Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-05
DAWES VS.. GRANT.

Mr.. Dawes has taken the stump for the
Radical ticket in New Hampshire, and in
q recent speech at Nashua, delivered a
message from President Grant to the peo-
pie. Here it is: "Assure the people of
New Hampshire that the successful col
lection and economical expenditure of
money during the present year is an earn
est and a pledge of what it shall be in the
year TO come. Tell the people of New
Hampshire that during my administration
there shall be no ascending scale of
public expenditures; but whenever and
wherever the closest scrutiny shall disclose
the possibility of cutting off a dollar, it
shall be done" The Philadelphia Age
thinks the condition of the Radical
party in New England must be
desperate indeed when such means
arc resorled to as restoratives.
But the people will call to mind that
there is a slight difference between Presi-
dent Grant and his messenger in relation
to the points embraced in his epistle. In
speech, recently pronounced in the
House of Representatives, Mr.. Dawes
arraigned General Grant and his admins
tration for violating solemn and oft re-
peated pledges of economy, retrenchment
and reform, and showed, by facts and
figures, that the excuses of estimates
over appropriations for salaries and con
lingent expenses alone, for the present
year IS: for the State Department, $685.,
500; for the Executive Department,
S94O, 900; for the Treasury Depart
ment, $3.50, 900; for the Department of
The Interior, $4,000; for the War De-
partment, sec, 900; for the Navy Depart
ment, $50, GO; for the Agricultural De
partment, $64, $50, and for the Postoffice
Department, $780, 800. The total number
of officers employed at the Washington
Navy Yard he states to be twenty, with
salaries amounting to $40, $50; and, in
addition, there are twenty civil officers
who assist to take care of the yard, at an
annual cost for salaries of $4S, 946-
making a total of S9l, 635 for salaries
alone in the Washington Navy Yard.
The Admirals yachts, he showed cost
50, 800 a day-which is for ''mere
waste and useless flummery." The In
terror Department was asking for an
additional appropriation of S24S, 600 at
the very time when one of its bureaus
had an accumulation of $48, 900 surplus
which it could not use There are 500
supernumerary army officers kept at
Washington, off duty, but on pay, at an
estimated annual expense of $780,,
600 These are counts in the indict-
mcut, which Mr.. Dawes brought against
the present Radical administration. and
no man could disprOve the positions as
sumud, or find an error in the statements.
The charges stand before the people sub
s,autiated in all respects. And yet Mr..
Dawes is sent to the people of New
Hampshire with a message from the
President, assuring them that during
his rule there shall be no ascend
ing scale OF public expenditures,
but "whcrcyer the closest scrutiny shall
disclose the possibility of cutting off a
dollar it shall be DONE Mr.. Dawes has
already applied the antidote, for this
poison. He has put facts within the easy
reach of all the taxpayers of New Hamp-
shire, TO convict the President of insin-
ceritv. Gen. Grant has not practiced
economy, nor have those around him.
On the contrary, all the expenses of the
government have been increased by him.
The issue is now fairly made between
Gen. Grant and Mr.. Dawes; and the Radi-
Gals of New Hampshire must decide which
they will believe. They cannot like the
man in the circus straddle two horses.