The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-09

and Philadelphia. Who can mistake
the meaning Of these preparations for
the next Presidential eleetion7 Who
doubts that warning and rebuke ore
needed now to preventive Administra-
tiou from carrying out its purpose by
force? If the warning be not given BY
the people or fail of its proper effect,
can we hope for peace? Itseems to US
an error to Suppose the American peo-
pie tame enough to be kicked under the
| yoke of despotism, or ignorant enough
to be juggied out ofthe great inheritance
of free government which the fathers
left them.
RoTrENNEss OF TIE ADMINISTRATION, I,
We complain Of our present rulers for
lawless usurpation of power. Power
not dele gated is always abused. In this
as 10 other cases, usurpat;on has been
accompa uied aud followed by corruption.
Frauds without number, and almost
without limit, have been committed on
the public Men Of the worst character
for common honesty are permitted to
occupy the highest places. Of the
money collected from the people, and
not stolen before it reaches the Treasury
large porto is squsndered by Con-
gress on party favorites or corrupt rings,
and on base combinations of public
pluuderers. The enormous extent TO
which this financial corruption has been
carried on will become manifest to any
one who compares the expenditures of
the Government during the six years
which followed the civil war. Both
we're periods of peace, and there can be
no excuse for more than asnal increase
corresponding to the ratio 10 which the
population has advanced. But where:
the ordinary expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June l, 1870, exclusive OF
Indian anuuities, pensions, aud interest
on the public debt, we're S148, ,669 922--
43, for the year ending June !, 1860, the
expenditures for the same purpose were,
but S55,9lS,lSS 72. Here is showr'
the difference between the ordinary cost
of crarying OF our Government when its
agents are honest, and the cost Of the
same thing when its officers are so des.
titute of moral principle as to disregard
all legal limitations upon their own
authority. A free, uuperverted represen
tative government is simple 10 its ma.
chioery, easily maintained, and "dis-
peusea it's blessings like the dews of
Heaven: unseen and unfelt, save in the
beauty and freshness they contribute to
produce;" the secure tranquility of q
regal establishment may some times BE-
compensation for the burdens it i'm
poses, but rotten republic is at once
the most costly, the most oppressive,
aud the most unsteady of all political
structures.
1t will surely be admitted that all
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,
aud BY opposing it end it. The per-
sons interested in preventing charge
will ask how, to what extent, aud by
What means We propose TO make the
reforms. The question is fair one.
and we will answer it briefly. It will
be the duty of the Democratic party,
and. to the extent of our authority,
original or delegated, We hereby pledge
ourselves and our associstes, so far as
10 US lies
1. To put the ship Of State once
again in her constitutional tack, and
hold her head firmly aDd steadily to
that course.
2. To protect the individual citizens
of all parties, classes, and creeds in
their enjoyment Of life, liberty, proper
ty, reputation, aud the pursuit of their
lawful business, BY an impartial ad-
ministration Of justice in the ordained
and established courts.
8. To preserve the powers Of the
General Government iu tteir whole
constitutional vigor as our sole defense
against foreign aggression, the safest
bond of union between different sec-
tions of the country, aud the only sure
promise of general prosperity.
1. To maintain, unimpairod, the
reserved rights of the States, end not
only because they are guaranteed BY
the Federal Constition, but because the
States alone can safely be trusted with
the management of their own local
concerns.
S. To reduce the expenditures Of the
Government by cou6uiug its appropri-
atious to Legitimate objects, by rigid
system Of accountability aud economy,
aud by abolishiug much Of the uunec-
essary aud peru,cious machinery With
which it is now eneumbered.
6. To moderate the burdens OF the
people, not only BY economical admin
istration, but BY a system of taxation
upon foreign imports as we'll as domes-
tic productions, which shall be just aud
equal 10 operation upon the property
aud business Of the country, not
eurichiug some while it impoverished
others and. not open to 'he frauds now
habitually practiced:
Z. To preserve the public credit BY
the prompt pa5peut Of the public
obligation. 81 -,
8. To Concentrate the public lands to
the use Of laadless people who need it,