The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-04-28
RADICALISM ARRAlGNED.
Address Of Democratic Congressman to
the People of the United States

WAsu1SoroS, April 20, 1871.
The democrats in Congress have
Just issued the following address -
To The People Of the Uniud States::'
Oar presence and official duties at
Washington have enabled us to be-
come fully acquainted with the actions
and designs of those who control the
radical party, and we feel called upon
To ntter q few words of warning
AGAINST the alarming strides they
have made towards tho ccntraliza-
tion of power in the hands Of Congress
and the Executive. The time and
attention of the radical leaders have
been almost wholly directed to devils
ing such Legislation rs will, in their
view, best preserve their ascendancy,
and no regard for the wise restraints
imposed by the constitution has
checked their reckless and desperate
career.
DIcTAToRIAL POWERS CONFERRED ON
THE PRESIDENT.
The President of the United States
has been formally annoenced as q
candidate for reelection, The dcclar-
ations of his selfish supporters have
been echoed by a subsidized press,
and the discipline of party has al.
really made adhesion to his personal
fortunes the supreme test of political
fcalty. The partisan legislation to
which We refer was decrccd and
shaped in secret caucus, where the
EXTREMIST counscls always dominated,
and was adopted by a subservient
majority, if not with the intent, GER
tainIy with the effect, to place in the
hands of the President power to COM
mand his own denomination and to
employ tho army, navy and militia,
at his sole discretion. as means OF
shbscl wing his personal ambition.
when the sad experience Of the last
two years, so disappointing to the
hopes and generous confidence OF the
country. is considered, in connection
with the violent utteranccs and harsh
purposes of those who control the
Presidents policy, it is not surprising
that the gravest apprchens:ons tor
the future peace Of the nation shoc'u
be entertained. - ( = ~ s
.>&.PARTIsANsuIp, THE TEST.
At time when labor is depressed
:and every material interest is pal
sled by oppressive taxation, the public
offices have been multiplied beyond
all precedent to serve as-instrumcnts
lin the pcrpetuation of power parti-
:sanship is the only test applied to the
distribution of.=this vast patroltagc.
Honesty, fitness and moral worth arc
openly discarded in favor Of truck
lug submission and .dishonorable COM
.pliancc.; hence, enormous dcf;acations
and widespread corruption have fol-
lowedas thenatural consequences of
this perniciousGsystcm. BY the Off
ciai .rcport of the Secretary of the
Treasury it appears that. after the
deduction of all proper credits many
n;m,;;cns of, dollars remain due from
OF '::hc iuterna1 revenue,
,and ttlas no proper diligence has
ever tccnsasel to COLLECT them: &c,
REFORMS pExsssTESTLE POSTPONED.
Reforms in the revenue and fiscal
systems, which all experiences demon
rlrate TO be necessary to frugal
ADMINISTRATION OF the governmc cnt, a.
well as measure of relief to IAN over
burdcned people, have becns persist
entity postponed or wilfnlly neglected.
Congress now ,adjourns without even
having attempted TO reduce taxation;
or to repeal, Che glaring impositions
by which industry,is crushed and inn
povcrishcd. The Treasury is over
flowing, and an excess Of eighty mil
lion dollars Of revenue is Admitted; ;
and yet, fnrscad Of scne measure Of
present relief, a barren and, delusive
resolution is passed by tn, Senate to
consider the tariff and excise systems
hereafter, IS if the history Of broken
pledges and pretended remedies fur
nishcd any better assurance tor future
Legislation than experience has done
in the past. 80
OPPRESSIVE TARIFF IND TAXATION.
Ship-building and carrying trade,
once sources Of national pride and
prosperity, now laaguish under a
crushing load Of taxation. and nearly
every other business interest is strug-
Cling without profit to maintain it
sclf.
Our agriculturists, while paying
heavy. taxes on all they consume,
either to the government or to mo-
nopolists, find the prices for their own
products so reduced that honest labor
is denied its just reward, and industry
is proslrutcd by inviIious discrimina-
ton. - .---.
TIE pUELIc LANDS GIVEN TO MoNop-
Nearly two hundred millions OF
acres of public lands which should