Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-10-27
A FEW CRITICISMS ON MIR. BIaag SPEECH.


If Mr.. Biggs makes speeches, he should do it
n the comparative privacy Of Democratic,
meeting, and ON no account, should his party
papers print them. Displayed on paper, to the
light of day, their weaknesses become apparent,
and the Aourishes Of a demagogue which might
pass unchallenged, in an ignorant assemblage,
are shown either as errors or perversions.
Let us briefly look at some points in the print
ed speech of Mr. Biggs. ~
He objects among the first of his practical
illusions, to the National Banking system. Yet
he knows full well, as does every business man
that this system is infinitely preferable to the
State Bank establishments. He knows that it
better serves the needs of the people, by fur
nishing circulating medium that is everywhere
good, andthat it affords a sure security against
loss by the note-holder, If the bank should fail.
"You see now no paper circulated on any bank
in Wilmington, !" exclaimed the speaker. Yet the
reports of those banks, issued but few days
ago would have shown him that their notes are in
circulation, whether no or his hearers now see
them, or not. And of course he knew the fact
Going into national finances, the effort of Mr.,
Biggs was to supplement the natural feebeness
Of his explanations, by an effort to deceive, and
hence to utterly mislead his audience as tc
the facts. He recited the revenues of the Gov
eminent, for the year ending June 80, 1870
These be stated, Gn round numbers) correctly
but he placed their sum at s513 ,637.sO where
as they really amount to but Sli1 ,255, 477.6s
Why this misstatementa
Then, cried the speaker, where did this none.
go to? The question is readily answered. Tit
expenses of the government during the year
were 5000, 124, 0521S, of which $211 ,241 ,116.7'
went to settle accounts caused by The Democratic
Rebellion They include interest on the public
debt, bounties, war claims, reimbursement o
State war expenses, arrears Of pay, soldiers Gem
eteries, pensions &C., &C., for every one of which
the treason of Mr.. Biggs' friends is responsible
They leave, for the actual expenses Of the gov
| eminent, only eighty millions of dollars, III
| round numbers less sum for each person il
| the United States than WAS expended unde
| Buchanan or Pierce.
| Out of the revenues for the year, therefore
| over S211, 100000 went for rebellion expenses
and over SS0OOO,OOO for government expenses
| Where did therest go Mr.. Biggs says into tn
pockets of ofice-holders, meaning thereby t,
intimate, what he knows to be false-that it ha,
been dishonesty appropriated. On the contrar
it lad been used for that most appropriate o
purposes, the redemption of the public debt
and at the close of the year Of which Mr.. Bigg
speaks S123, 400 100 of bonds hadbeen redeemed
(and have since been destroyed.) Where di
the money so, then Here are the outgoes
Rebellion of Diggs' Friends, S211, 2i1, 11G.7
Government expenses, so, 49,, 1854
/ Redemption Of debt 123, 429, 1000
S415, 553, 1862. i
This is four millions more than the actual re
ceipts, the balance in the Treasury, at the com
mencement Of the year, being reduced by tina
amount.
This is sufficient to explode the intended dc
ception on this point.
But the speaker went on to demand wlenc
came the revenues used to pay off the publ
debt. That is easy to answer. II came froi
the pockets Of those rich enough to have an il
come of over $1,000, year, after deductin
taxes &C.; it came from those rich enoug
to buy and Use foreign silks, wines, velvet
.yc.; it came from tile distillers of whisk
who under Andrew Johnson's officials had form
ed corrupt Rings and swindled the Cover
ment out of ten millions of dollars it came
: Secretary Boutwell's sales of gold at tho ma
ket premium it came from the sales of publ
lands. 555000.00O of dollars came from Il
taxes on spirits, alone; S31 100000, fro
tobacco; a6.O00000, from fermented liquor
S36, 600, 006. from incomes; and 100000, 90
from duties imposed on the products of forei,
, manufactures sent here 10 compete with tho
of our own people.
And yet with these facts readily at comman
Biggs declares that the revenues of the Count
come from the pockets of poor people Wha
fraud upon the intelligence of his hearel
: Never was there system of taxation so careful
kept from the shoulders Of our laboring masst
\ II MIR. Biggs knows anything, he knows this.
One more point, and our space must siifii
for this patchwork of folly and error. Mr. Big
:, denounced the Income Tax, and said TO !
hearers that they were now compelled to pay 9
: per cent. on all their income over - 0iJ a YET
After taxes, interest, losses, worthless deb
:, and rent are deducted, (none of which Big
mentioned) this is true, but how ma
= workingmen in the crowd who listened to hi
have over $4,000. a year,clear of these exen
tions Is a man to be called poor who has
\ much ? What folly for Mr.. Bisgs to parade Il
before his audience as popular grievance.
, may be an unjust tax, but it is unjust to a t
only, and not to the masses Of the people. A
/, Mr. Biggs knows that. too.