The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-08-31

". .. treasury IL appears that the entire
expenditures of the Federal Government
from 1889 till June Both, l86O-expenses
during peace and the cost of war-amoun-
ted to less than fifteen hundred million
dollars, and this period embraced seventy
one years. And during those years we
had three years of war with England, 80
years of Indian war, and two years of for
eign war against Mexico. Indeed that
amount includes all expenditures except
those of the public debt. And this brings
me to the point to which I wish to call
your attention. This same report shows
that exactly the same expenditures Of the
Federal Government IN time of peace from
June Both, 1865, till June 80, 1869
without including one cent paid on the
principal or interest of the Federal debt
WAS more than ten hundred and eleven
million dollars!
Now, what has become of that vast sum
expended for the ordinary expenses of the
government during the brief period of
four years of peace? That amount, my
countrymen, is equal to one twentieth of
the value of all the real and personal
property, public and private, embraced
between the two oceans, and the lakes and
the gulf
During all those years Of excessive tax
alton and corrupt expenditures, with our
foreign commerce destroyed, our flag
swept from the seas, our internal trade
struck with paralysis caused by the with
drawal of our currency from legitimate
trade, to be used in gambling in stocks
and gold, with wages low, and taxes high
at such time, when general disaster
and distress threaten us, instead of econo-
my and retrenchment, the most impudent
and unblushing extravaganza exists in ev-
cry department of the government.
THE CHEF MAGISTRATE.
With a feeling of disappointment the
warmest admirers of the President admit
that his administration has been a melan-
choly failure. For his exploits in war the
gratitude of the people knew no bounds,
and never was a President treated with so
much indulgence by those who were oppo-
sed to him in politics. 1t was with
blush of shame that the people learned
that their Chief Magistrate was bestowing
the first offices in the the government up
on persons from whom he had received
valuable presents. And that he bestowed
lucrative positions upon relatives and fa-
vorites without regard to fitness, as though
the government belonged to himself, in
stead of the people. But an honest and
patriotic people are at loss to understand
how it can be right for the President to
receive gifts of great value from persons
upon whom he confers office, and wrong
for member of Congress to do the same
thing. Why the latter should be expell-
ed, while the former is not impeachedl
THE PRESIDENTS CABINET.
In vain do the people demand "What
becomes of our taxesP" Have they the
right to know? Or, have they lost all
their rights2 Tn Constitution declares
that "a regular statement and account of
the receipts and expenditures of all public
money shall be published from time to
time" And law of Congress enforces
this requirement of the Constitution. 1t
is trus that statement is made, but it is
a fraud and cheat intended to deceive
but not to inform the people what becomes
of their taxes. One item of expenditure
is given followed by half dozen &C., &C.,
&C., but what the ct ceteras stand for, no
one knows Art ], sec. 9, of the Constitu-
ton provides: mo money shall be drawn
from the Treasury except appropriations
made by law But 1T notorious fact
q fact charged on the floor of the House,
and never denied, that each of President
Grants cabinet officers, as well as each
chief of a Bureau, keeps carriage and
horses, coaehman and footman, all paid
Tor with the peoples money, and without
The authority of law. If a cabinet officer
,an illegally take money from the Treas
1ry and pay the wages of coachman and
followers, where is the limit at which he
s to stop7
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
mo money shall, be drawn from the
treasury except by appropriations made
~ law" The reason for this provision of
he Constitution is evident, for if without
he authority of law the President or a
'abinet officer can take from the Treasury
me thousand dollars, why not 100000
" 100000, 900, to be used as the Presi-
lent or his Minister" may choose.
l will give few examples: In the De-
there are four grades of clerks.
The fourth receive $500, the third $500,
he second $l400 and the first 1920 and
lone but the chief clerks are allowed a
arger sum. In consequence of an anony-
nous letter received by me on the 18th of
anuary last, offered resolution, which
'assed the House, embracing FIVE interro-
,atories, calling upon Mr.. Boutwell, for
ertain information, and on the 22d of
February it was replied to by Executive |
Document No. l88, which hold IN my
land
The third question called on Mr.. Bout |
veil for "a statement embracing the names |
f clerks now in his department, other |
han $500 salary" and 1 will read from |
age 6 Of Secretary Boutwelps answer, as
olIows:
"List of the clerks and their names now
January 18th, 1870 receiving more than
1900 per annum, other than chief clerks |
f the Bureas of the Treasury Department"
md here follow the names of SO clerks |
Tho receive illegal salaries, varying in
mounts from 2 to 5000, and the Secre-
ary does not deign to apologize for, or
xcuse this palpable violation of the law,
nd he continues to pay just such salaries |
s he chooses, and to whom he chooses,
nd then coolly certiies that he does so.
n fact, my friends, it is wholly impossi-
lie for either you or 1 to tell what IS the |
ondition of the Government from the es-
lmates or reports of the heads of the De- |
artments. I am thus particular, my
nends, IN calling your attention to this |
natter, that you may be on your guard |
galnst the false statements that are being |
made as to the reduction of taxes and pay |
nents on the public debt.
Time will not permit me to go through |
his document page by page; but 1 will |
all your attention to an item or two more. |
Iere, on page 8, it appears that the eco
omical gentlemen who have administer |
d the Treasury Department paid to Ad-
ms Express Company from June 8, 1865, |
o June 30, 1869, the enormous of $78, ,397 |
mainly for carrying packages of blank
orms upon which notes and bonds were |
o be executed, the whole of which could
ave been sent through the mail at one
part the cost.
Again, on page 2 it appears that since
S62 the Government has paid 81, ,167 900 |
or printing notes and bonds Four mil
on dollars Why, my friends, that is
rester amount than the annual expendi-
ures of the Federal Government, inclu-
ing army, navy, and civil list, during
inc years of the history of the Federal
Union. And, in this connection, let me
SIX, why have not the National banks
cen required to pay for the paper, engra-
ing and printing on their own notes, in
tead of your being taxed for that pur-
ose?
HEEE HUNDRED AND FORTY INTERNAL