The Placer herald., 1871-05-13
ADDRESS
To the People of the United States by the
Democratic Members OF COnyress.


Democratic Members OF Congress.
Following is the address issued by the
Democratic members of Congress to the peo-
Pile, on the 20th inst, and upon which we
commented yesterday:
To the people ofth, United States: Our
presence and official duties at Washington
have enabled us to become fully acquainted
with the actions and designs of those who
control the Radical party, and we feel called
upon to utter a few words of warning against
the alarming strides they have made towards
the Capitalization Of power in the hands OF
Congess and the Executive. The time and
attention of the Radical leaders have been
almost wholly directed to devising such legis-
lation rs will, in their view, best preserve
there ascendency and no regard for the wise
restraints imposed by the Constitution has
checked their reckless and desperate career.
rhc President Of the United States has been
formally announced as candidate for reelcc-
ton The declarations Of his elfshsupport-
ers have been echoed by II subsidized press,
and the discipline of party has already made
adhesion to his personal fortunes the supreme
test of political fealty. The partisan legislation
to which we refer was decreed and shaped in
secret caucus, where the EXTREMIST counsels
always dominated, and was adopted by
subservient majority, if not with the intent
certainly with the effect to place in the hands
of the President power to- command his own
denomination, and to employ the army, navy
nd militia, at his sole discretion, MS Il means
of subservng bis personal ambition. When
the sad experience of the last two
years, so disappointing to the hopes and gen
erous confidence ofihe country, is considered,
in connection with the violent uterances and
rash purposes ofthosc who control the Pres
ldent's policy, it is not surprising that the
gravest apprehensons for the future peace OF
lhe nation should be entertained.
AT time when labor is depressed, and
every material interest is palsed by oppressive
taxation, the public Offices have been multi
Piled beyond all precedent to serve as instru
ments in the pcrpetuation of power. Partner
ship is the only test applied to the distribu-
ton of this vast patronage. Honesty, fitness
md moral worth are openly discarded in favor
Of trucking submission and dishonorable
compliance, hence enormous defilcatous and
widespread corruption have followed as the
natural consequences of this pernicious system.
BY the official report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, it appears that after the deduction
Of all proper credits, many millions of dollars
remain from exCollectors ofthe intern Il reven
ne, and that no proper diligence has ever
been used to collect them. Reforms in the
revenue and financial systems, which all ex
perience demonstrates to be necessary to
frugal administration of the Government, as
well as a measure of relief to an ove:burdened
people, have been persistently postponed OF
y ltully neglected. Congress now adjoums
without hlving even attempted to reduce
taxation, or to repeal the glarng impositons
bv which industry is crushed and impoyer-
.hed. The treasury is overhowing, and an ex-
cess of $50, 600, 600 Of revenue Is ADM ted;
md yet, instead of some measure of presentre-
lief, "A barren and delusive resolution is passed
by tie Senate to consider the tariff and excise
,ystems hereafter, as if lhe history of broken
pledges and pretended remedies furnished any
better assurance for future legislation than ex-
perience has done in the past.
Ship-buding and the carrying g-trade, once
sources of national pride and prosperity, now
languish under a crushing load of taxation,
and nearly every other business interest is
struggling without profit to maintain itself.
Our agrcuturists, while paying heavy
taxes Oh al they consume either to the Gov
eminent or to monopolists, find the prices for
their own products SO reduced that honest
labor is denied its just reward, and industry
is prostrated by invidious discrimination.
Nearly 200 100000 acres of public lands
which should have been reserved for the ben
eft of the people have been voted away to
giant corporations, negectng our soldiers
aud enriching a handful of greedy speeria-
tors and lobbyists who are thereby enabled
to exercise most dangerous and corruptlne
influence over State and Federal legislation.
If the career of these consprators be no.
hecked, the downfall of free government il
inevitable, and with it the elevation OF "
military dictator on the ruins Of the Repub-
lie.
Under pretense of passing laws to enforce
the Fourteenth Amendment and for other
purp ses, Congress has conferred the most
despotic powers upon the Executive, and
provided an official machinery, by which the