The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-04-27
TIE NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
An Earnest Appeal.
Address to the Democrats OF the
Country by their Representa-
tiycS in Congress.

tiycS in Congress.
WASHINGTON, April 20,--The Demo
Gratis in Congress have just issued the
following address 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
designs Of those who control the Rad
ical party, and we feel called upon to
utter n few words Of warning against
the alarming strides they have made
toward Capitalization o.! power in the
hands Of Congress and the Executive.
The time and attention of the Radical
leaders lave been almost wholly di-
rcctcd to dcvisiDg such legislation as
will in their view best preserve their
asccndancy, and no regard for the
restraints imposed by the Constitution
has checked thcirreckless and desperate
career.
The President Of the United States
has been formally announced as a can
dilatc for re election. The dcclala-
lions Of his selfish supporters have
been rc-issued by 4 subsidized press,
and the discipline of the party has al
ready made adhesion to his personal
fortunes the supreme test Of political
tcalty. The parlizan legislation to
which we refer was decrecd and shaped
in secret caucus, where extremist coun-
sells always dominate, and were adopt
cd by Il subseryient majority, if not
with the intent, certainly with the eff
feet to place in the hands of the Presi,
dent the power to command his own
denomination, and to employ the
army, navy. and militia at his sole dis
erection, and as a means of subscribing
his personal ambition.
When the sad experience Of the last
two years. so disappointing to the
hopes and generous confidence of the
country, is considered in connection
with the violent uttcranccs and rash
purposes Of those who control the
Presidential policy. it is not surprising
that The graycst approximations for the
future peace Of the nation should be
entertained. At 4 time when labor is
depressed and every materia! interest
is palsicd by oppressive taxation. pub,
lie offices have been multiplied beyond
all precedent to serve as instruments
in the pcrpetuation of power, Part.
izanship is the only test applied to the
distribution of this vast patronage,
Honesty, fitness, and moral worth
are openly discarded in favor oftruck
line submission and dishonorable com
pliancc. Hence enormous defalcatioA
and widespread corruption have fol
lowed rs the natural consequences o.
this pcrnicious system. BY the oficia
report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
itappears that after the deduction 0.
all proper credits, many millions g
dollars remain due from OK collectors
Of internal revenue. and no proper dill
igcnce has ever been used to collect
them.
Reforms in the revenue and fiscaI
systems which all experience demon.
stratcs to be necessary to the frugal adj
minis!ration ofthe government, as well
as measures of relief to an overbur-
dencd people, has been persistcntly
postponed OF wilfully neglected. Con,
gress now adjourns without having
even attempting to reduce taxation or
to repeal the glazing impositions by
which industry is crushed and impov-
erished. The treasury is overlooking,
and an excess of eighty millions of rev,
cnuc is admitted, and yet, instead of
some measure to present relief, a barren
and dclusive resolution is passed
by the Senate to consider the traiif and
excise systems hereafter, as if the
history Of broken pledges and unap-
piled remedies furnished any better as
suranco for future legislation than ex-
l'ericnce has done in the past. Ship
building and the carrying trade, once
sources of national pride and prosper:
ity, now languish under the crushing
load of taxation, and nearly every 9TH
er business interests is struggling With
out pro fit to maintain itself. Our ag-
riculturists, while paying heavy taxes
on all they consume, either to the gov
crnment or m%onopolists, find the price
for their own products 80 reduced that
honest labor is denied its just reward,
and industry is Frustrated by invidious
determinations.
Nearly 2,000, DOC, 900 OF acres of pub
lie lands which should have been re-
served for the benefit of the people,
have been voted away to grants and
corporations, neglecting our soldiers
and enriching a handful of greedy
spectators and lobbyists, who are