The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-17
COLUMBIA. . ! s. G.
Wednesday Morning, April II, 1872.
Extracts from tho Great Speeches OF
Sen ators Trumbull and schurx at
Cooper Institute.


The length prevents us from giving in
full the masterly efforts made by the two
great "libera" leaders in exposition of
the crying abuses that have given origin
to and the patriotic ends aimed at by
the Republican reformers. We will
give. though, what appears to US the
most striking portions of their speeches,
though we find it difficult task to dis
criminate, when all is so excellent.
Speaking of the disturbed and wretohed
state of affairs at the South, attributable
only to the policy of hate and plunder,
inaugurated and sustained by the enve-
nomed and corrupt faction which has
chosen Grant for its standard-bearer,
Mr.. Trumbull says:
zone cause of complaint which pro-
duces alienation in the late insurrection-
ary States, and keeps alive the hates
and animosities engendered by the war
is the continuance Of political disabili-
ties after the occasion for them has
passed away. In consequence of this
continuance, the governments in the
late insurreotionary States have fallen
many instances of corrupt adventurers,
who have plundered the people of these
States scarcely less than you in the
city Of New York lave been plunder-
ed by your former city government.
Why are these disabilities continued?
Why are they not removed, and all the
people enfranohised? I think there are
two causes, and two alone, which pre-.
vent it-one mercenary and the other
political. The mercenary one, that these
adventures should exclude from the
offices in all these States the former lend
ing men that reside there of large expe-
rience and capacity; and although they
were traitors during the war, they were
not thieves nor plunderers. Their ex-
clusion has thrown these governments
into the hands of, men who have used
their power to plunder the people over
whom they rule, and the debts of the
Southern States have been swollen in
some instances twenty-fold from what
they were before the war began. The
debt,of Alabama was less than Sc, 600, 900
in 1860. and at the present time its con-
tingent and absolute debt is near $s4O,-
600. 900. The debt of Florida, which
was,but 5000, 900 at the commencement
of the war, has been swollen to SIG. .000,.
600; that of Georgia from So, 1000, 900 to
$44. 900. 600; and they don't even have
what you had in the city of New York
to show for the money expended, for I
believe you had some carpets and some
furniture for your money. These peo-
vast debts which have been incurred and
put upon the people. Another reason
for continuing these political disabilities
is, as have said, Of partisan charac-
ter. The men in authority use the po-
litical disability as 80 much capital upon
which to trade. To illustrate what I
mean, I will refer to what took place in
the State OF Georgia, few years ago,
when a man named Bullock was Go
vernon. When the Legislature of that
State was about TO be organized, it was
understood that certain persons had
been elected who were laboring under
political disabilities. They were given
to understand that those of them who
would sustain the Governor could have
their political disabilities removed. and
those who would not, could not be per-
mitted to take their seats in the Legisla-
ture; and the result was that the political
disabilities were removed from such as
acted with the Governor, and the others
were excluded; and he had control of
that Legislature. aud succeeded in fas-
tening upon the State a debt, the disco
very of which of late caused him to flee
the State to escape punishment, which
would have followed the frauds commit
ted. So it is with members of Congress
elected from these Southern States.
They promised to remove their political
disabilities from adheronts, and they are
always ready to do it where they can
gain favor"
OF the comparative cost of govern
ment now and before the war. lie makes
the following exhibit:
"Before this war began the ordinary
expenses of this Government, excluding
payment OF interest and pensions, were
less than 100000, 900 per year. What
do you suppose they were last year?
More than $140.00O.O00. Is there any
reason for this? Why it will be said,
perhaps, the country has grown and bu.
siness has increased. True, but has the
population increased in that proportion
has it doubled within the last ten
years? Have the necessary expenses of
the Government doubled?"
AS to the encroachment of military
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