Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-25

then passed on to an arraignment of the re-
publican party for its extravaganza in the ex-
penditure of the money wrung from the toll
and sweat of the farmer and mechanic. whilst
the bondholder enjoyed his exemption
With force of forty thousand tax gatherers,
scattered from one end of the country to the
other, they were annually extorting nearly
six hundred millions of dollars from the peo-
pie, and yet there was no diminution of the
public debt. Where was this thing to end
Under radical rule this oppression would con.
tinue. It reminded him of the king who,
dissatisfied with the amount of revenue raised
from his subjects, to enable him to indulge
his extravaganza, increased the taxes through
out his kingdom, and employed additional
collectors. When the return was made, it
was found that the amount realized was
greatly less than under the former compara-
lively light assessment. Puzzled at such
result, and unable to understand it, he called
in his Fool to aid him in solving the mys>
terry. To him he said, John, can you tell
me how it is, that after raising tho taxes Of
the people, l have a smaller return than be-
fore those taxes were raised 2" John an
swered that he could tell, provided the col
lectors were called in. This was done, when
they were all commanded to be seated in q
circle. The fool then called for pound of
butter, which he gave to one of the collec>
tors, directing him to roll it in his bands two
or three times, and then pass it to the one
next him. This was done until the butter
was passed round the wkole circle, and when
it reached the last p.an there was scarcely an
ounce OF 1t remaining. "WelI," said the
king, "John, don't sec how that explains
the matter. | want to know what's become
Of the money ?" John replied by asking
''what's become of the butter % "Why, it
is sticking to the fingers of these collectors"
said the king. Yes, and the money is stick
ing there too" said John. So it was with
our present system Of collecting the revenue
much of the money extorted from the peo-
pie for the support Of the government and
the payment of the national debt. never found
its way into the national treasury, but stuck
to the fingers of the forty thousand officials
employed to collect it. We have thus hur>
riedIy sketched some Of the points in Col.
Wilson's admirable speech, which occupied
nearly two hours in delivery, but writing en-
tirely from memory, we must necessarily con-
vey but an inadequate conception OF the mat
ter Of its composition or the manner and
style of its delivery. Suffice it to say, that
throughout, he was listened to with the most
marked attention, and frequently cheered by
his audience.
At the conclusion of Col. W's remarks the
President Of the Day, introduced the Hon.
JOHNSON n. CAMDEN, the Democratic candi-
date for Governor Mr.. c., announced that it
was not his purpose to attempta speech-that
he was but plain, practical man-that what
ever he had learned of speech making in his
boyhood, he had forgotten in his later life
i i a., i
FROM the field of politics, to the more practical
it had been charged that his party was insin-
cere in its professions of desire to tax the
bonds of the Government, and to redeem
those bonds in Greenbacks. He could see
no injustice in taxing bonds as other proper
ty, and believed that their exemption had
crippled the energies of the country by with
drawing capital from manufacturing enter
prises, which on account of being subject to
q heavy rate of taxation, were unable to pay
a per cent. equal to the interest on bonds
which interest was paid in gold. He favored
the payment of these bonds in greenbacks,
because he believed that was the currency in
which it was stipulated they should be paid.
His speech was mainly devoted to discussion
Of the currency question, which he seems to
have made an especial study and thoroughly to
understand As we understood him, his
position on this sub ject is in thorough accord
with the platform OF the Democratic party
adopted at New York. His remarks, though
brief, were terse, and we'll received When
Mr. Camden concluded dinner was announced
by the President.
THE DINNER.
A rush was made for the tables as soon as
the announcement was made from the stand
and before the bread and meat provided for
the occasion could be spread upon the tables,
hundreds had gathered to gobblc it up
Whether this part OF the entertainment gave
general satisfaction we do not know, but
think it strange if it did. The liberality of
the people had provided abundantly, but
many present seemed to be impressed with
the view that life depended upon eating, and
that the day was set apart for a feast, rather
for the benefit Of the stomach than the mind.
At the carriages, the we'll filed basket was
present, and here the appettes Of hundreds
Nearly an hour was passed in thus catering
to the body, before the feast of reason was
resumed.
THE SPEAKING RESUMED.
About o'clock the President again called
the crowd to order, and introduced to the
audience Col. OKEY JOHNSON of Wood
county, of whom it may be said that he is an
Ajax, physically and intellectually. We shall
not do the Colonel or ourself the injustice to
attempt synopsis Of his able speech, which
it took him little over two hours to deliver.
We like his mode of dealing with radicalism,
and in his treatment Of this fungus, he came
up to our ideas of political surgery. He paid
especial attention to the outrages committed
in this State, and brought it home to our own
county, where, he had been informed that
out of voting population of nearly twenty
three hundred before the war, there were now
only about three hundred and fifty who
enjoyed the elective franchise Before him
there was seated q gentleman who had upheld
the honor of his government in the war with
Great Britain in 1912, and on his right was