Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-17

larger than Is necessary Tor the country at
the present time; and think the time is
at hand when both can be diminished, and
thereby lessen our expenses, millions of
dollars. Very many Of ous larger vessels
now in commission can be recalled, aud
laid up at the navy yards, and trust be-
fore long the army can be reduced to at
least one half its present numbers.
The purchase Of Alaska from the
Russian Government can be justified on
considerations of high political impor-
tanee, and on considerations of great
commercial importance for the future. 1t
is necessary that we should have such a
position for the benefit of the commerce
Of the western portion of the nation; but
| cannot see the necessity of spending
seven and one half millions Of dollars in
gold for the purchase of the Island of St.
Thomas, which may be truly said to be
the very birth place of the yellow fever,
and locality so often made desolate by
hurricanes and earthquakes.
It'is important that We should fund our
national debt, and put the bonds into
such shape, if possible, that they may
pay lower rate Of interest. do not
know that this can be done at present, but
at the same time no one can doubt for a
moment that such . policy is desirable.
The question has been agitated already
in q number of States to have the right
of taxing the bonds, and whether il eau
be done or not, IL is not right that the
Government should directly enforce a
system of taxation which depriyes the
people Of several States of money that
would be far better appropriated 10 paying
the debts of those States.
The Democratic party, and in speaking
Of il may as we'll state what constitutes
the strength of this party, for it is com.
posed Of the Democratic party Of the
North, the rebels Of the South, and few
converts from the Republican party since
the close of the war 1t has its financial
scheme to relieve the country Of the debt
which is In fact the fesuIt Of the party
action which brought on the war and
made debt aud. though II prolesses TO
hive the grea, remedy for our national
financial troubles, | cannot myself think
so, unless the reulcdy IL based upon the
hypothesis that the "hair OF the dog IL
good for the bite But we think tha,
Congress will settle upon some policy that
will be satisfactory to the whole nation;
aud 80 far M any attempton the part OF
the Democratic party 90 benefit the hnsn
oial condition of the countryfs concerned
hey may just OK we'll make up their minds
that the whole matter will be adjusted
without their assistancc.
said 10 the COMMENCEMENT Of my re-
marks that there arc two ideas uppcrmost
in the minds Of the people
The first OF these will, MS have already
said. enter into the issues OF tho campaign
II the idea prevails that the Government
was right in putting down tho rebellion;
IL IL was right IN putting forth every en-
ergy that could be suggested for the &C
compli-hment of his purpose, then you
soldiers aud sailors, who bore part la the
struggle for the preservation OF our ma
tiobal existence, will certainly feel that
you have not ouly ucted wisely, but that
you have borne an honorable part in the
services rendered your country i'm the
hour of its peril,
Bm, on the other hand, should the
Democratic party succeed, aud ! trust Ia
tod il muy not--Ihat the people of this
great nation will avert such calamity by
their votes in that campaign-then will il
be to you n disgrace aud dishouor 20
have been a member OF the Union army,
aud tue places OF trust will revert to the
rebels, aud their names occupy The posi-
ton OF honor ia the pages of history
One question We have yet to meet in
this cam paigu is, the manner in which the
Southern States shall be fully restored
with all Of their political rights and rrivi-
leges as States, and the manner IN which
these blessings may be fully enjoyed by
TALL.
The question is not whether that power
shall be divided between loyal aud dis
loyal men whether IL shall be conferred
upon blacks aud whites, or upon whites
alone, fourteen fiteenths Of whom are
rebels, aud bore prominent part in the
war against the Union; but we insist that
the power, when il is conferred, should be
so divided that its preponderance shall not
be on the side OF dsloyal men. Nor do
we ask all VIC should even in granting
this, for it does not exclude those who
uaNt bVlut aliuo lu lnt lhlt W.T. Nptlubt
tho country, but we do demand that the
power shall be conferred in such manner
that blacks aud whites may have voice
ia the State government aud on the ques-
tion Of Reconstruction.
1t is true, the present law Of Congress
disfranchises only small number Of those
who engaged in the rebellion. Ii does
not disfranchise the petty officers or
soldiers, but that class of men who had
once sworn allegiance TO the Constitution
In Offices Of trust, and this class can not
exceed IS 900 persons.
When President johnson issued his
proclamation DISTINGUISHING those who
had participated in the rebellion, il inclu-
ded not less than fourteen classes, num-
bering between 100000 aud $50, 900 men;
but the Congressional system of disfran.
chisement will apply to only $4,000, and
not to exceed $4,000 men.
We have heard Of late much about an op.
pressed people. We arc told by Democratic
orators and by the newspapers Of the Dem
ocratic party 10 all parts Of the country,
that the people of the South are down
trodden and oppressed. Do they who prate
about oppression bear in MUD that these
are the very people who. but few years
since, arrayed themselves in arms against
the nation-whose actions have cost us
over half million of lives, the very peo-
Il A - n - A Il. = - A.