The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-02
From the Washington Patriot.
The Democratic Address.

The Democratic Address.
We have the satisfaction of laying be
fore our readers an address to the peo-
pie of the United States, signed 10y ev-
cry Democratic and Conservative mem
ber of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives who was present in Washing
ton when it was prepared This impor-
tant paper ia intended to expose the ac-
tual situation of affairs here, and to pre-
sent to the country frank statement Of
the course of the Radical party in its
usurpations of the power and its Grim
inal neglect o: the public interests. In
discharging this duty our friends have
acted wisely, not only in holding up to
censure the excesses and shortcomings
of their adversarics, but in defining with
manly distinctness their own views of
policy. They have not assumed in any
sense to build political platform, for
that responsibility belongs to National
Convention, but they did not feel at lib
erty to disregard living facts,or to evade
them by any doubtful cxpedients.
The misrepresentation of unscrupu-
lous adversaries are now met and silen.
aed by an autheritive expression of
Democratic representatives from every
part of the Union. No such utterance
has been made from Congress for long
and weary years. The North and the
South, the East and the West, are once
more united and speak in the same pat
riotic language, turning aside from the
dead past, and looking with hopeful
promise to brighter future 1t is the
voice of reconciled people, proclaim
ing peace an6 good will among men
We commend the address to the candid
Judgment of the country, with the full
est confidence that it will receive every
where generous greeting and cordial
appreciation.
To the People of the United States:
Our presence and official duties at
Washington have enabled us to become
fully acquainted with the actions and de-
signs of those who control the Radical
party, and we feel called upon to utter a
few words of warnings against the alar-
ming strides they have made towards
centralization of power in the hands of
Congress and the Executive.
The time and attention of the Radi-
cal leaders have been almost wholly d-
rected to devising such legislation as
will, in their view, best preserve their
ascendency, and no regard for the wise
restraints imposed by the Constitution
has checked their reckless and desperate
career.
The President of the United States
has been formally announced as a can.
didate for reelection. The declaration
of his selfish supporters have been cen
oed by a subsidized press, and the dis.
cipline of party has already made adhe-
sion to his personal fortunes the su-
preme test Of political fealty.
The partisan legislation to which we
refer was decrced and shaped in secret
caucus, where the EXTREMIST couEsels al
ways dominated, and was adopted by a
subservient majority, if not with the in
tent, certainly with the effect, to place
in the hands of the President power TO
command his own denomination, and to
employ the army, navy, ard militia at
his sole discretion, as means of sub
serving his personal ambition. When
the sad experience of the last two years
so disappointing to the hopes and gen
erous confidence of the country-is con-
sidcred, in connection with the violent
| utterances and rash purposes of those
who control the Presidents policy, it is
not surprising that the gravest apprc,
tensions for the future peace of the na-
ton should be entertained @
At time when labor is deprcs sed,
and every material interest is palsied by
oppressive taxation, the public offices
have been multiplied beyond all prece-
dent, to serve as instruments in the per-
petuation of power. Partisanship is the
only test applied to the distribution of
this vast patronage. Honesty, fitness,
and moral worth are openly discarded
in favor of trucking submission and
dishonorable compliance. Hence, enor-
nous defalcations and widespread cor
ruption have followed as the natural con-
sequences of this pernicious system.
By the official report of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, it appears that after
deduction of all proper credits, many
millions of dollars remain due from ex.
collectors of the internal revenue, and
that no proper diligence has ever been
used 10 collect them.
Reforms in the revenue and fiscal sys-
tens, which all experience demonstra-
ties to be necessary to frugal admins.
tration of the Government, as well as a
measure Of relief to an oyerburdened
people, have been persistently postpon
ed or wifully neglected. Congress now
adjnurns without having even attempted
to reduce taxation, or to repeal the glsr-
ing impositions by which industry is
crushed and impoverished. The Treas
ury is overfiowing, and an excess OF
eighty millions of revenue is admitted
and yet, instead of some measure OF
present relief, a barren and delusive res
olution IS passed by the Senate to con
slider the tariff and excise systems here
after,a ,as if the history of broken pledges
and pretended remedies furnished any
better assurance for future legislation
than experience has done in the past.
Ship.building and the carrying trade,
once sources of national pride and pros
pcrity, now lauguish under crushing