The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-17

ting that immense sum in silver dollars
= and allowing sixteen dollars to the
> pound, he showed that thirty-two thou
: sand dollars would would make a tor
: of silver or two-horse wagon load
Then there would be 1856 wagon
loads or tons of silver, represented by
: this fearful amount. Placing one end
OF this train one hundred and sixty
miles west of Chicago and allow,
ing eighty wagons to the
!, mile, he showed that the other end would
reach to the city of Wheeling. The ad-
vance OF this mighty caravan of the ma
tion,s wealth resting upon the banks of
the Ohio, the rear upon the prairies of
the far West, and every intermediate
mile crowded with the moving masses
OF labors earnings. Let i: move at 4
given time toward the East-the direc.
tlon in which the money of the coun-
try has long been flowing without re-
turn-move at the rate of twenty miles
per day, and the people could witness
till their patience was exhausted the al
most ceaseless flow of their wealth away
from their sight. Day after day, and
week after week, they could behold its
passage, until a month should close
upon the last of the train, bearing the
wages of labor, the products of toiling
industry, beyond their reach forever.
The figure was but simple illustration
of the tide of tribute ever flowing from
the pockets of the people toward the
National Treasury. And for whatf To
feed extravaganza, to pamper fraud,
and to support mode of military Gov
ernment foreign to our laws and ruin
Gus to our country.
But some might say that the seven
hundred and odd millions of dollars col
lected at the sea shores as dnties upon
imports came from the importer and not
from the people. The speaker then set
forth in a manner so simple that any
intellect could grasp it, that all tariffs
come at last from the consumer; that
the importer adds to the cost of his
goods the duty charged by the Govern
ernment, if a dollar in coin upon the
yard of cloth, then a dollar and forty
seven cents is added, and this with the
original cost and the profit upon the
whole investment the consumer pays.
Further, the Yankee manufacturer is
enabled by the tariff to raise also upon
the price of his commodities, aud in
his case, the increase, instead of going
to the public treasury gees into his
private pocket.
In this manner, with apt illustration,
piquant anecdote and simple phrase, the
speaker discussed the whole financial
situation. AT times when the unjust
effects of class legislation, upon the
labor of the country, aroused his feel
ings, his eloquence was powerful be-
yOnd description and realized the true
ideal of perfect, earnest oratory.
AS matter of local Importance, his
exposition of the effects of the wool
tariff was received with special interest.
Our growers can get no more than forty
one cents for the wool, under tariff
arranged ostensibly for their protection.
Whyi Because it admits competing |
material from Smyrna and other coun-
tries almost free of duty. Raw wool
frcm Smyrna can be bought by the
Eastern manufacturer for fifteen cents,
and while he has this source of q sup
ply as a reliance, he has the Western
producer at his mercy. Under tariff
devised for their protection, the wool
growers of West Virginia are now sac.
rifcing their clips, selling them for
seng, and maly are abandoning the
business.
Upon the question of retrenchment,
Ar. Gibson showed verv clearly that
the our--... g +Ln r".'.",. o"t nnr ha
largely reduced, so as to approximate
to the economical system that prevailed
before the war. The substitution of
legal tenders for National Bank notes
would save to the country twenty-five
or thirty millions per annum. The re-
duction of the military establishment,
now costing one hundred and nine MIL
lions, would produce similar result.
We have now standing army OF fifty
six thousand men. In old times we
had twelve thousand five hundred. The
army now costs one hundred and nine
millions of dollars, or nearly two mil
lions to regiment, more than twice or
three times the sum expended Tor a
similar purpose by any other Govern
ment on earth. Reduce the army to
twenty-five thousand men, to be
supported at a cost of one million
to the regiment, an ample sum,
aud in this way alone would eighty
four millions annual expenditure be
saved. The redemption of the bonds
in grecnhacks, which the speaker clear
" showed were payable in legal ten
ders. would save the interest upon |
every bond redeemed. Until the whole
debt was wiped cut, the taxation OF
outstanding bonds was a measure OF
Justice and would bring handsome
revenue to the Government. The aDo-
lition of the Freedmen's Bureau, the
reform of the Internal Revenue system
and the reduction of its army OF OH
cials, collectors, assessors, detectives
and other employees, would economize
vast sums, and by SO much hit heavy
burdens from the shoulders of the Ia
boring classes. Then above all the res
toration of the South to her proper
position within the Union, upon basis
of equality with other sections, would
make her prosperous and productive,
and would enable her to contribute not
less than oue-third to the entire ex-
pense of the Government. In such
modes as these could the outlays of the
nation be diminished, the taxes lessen
ed, the burdens of the Government
eouitably adjusted, the business of the
country revived, and peace and pros
penty be brought back to land which
is now stranger to both.
Appealing to his audience to unite in
the great movement now progressing
every there for the relief of the people
and restoration of the country, Mr.
Gibson closed with magnificent pere-
ration upon the happy effects of the
united, vigorous and determined efforts
of patriots banded together in common
cause to secure the blessings OF good
government for themselves and their
country. The speaker was leudly
cheered at different portions OF his
masterly address, and at the close was
greeted with spontaneous outburst OF
applause which attested the splendid
effect of his speech upon the magniti-
cent audience he had addressed.
The next speaker was MIR. Henry d
Walker, Democratic nominee for Con-
gress from this District His reception
nv tho assemblape. cordial, hearty and