The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-10-28

overlooked in the great efforts of the nation
to preserve its existence; many abuses, which
had their origin in the war, continued to
exist long after it had been brought to tri-
umphant conclusion, and the people having
become accustomed TO lavish expenditure
of public money for an object so dear to
them as the preservation OF the integrity of
their free institutions; having thus patiently
borne taxation of the most oppressive char
| acter, large sums of money continue to be
| extorted from them and squandered in use
| less and extraVagant expenditures. Enor-
| nous expenditures are also demanded for
| purposes, the accomplishment of which re-
| quire q large standing army-the perversiOn
| of the Constitution and the subjugatiOn of
| the States to negro domination With
| military establishment costing, in time of
| peace, 800, 600, 900 annually, and debt,
! the interest upon which draws from the
| treasury each year nearly $3.50, 900, 900,
making total of $3.50, 0O0, 900, for these
two items of expenditure alone, retrench-
ment has become an absolute necessity, or
bankruptcy must soon overtake US, and in
Volve the country in its paralysing results.
| If, however, a wise economy is adopted,
taxes may soon be materially reduced, not
merely for the benefit of few, but in the
interest of all, and a revenue would remain
sufficient for the administration of the Coy
ernment as well as for such a reduction of
the public debt as would in few years relieve
, the people from millions of interest now
: annually drawn from their resources.
The idea that the debt is to become per
, manent should be discountenanced as involv
, ing taxation too heavy to be borne, as the
payment of the amount in interest every
| sixteen years would equal the original sum
j The gradual liquidation of the public deb
! would by degrees release the large capita
: invested in the loans and the securities o
Government, which, seeking remuneration
in other sources of income, would add to tn
faith Of the Nation, upon which it is now
great drain. This immense debt if permit
| ted to become permanent and increasing
must eventually be gathered in the hands o
the few and enable them to exert danger
t Gus and controlling power in the affairs c
the Government. The debtors would bC
come servants of the leaders-the creditor
the masters of the people. 1t is our boa
:, that we have given freedom to three millioI
L of slaves. 1t will be then to our shame thl
by their own toleratiOn of usmpation an
proligacy, forty millions of people have eI
=, slaved themselves, and exchanged slavt
, holders for new task-masters in the shaI
of bondholders and taX-gatherers.
Hence the civil issue, whether Congre
n and its arbitrary assumptions of authorit
whether, in time of peace, the country sha
be controlled by multitude of tax cole
tors and standing army, the one almost
" numerous as the other, and making the de
a permanent burden upon the productive i
dustry of the people, or whether the Cons
| tuition, with each and all of its guarantee
rs shall be preserved; whether now, as in III
and 1916, provisions shall be made for Il
payment of our obligations at as early p
riod as practicable, and the fruits of the
own labor may be enjoyed by our citize
themselves, instead of being used to build l
.s- and sustain monied monopoly at home al
abroad.
The contest is not merely as to who
shall occupy the principal offices in the pc
ples gift, but whether the highest obig
Mt tions of the Federal Constitution shall
observed and maintained, in order that o
liberties may be preserved, and the Uni,
of the States be restored; that our Fedel
system may be unimpaired, fraternal feelil
as be re-established, and our strength renewe
,sI The expenditures must be diminished, tax
ton must be ightened, and the public de
once more eXtinguished, that it may not
jurious.y affect the life, prosperity and mo
ais of the notion.
IN Believing that, for the redress of the
great wrongs, and the correction of {
he many abuses under which the country is
he boring,we must look to the people, and I'll
I in them is our hope, l am,
10. Very truly, your friend,
9f. ANDREW JOHNSON.
L. To GPNERAT THOMAS EWING.