The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-04

proper effect, can we hope for peace? 1t
seems to US an error to suppose the
American people tame enough to be
kicked under the yoke of a depotism, or
ignorant enough to be juggled out otthe
great inheritance OF free government
which the fathers left them.
RoTTESSEss OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
We complain Of our present rulers
for lawless usurpation Of power. Power
not delegated is always abused. In
this, as in other cases, usurpation has
been accompanied and followed by cor.
ruption. Frauds without number, and
almost without limit, have been COM
mitted on the public Men Of the worst
character for common honesty are per-
mitted to occupy the highest places.
OF the money collected from the people
and not stolen before it reaches the
Treasury, a large portion is squandered
by Congress on party favorites or corrupt
rings, and on base combinations Of pub
lie plunderers. The enormous extent
to which this financial corruption has
been carried will become manifest 10
any one who compares the expenditures
of the Government during the six years
which preceded and followed the war.
Both were periods Of peace, and there
can be no excuse tor more than small
increase corresponding to the ratio in
which the population has advanced.
But where the ordinary expenditures
for the fiscal year ending June !,
1870, exclusive oil Indian annuities, pen
sions, and interest on the public debt,
were Sl4S ,669, 922 for the year ending
June !, 1860, the expenditures for the
same purpose were but 65,9lS. 1882.
Here is shown the difference between
the ordinary cost Of carrying on our
government when its agents are honest,
and the cost of the same thing when its
officers are so destitute OF moral princl-
pie as to disregard all legal limitations
upon their own authority. A free, un-
perverted representative government is
simple in its machinery, easily main
tanned, and "dispenses its blessings like
the dews Of Heaven, unseen and untelt:
save in the beauty and freshnnss they
contribute to produce the secure tran.
guilty Of regal establishment may
sometimes be a compensation for the
burdens it imposes, but rotten Repub-
lie is at once the most costly, the most
oppressive, and the most unsteady OF all
political structures.
1t will surely be admitted that al
American citizens who believe these
facts to be true are bound by the sacred
obligations of patriotism, honor and
conscience to oppose this state Of things,
and by opposing end it. The persons
interested in preventing a change will
ask how, to what extent, and by what
means we propose to make reforms.
The question is fair one, and we will
answer it briefly. 1t will be the duty Of
the Democratic party, and, to the extent
of our athority, original or delegated,
we hereby pledge ourselves and our as
socates, so far as in us lies
|. 70 put the ship OF state once again
on her constitutional tack and hold her
head firmly and steadily to tha, course
.. To protect the individual citizen Of
all parties, classes and creeds in the en-
joyment OF life, liberty, reputation and
the pursuit Of their lawful business, by
the imperative administration OF Justice
in the ordained and established courts.
3. To preserve the powers OF the gen.
eral Government in their whole consti-
tutional vigor as our sole defense against
foreign aggression, the safest bond OF
union between different sections OF the
country, and the on y sure promise OF
general prosperity.
4. To maintain unimpaired, the re-
served rights oil the States, not only be-
cause they are guaranteed by the Fede-
raj Constitution, but because the States
alone can safely be trusted with the
management Of its own local con.
Germs.
5. To reduce the expenditures Of the
Government by conining its approprla.
tons to legitimate objects, 10y a rigid
system Of accountability and economy,
and by aholshing much Of the unneces-
sary and pernicous machinery with
which it is now encumbered.
G. To moderate the burdens Of the
people, not only by economical admins.
tration, but by system OF taxation
upon foreign imports as well as domes.
,;c nroductiona which shall be lust and
equal in its operation upon the property
and business Of the country, not en-
riching some while it impoverishes
others, and not open to the frauds now
habitually practiced.
!. To preserve the public credit by
the prompt payment OF the public obll-
cations.
s. To consecrate the public land to
the use Of the landless people who need
it, bv a system which Will secure a
sufficiencv TO all, and stop at once the
long series Of swindles by which so
many millions OF acres have been given
away to those who already have more
than enough.
These are some Of the duties which
lie before the people ifthey desire to see
their goyernm Mt administered with a
decent respect for the Constitution oil
, their fathers or with tolerable honesty
in fina ncial matters.
We have no test OF orthodoxy, no disa-
bilities for nor discrimination against
former political antagonists. We can
not and do not object to bygone differ.
ences, provided the citizen be truly and
faithfully devoted to the interests and
institutions OF the whole country and all
the inhabitants thereof
Our object is not revolution, but re-
storation; not injury 70 our opponents,
! L.. oooart;on of our oun riohts and