Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-05
m0NEY-mAkING LnGrsLarroN.

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M0NEY-MAfkHNG LEGIsEATf0N.'
For over ten years the Republican par
ty has been supreme in the Federal Gov
eminent. During all this time 1t has had
an uncomfortable majority in both
branches of Congress, and for the most
part, President in full sympathy with
that majority. Aud when Andrew John
son, having, in the Language OF Thaddeus
Stevens, some eplinters of the Constitution
still sticking in his heart, undertook to
make that instrument respected, the two
thirds msjorisy of Congress rendered him
as powerIess as that instrument itself,
and failed 10 depose him by single vote.
All Federal legislation has thus been in
the hands of the Republicans for ten
years past.
How have they exercised their powei9
The merest glance will show that, with
an audacity and persistence never before
equalled, they have employed the law
making power TO legislate money into the
hands of themselves and friends. Ia
king advantage OF the necessity 10
raise means for carrying on the war, they
resorted 10 system of bonds rnanipu-
lated in such way that for every dollar
received, the government gave its promise
to pay two. That the necessary funds
could have been raised without such an
enormous sacrifice, every well informed
man win now admit but the sacrifice
was made, and the purchasers of the
bonds and the government agents who
managed their sale, made such profits
as were never before realized in this OF
any other country-nOt even by the
RothschiIds under the personal despotism
of Napoleon III.
Under the preten5e of raising revenue
for the same purpose, the customs duties
we're increased no less than three timeI
in less than three years, and to degre'
never before dreamed of and the acts
have been go framed that for every dol
lar they put in the national treasury, they
put three dollars into the hands of th'
manufacturing monopOlists.
To provide, as was said, q forced marke
for the bonds, they taxed all State anC
private banks out of existence and Great
ed over fifteen hundred National Banks
with powers and privileges 30 vast tha
their annual profits range, according Il
the Radical Senator Sherman, from ffieer
to twenty per cent And the currency
has been so distributed that New Eng
land States have 81 per bead, while
Ohio has only IS, and the whole Souu
averages 81 cents to move her staple
which constitute the bulk of the country
exports.
By sudden changes in the internal re
venue laws, knowing spectators hav
acquired more than princely fortunes
The profits of the Whisky Ring for in
, stance, resulting from single alteration
amounted to no less than $50, 900, 900
: according to an official report
: Then look at the astounding subsidie
to railroad companies, mere private cor
, porsiions. To say nothing of the 5S, 900.
900 acres granted to States for interDa
improvements, most of which has gon
, into the hands of railroads, Congress ha
granted directly to four companies 124,
!. 600, 900 acres, besides a subsidy of $50,
, 900, 600 in bonds, which the UniteC
, States will, in all likelihood, have to pay
as the roads have not thus far even pait
the interest.
10 addition TO these general schemes O.
plumber and the multiplying of Fedora
offices to reward partisan service, the pr
vate iols that have been put up defy al
computation of numbers or amounts
With audacious pertinacity the interests
of government have been managed f0
the benefit of classes, corporations anC
individuals. If the people should fail tC
rise in their might and throw off this
Radical incubus, the hope remains thai
the rsscsls may soon steal themselve!
rich enough TO retire from business.