The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-21

biee SAuAS ubNSl 4SluOAIablS q
ton. That there has been good reason
for this vast expenditure no intelligen
man believes, and no honest man vii
assert. In the name OF the people, tn,
Democracy demand REFORM, and invite
all good citizens to unite with them ir
this common cause.
could not in many days, citizens
let alone single hour, explain to you
how all this money has been squander
ed. Since the Republicans came int
power, swarms of new offices have beer
created. Before Mr.. Lincoln becam,
President, the highest officer in th'
navy received a salary OF $500; nov
he receives more than $4,000 Under
Democratic rule, the highest rank il
the navy was post.captain, called fla
officer, when commanding squadron
S;pce 1862, the Republicans have ere
ated the grades OF Commodore, Real
Admiral, Vice Admiral and Admiral
all titles borrowed from Monarchies
and opposed to the spirit of republican
simplicity. During the fiscal year end,
ing June 80, 1861, the entire expendi
lures OF the federal government les:
the sum paid on the public debt, was
only sixty-two millions; while for The
last year the expenses for the same pur
pose amounted to over one hundred
and sixty four millions
| charge squarely that since the Re
publican organization has been in pow
er, the legislation OF Congress has been
under the control of the monopolists
and has been against all who do not
belong to rings organized TO plunder
the treasury. The charge is a grave
one; you will be convinced OF its truth
PACIFIC RAILROAD BOND SwINDLE.
Let me give you an example. Under
the act of July |, 1862, bonds were
issued to the Pacific Railroad Compa
MES at the rate Of sixteen, thirty two
and forty.eight thousand dollars pei
mile, according to the supposed difficulty
of construction, and were made first
lien upon the roads. This looked like
an honest transaction, but it was a cheat
intended to allay the fears Of the tax
payers. The lien was sufficient to Sc
cure the Government for the bonds
which had been issued to build the road,
Of which there are yet outstanding over
sixty-four millions. To the surprise Of
all honest men who knew OF the trans,
action, on the u OF July, 1864, by some
process, best known to those who had
charge OF it, a law was passed releasing
the first mortgages on those roads, and
accepting instead, second mortgage,
believed to be v&lueless. Thus making
the people pay the bonds instead Of the
monopolists The bonds issued, far
more than built the road, and with the
surplus an immense swindling machine
called the Credit Moblier was estab-
lished with the surplus, and it is said
that twenty-seven persons, in official po-
stions, and whose names are concealed,
are among the stockholders.
THE LAND SwINDLE.
Were not these wrongs enough, my
countrymen But not satisfied with
the plumber thus secured, these monOp-
olists succeeded in obtaining from Con.
gress, by means which no one believes
to be honest, grants Of alternate sec
tions Of land, in all forty miles wide
and extending half across the continent.
This wholesale robbery was Of the prop
erty of the people. The lands thus
given away were yours and constituted
the rightlul heritage OF your children.
Since the Republicans have been in
power they have given away to a hand
full Of mOnopolists two hundred millions
of acres of land which belonged 10 the
whole people, and sufficient to make six
or seven States as large as Ohio.
These lands belonged to you all, Re.
publicans and Democrats alike, and
they should have been given to actual
settlers at simple cost, and thus secured
cheap homes for our Industrious young
men who are anxious to try their for.
tunes in the West and South.
TEN MILLION DOLLARS.
NY kind friends, il it were put to vote
to-day throughout your country wheth-
er the people should be taxed TO build
a palace in Washington, at a cost OF
ten millions, how many persons would
vote for such a proposition2 Not one.
Yet, during the last session Of the
Forty first Congress, an appropriation
OF half million was made 20 commence
one wing Of such an edifce in the Fed
eral Capital, and il was admitted that
the whole structure would cost at least
ten millions before its completion.
WHAT GENERAL LOGAN SAID.
The appropriation was resisted, but
the Republicans had a majority oftwo,
thirds in the House and it was therefore
made a law.
Mr.. Logan said Now sir, if you ap.
propriate this 100000 for one wing OF
a State Department it will only be the
commencement Of a work that will cost
millions of dollars. The Senate have
lUslsltll OD, dil'l lIlC NDilIIllNltS VI NOu-
ference have agreed to- an appropriation
Of 100000 for the commencement OF
this work. Next session the Senate will
put in S2,00O,OOO more for State De,
partrlent and 100000 for the Capitol
grounds, aud perhaps these same gen
tlemen will be appointed on the Confer
ence committee, and they will agree TO
half Of that, and therefore in the course
Of four or five years the Senate will get
all the appropriations they desire in
order to beautify and to adorn the city
and to raise the salaries OF everybody in
this country.
Sir, il is the duty of the House to lay
this report on the table ltis better fOr
the country, it is better for the Republi'
can party, that We should not pass this
bill. The new Congress will meet to
morrow. and il is better that this bill bt