The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-05-11
Gen. Bright's AeeOunt Of "a stew-



Gen. JNo. n. BRIeHTs Member Of /
Congress from this slistrieE having
returned from Washia 5n, adj
dressed a portion Of his eon6sisu-
ents at Fayetteville on the Ist inst
and gave the following interesting
account Of his stewardship
He expressed his qualification af-
ter a short absence, to meet so many !
of his constituents, that the Gov
eminent being in the hands of the
people, and they being. responsible |
fortheIiberties of the country. twas
their duty, as well as their right, to
call on their public servants to give
an account Of their stewardship.
WASHINGTON FoLITIcs.
As to Washington politics, he
said that he found them boiling
pool of confusion, revolution and
ambitious ri7aIry. That the disor-
ders would battle the skill of the
wisest statesmen; that ordinarily
there were great gulf streams in
politics which indicated the drift Of |
events; but now. we see the strange |
anomaly Of all the elements Of
government apparently sweeping on
the tide to universal democracy,
and then the same clements appar-
entity sweeping towards a centraliz-
ed government, while the confusion
is enhanced by the intersecting
streams of Bank rings, Bond-rings,
Land-rings, Railroad-rings, and
Trade-rings, which have grown to
be powers in the Government. The
Democratic streams, flowing from
the doctrine that ''all men are born
free and equal" has washed up by
the roots African slavery, and has
borne down Federal and State Con
stitutions, and laws to open the
way for the political equality of
that race; and is now threatening to
draw woman suffrage into its sprea-
ding draft.
On the other hand the centraliz- /
ing current seems to be drawing to
the Federal center all the rights Of
the States and the people.
This centralizing power seems
the strongest, and is absorbing all
the other powers, as the sun gathers
up his beams on the approach Of
night. Well may the cloud of care
gather on the patriots brow, when
he sees the baleful adumbration of
a great military despotism
When the Speaker at the last ses-
sion of Congress refused to appoint
the regular committees for general
legislation, the Democrats soon dis
covered that the Republicans held
in reserve only a hostile legislation
for the Southern States. The Dem
ocrats thereupon attempted to claw
or from the 1ee-shore by siepeAted I
though unsuccessful efforts to adj
journ.
The Republicans Of the House
were dashed into submission by the
Senate and the President. The
people were betrayed and centrali-
cation was triumphant
The tap-root of Capitalization
reaches down into the political her
esq of ''higher loa0-isns,7 which rec
ognizes a rule of action above al
Constitutional obligations. The
conscience of the dominant party !
is its standard of right Thadeus
Stevens admitted that there was no
warrant for it in the Constitution,
and it is to be justified only by the !
plea of necessity, which it may be
added, is the plea Of ali tyrants.-
The President and Congress are in /
league in wrestling power from the
people and the States; at the same
time, by a process of despotism and
repletion, attempting to bring the
Federal judiciary into accord with |
the Government.
Mr.. Bright then passed in rapid
review many of the alarming sta
ges of the Government towards a
centralized military despotisml He
then said that the ''suord and tile
parse were the watchwords of, the |
Radical party. That subservient |
Congress, now staggering in inso-
lence and rioting in power, had |
made concession after concession
to the President, until in effect, he |
wore upon the girdle of his Office |
all the civil, naval, and military
powers of the country That the
Radical party had neither the love
nor confidence of the people, and |
from its wretehed experiment at
government, it had proved that it /
could maintain its supremacy only |
by the sword.
The Democratic party, like bat
tle-scarred veteran, is collecting
around it all the elements in antag-
onism to this dominant party, and
has planted itself an impossible |
barieade in its pathway. and is re
sisting its misrule and usurpation
with a courage and power truly sub
lime. The Democratic party is the
only hope Of the country. Let ev-
cry one read the recent address of |
the Democratic members Of Con
r-race L ,-;vr- 4I,~ - 49,. - ~