Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-04-28
THE .vRU. DE.uOCR.rTIC PL.sT.
FORM.

The democrats in Congress, just previ-
Gus 10 the adjournment, issued the follow
ing address to the PEOPLE Of the United
States:-
our presence and official duties at Wash
ington lave enabled us to become fnlly ac-
quainted with the actions and designs of
those who control the radical party, and we
feel called upon TO utter a warning against
the alarming strides which have been made
towards the Capitalization of power in the
hands of Congress and the executive. The
time and attention of the radical leaders
has been almost wholly directed to the per-
lection of such legislation as will in the fu-
turc best promote their ascendancy, and
no regard for the restraints imposed by
the constitution has checked their reckless
and desperate career. The president of
the United States has been formally an
nounced rs candidate for reelection.
The declaration of his selfish supporters
has been echoed by subsidized press, and
the discipline of party has already made
adhesion to his personal fortunes the SUI
pre- me test ofpoitical fealty. The partisan
le gislation to which we refer, was decreed
and shaped in secret caucus, where the eX-
tire NEST counsels always dominated, and
was adopted by a subservient majority, if
not with intent, certainly with the effect to
place in the hands of the president the
power TO command his own denomination
and employ the army, navy and militia ut
his sole discretion us a means of subscrv-
ing his personal ambition. When the sad
experience of the last two years, so
disappointing to the hopes and generous
confidence of the country, are considered
in connection with the violent utterances
and rash purpose of those who control the
presidents policy, it is not surprising that
the era vest apprchensions for the future
peace of the nation should be entertained.
At time when labor is depressed and ev-
cry material interest is palsied by oppres-
sivc taxation, public offices have been
multiplied beyond all precedent to serve
as instruments in the perpetuation of pow
err. Partisanship is the only test applied in
the distribution of this vast patronage.
Honesty, fitness and moral worth are open
" discarded in favor of trucking subinis-
sion and dishonorabe compliance. Hence
enormous delalcations and widespread cor
ruption have followed as the natural con-
sequence of this pernicious system. BY
the official report of the secretary of the
treasury, ii appears that, after the deduc-
ton of all proper credits, many millions of
dollars remain due from ex-collectors Of
internal revenue, and that no proper dill
gence has ever been used to collect them.
Reform in revenue and financial systems,
which all experience demonstrates to he
necessary to a frugal administration of the
government, as well asa measure of reiefto
our burdened people, have been persistent
~ postponed or wilfully neglected. Con-
gress now adiourns without even having
attempted to reduce taxation, or to repeal
the glaring impositions by which industry
is crushed and impoverished. The treas
ury is overlooking, and an excess of $780,
900, goo of revenue is admitted, and yet, in
stead of some measure of present relief, a
barren and delusive resolution is passed
by the Senate to consider the tariff and ex-
else systems, hereafter, as if the history of
broken pledges and pretended remedies
furnished any better assurance for future
legislation than experience has done in the
past.
Ship building and the carrying trade
once the sources Of national prosperity and
pride. now langush under "A crushing load
of taxation, and nearly every other busi-
interest is struggling without profit 10
maintain itself
our agricultIrlsts, while paying heavy
taxes on all they consume, either to the
government or TO monopolists, find the
prices for their own products so reduced
that honest labor is denied its just reward,
aud industry is Frustrated by invidious
discrimination. Nearly 200, 100000 acres of
public lands, which shonld have been re-
served for the benefit of the people, have
been voted away TO great corporations,
neglcchng our soldiers and enriching Il
handful of greedy spectators and lobby
lists, who are thereby enabled TO exercise a
most dangerous and corrupting influence
over state and federal legislation. If the
career of these conspirators be not checked
the downfall of free government is ineylta-
BILE, and with it the elevation OF military
dictator ON the ruins Of the republic.
Under the pretense Of passing laws to
enforce the l4th amendment and for other
purposes, Congress has conferred the most
despotic powers upon the executive, and
provided official machinery by which
the liberties of the people are menaced
and the sacred right of local self-govern-
ment in the states is ignored, if not tyran-
nically overthrown. Modelled up TO the