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

the taxpayer. The world having 30
hong used coin as its currency and our
country being now an exception to this
rule, we will necessarily suffer the con-
sequences of a Variable standard Of
value. Paper money in large quantities
will never arrive at a coin standard OF
value. and the foreign goods which we
consume, will be encountered with this
depreciation. We must purchase
abroad-at the paper gold Standard.
We must sell at the paper standard.
The consumer must pay the difference
Any issue of paper money that is need
ed by the people will not increase the
depreciation sensibly, and to- that ex-
tent paper money subject to taxation
should be issued to redeem the bonds
and save the interest. But too great
an issue of paper money might operate
to make the consumer pay more in
the increased price of merchandise than
he would to pay interest on the bonds.
This paper money SHOULD besissued at
the least expense, and if it can be done
cheaper by the governments ought to
be SO issued, and ought to be made a
legal-tender the same as coin. By this
change of paper money In the pace
of bonds, we do not effect the amount
to the debt, but the interest. The
paper must be redeemed and withdrawn
aud as near an approach to a fixed
standard of value made as the circum.
Stances of the country and the people
will justify.
Our debt must be paid by taxation and
ought to be paid by a tax upon prop
erty. All property of every individual
should bear its burden, and the pres
ent exemption of the bonds in the
hands of individuals is unequal, Unjust
and contrary to the fuBdamentaf-doo-
trine OF republican governments sHis
lifting the whole burden of thewar and
of government from a class and impos-
ing it on another class.%Congress
ought to substitute a good and valid
security in place of SO much Of the ex-
empted bonds as cannot be redeemed
IN greenbacks. s1bjecting the new Sc
curly to taxation.
The revenue necessary to be raised
for the ordinary expenses of government
should be raised by a low tariff, which
will furnish cheaper goods to the peo.
pie, and the balance of revnue for
principal and interest on the public
debt should be raised by direct taxes
apportioned among the States accord
ing to population aud levi upon prop
erty, for such is the constitutional pro-
vision for that purpose, This mode
would do away with a host Of officers
and save millions of money to the gov
ernment. AS another reform, tho
public lands ought to be zealously
guarded for the benefit Of tie people
for homesreads and for entry at reduc-
ed prices to actual settlers, and not Civ
en- away to spectators whose profits
necessarily come from the immigrant
and the settler little able to pay them.
The future will develop millions of in
habitants in the Western 1wilds of
America, audw we should be as-mindful
of the future as our fathers were of US,
aud provide homes for them. To
squauder and speculate in the public
lands is q gross crime against the
present and the future. The proceeds
of al, sales of lands should GO to the
general revenue aud thereby lessen
taxes.
These reforms. my fellow citizens,
rest with you. The party in power is
incapable, through its leaders, to change
their policy. They are obdurate in
their purpose. and to accomplish it.
have selected a general, who has acted
the despot at the behest of Congress.
as a candidate Tor observation-disclosures
he can use the ballet on tho Ond= of h
bayonet. Will the ambition of Grant
stop short of a fraudulent use of the
ballot box ? Are we to have another
four years military administration and
and military extravagance T? Or an
administration of civil law with econ.
my, and a statesman 10 guide it IF
the electoral vote of the South is to
be secured by force and military aL.
thority, is that free government OF is
it the power of a Dictator, and he, too,
self-appointed ? 1t is not liberty ; it
is despotism. We appeal to the ballot
box, not to force. We appeal to states
mauship, to reason, to love Of liberty.
by your voice, at the election, you a
restore free, government, or you can
infict on yourselves the evils that now
are with their prolific increase, and,
perhaps, live to see no other opportu-
nifty, either in fact or in hopejT.t TO re-
deem this country from the misfor.
tunes which bad and reckless men have
brought upon it. Respectfully,
LYMAN R.. CRITCHFIELD.