The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-09-11
SPEECH OF
HON. CHARLES R. BUCKALEW,
DELIVERED At NoRRIsTowN, SEP
TENDER /, 1868.
The Finances--.R Reconstruction Dis
sected---Position and Duty Of
Pennsylvania.

itsreformod or dejormeoipolicy. Laugh
ter. In 1852 and in 1856 our State gave
her great voice at the Presidential cleo
tions of those years to the Democratic
party. So long as she trusted and assist
ed the Democracy of the country, they
were successful. So long as she trusted
and assisted the Democracy of the coun-
| try there was peace, there was prosper
! ity throughout our borders; there was
an undoubtcd observance, by govern
ment aud by citizen. everywhere, of the
Constitution of the United States us the
fundamental law. And what is pot to
be overlooked in this connection Is, that
there was also honesty in the admins
tration of the government, in the man
agement of its finances and monetary
affairs, and that its hand fell upon the
citizen everywhere lightly and justly,
| in pursuance of law and due respect to
fundamental principles of republican
government. Our government and its
administration were above and beyond
reproach before the world. We had not
| to blush for its action on any occasion,
or with reference to any subject. Now,
gentlemen, after years of difficulty, OF
suffering, and of trouble in our country,
we are brought to a most solemn review
of the course of recent events, and we
are required to determine, in our oover-
eign capacity as citizens and electors Of
the United States, the policy which
shall be adopted and shall prevail In
the government of the United States
| for the future.
Now, will it not be well for Pcnnsyl-
yania, us noble and great State, to
stand forward and pronounce her will
| independently on the side of justice
and of wisdom at this juncture Of our
public affairs? Why should she follow
other and inferior States? Why should
she take her opinions from even the
wise men of the East" who may be
! possibly sometimes unwise in their day
and generation? Why should she take
her candidate for President from the
! West, much as we admire and love the
! West, for our State assisted to settle 1t
and give to it impetus in its growth:
| Why should we look South or North for
our opinions or for direction at this
time? Can we not form opinions for
ourselves? Shall we take the rawlings OF
Carl Schurz, who comes here to talk to
his fellow. .countrymen upon the inter
csting questions which pertain to their
government: Shall we listen to the
missionaries of the East, who, having
controlled the governuent for years,
| have grown rich upon Nthe plumber OF
the people? Shall we hearken to the
passionate appeals which are made to
our preiudiccs by men who desire to re.
vive amongst us and to keep alive the
passions of the war? Rather, instead
of any or either Of these things, shall
not we, men Of the State OF Penn and
of Franklin. come to the consideration
of public affairs from our own point oi
view, form our own Judgment, and
l.,
men, and thus give direction, aye de-
cision, to the Presidential election OF
1865? For as goes our State, so goes the
result. 1t was an old saying in every
ones mouth in former times in our po
litical history, that rs went our State
so went the Union ; and 1t is true yet
Notwithstanding carpet-bag votes man
u.nctured in the South by Ongres
sional majority, which will be attempt
ed to be pitted against our vote in th'
electoral colleges to poison and perver
the result, and prevent a Just decision
of the great question of the election o
Chief Magistrate by the American
people. :.
#, then, gentlemen, we propose IL
this State to form our own opinions II
an intelligent and proper manner, IL
order to pronounce them afterward a
they should be pronounced, what shal
we do: 1t is to answer this question
that appear before you to night.
FINANCE.
We ought to vote in this Presidential
election with reference to the question
which it is to decide, and the most i'm
9 portant question is not who the me
o Shall be that for four years shall fill tn
$ Presidential and NicePresidential off
ces. Men are important; good men al
necessary in government; but what
most necessary and most important
that the policy of the government sha
be right for four years to come, that
shall be Just, salutary, and that 1t sha
{, now bear examination and debate whe
proposed to us, as well as the test IN
trial of future time.
Well, gentlemen, one grand subject
cast before you, and you must consid'
it. refer to the question of tinanc
including the monetary affairs of Il
government and the people, involving
as it does, questions of banking, of ia.
alton, of revenue, and OF eXpenditur
as well as Of currency and the publ
debt. All these topics, which are
er kindred nature, associated together
public debate, must be considered
in YOU; must to some extent in eSsenti
particulars, be understood by you'll {
-- der that you shall give intelligent vot'
We are all taxed, Our public servaI
expend the moneys we pay under I,
revenue laws, and vast variety
! questions arise in the administration
our financial system-questions viii
cannot be ignored or postponed.
m, MONEY COLLECTED.
shall pass all these matters witho
or much notice. | simply allude to the
saMnii aMii SO that it shall not be thought becaus
lily pass them that think they are unil
l. portant, and ought not to be considert
They will admit Of debate upon otl
occasions. Suffice |. to say at this til
land | will speak only to this one poi
to i'm this connection), that since the mon
VI of June, 1868, during three years,
'ntl 'pd government of the United States
,IS levied upon the people II prodigil
ny, amount OF imposition and of tax. I
md aggregate exceeds fifteen hundred N
ON lions of dollars, taken at the law
,ho money or greenback standard. That
reducing the gold duties on imports
the ordinary money standard VIII
prevails throughout the country and
.R. the other transactions Of the COVE
ment, an aggregate amount has D'
levied upon the people of the unil
States eNceeding.fifteen hundred n
lions--an amount considerably IN
than one-halfthe whole public debt
il now exists or has existed at any Il
since the war. Think of il! Fift'
,a hundred millions Of dollars raised
'a thirty-siY months, being five hund
pest millions of dollars n year, forty.t
-- millions of dollars II month, ten milli
OF dollars II week, a million and II
OF dollars per day That Is
burden and imposition which
orm been levied upon the people since Ju
neT' n,ir 1863, as shown by of1ical statements
nov irs pIGppsIpIoN
use. What has become OF that mon,
)un- How hos IL haan annljado What rps
al ~" h"o N W" ePP'.' ~ IL.
ell nave come 10 us rom llS eApeNultu
,,he A very small part of II has been paiC