The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-10-03

public confidence, the speaker said that the
radical party had suppressed the rebellion.
The Democrats Lad denounced every f.
nancial measure which had been proposed
but had offered no substitute but one,
which they have now abandoned. They
simply ask reputation of the debt. On
every occasion when bills for the relief of
the people from taxation hsve been pro-
posed the Democrats have voted against
them. The funding bill which is SO Bit
terly assailed would save between eighteen
and niueteen millions of dollars annually.
The Democrats charge tina. the public
debt is larger than at the beginning of
Grants administration. This wac denied
by Mr.. Davis, and an explanation made
to the effect that Boutwell's report showed
larger footing on the 1st of July, 1870,
than at the same time in 1869 ] Mr.. Golf,
resumiug, said that the sinking fund aud
money expended in the purchase of bonds
had uot been deducted. The debt had been
decreased S139, 100000.
He then referred to the land grants, ,and
said that large donations of public lands
had been made by the Democratic party,
and that the Homestead law was repub-
lican measure, the former one having been
vetoed by President Buchanan.
General Goff then spoke of the public
debt, and said it amounted to only $50
upon each individual in the United States,
while that Of Great Britain amounted to
$153 and that Of fAustria to $65 per capita.
This debt was being reduced at three times
the rate ofreduction in any other nation.
His allotted time having expired, Gen.
eral Goff here yielded the floor to Mr..
Henry S. Walker.
Mr.. WALKERS SPEECH.
Mr.. Walker first turned his attention
to the financial statements contained in
General COTS speech, and showed that
nothing was gained by a comparison Of the
debt Of the United States with that of any
other nation. In proportion to the value
of the property and the ability ofthe people
to pay, ours was heavier than any other.
The funding bill was calculated to perpet-
u.te that debt and give to those holders Of
unta1ed bonds q perpetual immunity.
Should ii pass and become law, the time
will never come when the people can say
their property is their own. The time will
never come when the footsteps Of the tax
gatherer will cease to be heard.
Mr.. Walker then proceeded to consider
the charge made by Governor Stevenson
concerning Democratic hostility to inter-
nal improvements and free schools. He
cited the States of New York. Indiana,
Ohio and Pennsylvania, in all of which
public improvements and free schools had
received ample protection and encourage
ment from Democratic administrations.
In West Virginia, he said, the Democrats
are prescribed and prosecuted, but radical
rule has failed to destroy their public
spirit. In the town of Charleston one Of
the most magnificent buildings, the State
capital, now nearly completed, is the FREQ
gif, almost exclusively Ofthe OOpperheads
and rebels of the Kanawha Valley, to the
people and government of West Virginia.
Applause. And as if anything were
wanting to complete the refutation, one of
the few republicans who did subscribe to
the State House fund, Hon. Greeubury
Slack, lately allowed his stock to be sold
to the highest bidder, though abuudautly
able to pay for it, his reason being that
the Ku-Klux Democracy seemed likely to
take charge ofthe State, and in that event,
he cared little whether West Virginia had
a capital or not. This is an example of re-
publican public spirit, and there is pOlit-
ical prophecy from which Governor Stew
cnson is welcome to extract oil the comfor!
be can. Loud applause.l As to Demo.
cratic opposition to free schools, it is pos
sible that ten years ago some men then
acting with the Democratic party did make
such opposition. Possibly the Mazwolls
and Browns and Bees, and other old Dem
ocrats did fight the free school idea, but
they are in the radical party to-day; the
burden Of their political crimes is on their
own shoulders and the shoulders Of the
radical party; the Democracy cannot be
mado the scapcgoat for their sins. Ohio
county, the leading Democratic county Of
the State. has the best supported and best
conducted free schools in West Virginia.
She had them when men like Senator
Boreman were teaching the doctrines from