate
| The restoration of the South will open the
| way to great financial relief.
When her people are relieved of the domina
ton of the bayonets and the blacks, they will be
encouraged to productive pursuits; general pros
perity will revive their palsied energies, and
their assistance will be happily felt in removing
| the great burden Of debt which now impedes
the national progress.
The costly national nuisance, the Freedmen S
| Bureau, will be abolished, and common sense,
having mastered the situation, will decree that
Legroes, like white men, must either work or
starve.
The expensive Southern military establish
ment will be acknowledged unnecessary, and
with their disappearance taxpayers will thank
God and take courage.
A fair taxation of the Federal securities will
yield many millions of revenue
| The national banks suggest another opportu-
nifty for retrenchment.
They own between three and four hundred
millions in Federal bonds, upon which they
Il bo,, 4 ,ko1x /,
| the Government, and for every 100000 so de-
posted, they receive 10000 in national bank
notes. These notes constitute their circulation,
and with them they carry on the business, and
earn the profits of banking proper.
The interest accruing on their deposited bonds
is so much premium paid them, in addition to
the regular earnings of their business
They receive the benefit Of just ninety per
cent more capital than they have invested, and
this gratuitous premium comes from the pockets
of the people.
Justice requires that this sum, amounting to
between twenty and thirty millions annually, be
saved to the public.
The simple process Of recalling the national
bank notes, and substituting for the bonds legal
tenders as banking currency, will effect the
needed result, and another sink-hole for the
earnings of laborers will be efectually stopped.
In the matter of revenue, fewer articles could
be taxed, and through more perfect and more
honest mode of assessment and collection, much
larger returns could be realized.
Congressional extravaganza and corruption
should be reformed.
| Investigating committees should be abolished
Land grants and railroad swindles should be
abandoned.
The Indian wars, like the last, should be
avoided.
Terrestrial purchases should be suspended.
Countless other modes of waste and fraud
could be corrected, and portion of the savings
set aside for the final redemption of the debt.
A sinking fund for this purpose, made up of
bond taxation, the premium paid the national
banks, and the money wasted in Africanizing
the South, would redeem every dollar Of the
debt in less than twenty years.
The way to this desired end could be opened
by the substitution oflegal tenders for the bonds
as rapidly as may be consistent with safety.
Millions now paid in interest would thus be
economical, and with the aid of restored and
producing South, the end of our financial trou
bles would speedily approach.
CONCLUSION.
Having thus attempted to set forth your
wrongs, and the possibility of remedy, we now
appeal to you to work out the needed reforma-
| tlon
Whatever evils may result from bad govern
ment the people are the sufferers
Whatever reforms are effected must be
brought about by and through the people them
selves.
The people have it in their power to remove
the giant iniquities whose shadows darken the
land. They have but to speak, and the enemies
of their peace would be powerless, the dignity
of the Constitution and the laws will be vindi-
Gated, and their now imperilled country, rescued
from impending danger, purified and strength
ened by it's trials, will resume its majestic march
in the paths of greatness, happiness and free
DOM
A movement has been inaugurated in this
city for the organization of the friends of law
and order and honest government, as against
the forces of Radicalism in West Virginia
The movement will extend to every county; it
will find cooperation in every township and
school district in the State. We invite and urge
you to join hands in the great work of political
redemption.
Other States have taken the lead, and are al
ready enjoying the first fruits of victory.
From Connecticut to California from the At
lantic to the Pacific, the people have interchan-
ged the tidings of deliverance, and both oceans
have heard their wild shout Of gladness and tri-
umph. The Central States of Ohio and Penn
sylvania have responded with glorious deeds
that yet thrill the nation The Empire State
has arisen with a mighty proclamation for the
right, and the manifestation of her power, like
the resistless march of conquering host, point
out the path of destiny and bids the nation fol-
low.
| H., ,,,o hoo, bo foo4c4oxo 60 ~