Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-09-07

/ curing lr66QOu anu JUSTICE, dIlu dQNdQC-
ing the civilization of the world, are
right, and that they have hitherto
willfully and wrongfully opposed those
great republican measures. 1t is true,
they do not put itin this phrase pre-
cisely, but it comes to that at last.
They sugar coat and disguise the con-
fession by saying, "We accept the situ-
ation," and call it new departure by
protesting to cease waging open oppo-
sition to accomplished facts and estab-
lished propositions which they have
| long resisted, and which now it is
deemed expedient to acquiesce is only
because it seems idle and impotent
longer to fight against the expressed
and reiterated will of the people.
Is this party with which to intrust
the government, and to hazard again
the public welfare, if not the very ex-
istence of the union itself?
An experienced and prominent leader
of that party in a neighbring state, who
is willing to be the presidential candi-
date of the party at the next election,
referring to to the new departure, is re-
ported to have said: "We must make
the fight upon living issues. 1t is folly
to be always going back to dead issues;
take things as we find them. l think
the great mass of the democratic party
realize this fact. Let US commend this
discretion and aud hope that many of
those of the south who engaged in re-
bellion have reached a similar conclu-
sion. Let us hope that hereafter they
will take things as they find them, es-
pecially the inevitable, and those i'm
mutable laws founded in the nature of
things, as well as the constitution. But
as to the ''living issues" of this candi-
date, what are they? Opposition, l
presume. in the future, as it has been
in the past, to all measures proposed by
the republican party.
With this understanding of the "new
DEPARTURE" shall not be surprised to see
the democracy taking itself off every
two years for long time to come.
Let me say to these gentleman, it is
not SO important what the age of your
issue is, or whether it be old or
new, dead or living, as that you place
yourselves on the side of right and JUS
tice on public questions-something
which, in my judgment, the democrats
have studiously avoided for the last fif-
teeu or twenty years.
UNFINISHED WORK OF THE REPUBLI-
CAN PARTY.
have spoken of the difficult legacy
left to the republican party by the
southern rebellion and its consequences,
and have attempted to show how well
that portion ofthe legacy comprised in
reconstruction has been executed.
This work may be said to have been
principally accomplished at the date of
the incoming of the present administra-
ton. But the work of reconstruction
was not the only difficult part of this
difficult duty. There was likewise the
reforming of the civil service, corrup-
ton and malversation in Office, which
had been stimulated, fostered, and en-
couraged by the personal policy Of him
who came to be chief magistrate
through the assassination Of his prede-
eessor. Let it be distinctly understood,
always, that the republican party is
neither responsible nor to be held to
answer for the acts and policy of the
president to whom I allude, for during
his whole administration there was an
unceasing contest between the presi-
dent and the republican party. 1t is
matter of fact and of history that the
sympathy, encouragement and counsel
Of the democratic party were extended
to him as soon as it was discovered that
he could be used, as willing tool, to
oppose and emharrass the republican
party and its measures.
The correction OF abuses which were
thus fastened upon the public service at
the close of the war, the rigid enforce
ment of the laws of the nation, and es-
pecially those for the collection and dis
bursement of the public revenues, and
the proper management of the public
debt, are other portions of the legacy |
left by the shareholders rebellion to the |
republican party, and coming within
the duties of the present administration.
With what labor and fidelity these
duties have been discharged 1 shall at
tempt to prove with briet statements of
facts.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
During the year 1868, in which the
last administration exercised full exec
utive power, which an excise Of two
dollars per gallon on spirits, of forty
cents per pound upon tobacco, of two
and half and three cents per pound
upon cotton, with taxes upon boots,
shoes, clothes, clothing, confectionery,
furniture, iron in all conditions of man.
ufacture, leather oils, saddlery, sugar,
soap, fermented liquors, banks, sales,
licenses, incomes, legacies, and success
sions, stamps, gross receipts ofrailroads,
and large number of other subjects;
the intire receipts from internal reve-
nue. sources were but $191. $50, 564, %.
With the incoming of the present
administration a new tax bill went
fully into effect. By this law tax on
spirits was reduced from two dollars to
fifty cents per gallon; the tax on tobacco
from forty to thirty-twO cents and six
teen per pound; while all taxes upon
cotton, boots and shoes, clothes cloth
ing, furniture, iron, leather, machinery,
oils, saddlery, soap, sugar, and one
hundred and five other articles, were
entirely removed and the articles made
free. This reduction of taxation, TAX
ing the receipts from these sources dur
ing thelast administration, was equal
to seventy-eight millions.
The present administration found the
public credit impaired by the dishon-
esty and incapacity whichlpervaded the
public service. The public debt was
rather increasing than diminishing,
with reduction of receipts from inter-
Hhl IdAdtlOu' hOW was tllo ldlllHS
credit of the government to be repair
ed, its current expenses met, and the
debt reduced in the face of this dis
couraging condition? This serious and
embarrassing question could only be
solved by an energetic enforcement of
the laws and faithful application of
money collected to the public Liabilities.
Il was done. During the first twelve
months of the administration the re-
ceipts from internalrevenue were $177,-
457, ,73S, ,2S,and during the first fiscal
year $185, ,235, ,S57,97 Notwithstanding
the reduction already stated. Without
reduction, the amount of receipts from