The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-02

<. AN.
Office honorably on resignation. Why, few
years ago recollect, when the question was
asked the head of the Treasury Department
what was to be done with the man who took
down the American flag when it was raised on
the Custom House building, the reply from the
Treasury Department was, Shoot him on tne
heart. How was it here with the officer con-
yicted of tampering with the bank otficers
whose accounts he was examining? Why, he
was permitted to resign.
Mr. Trumbull then referred to the case OF
the Secretary of the Navy, as revealed by the
present investigation. 1t was not denied that
in one instance he had paid to parties, whose
contracts had been closed by act of Congress,
$4,000. He not only violated the law by
paying money on an account that had been
settled, but also by taking money that had new
er been appropriated for such purpose. There
is no excuse for it. If the country was not
full of these violations of the law and plum
derings of the treasury, such transaction as
that would create indignation throughout the
whole country but there is so much OF 1t that
you overlook these breaches of law and mlsap-
preparation of public money. Now, as to the
living issues of the hour? have thus briefly,
fellow citizens, stated to you that slavery was
abolished /; that the rebellion has been put
down; the States restored TO their former posi-
tion in the Union. All these questions have
been settled, and any person who now under
takes to disturb them or to agitate the pubic
mind in reference to them must do so with the
purpose of diverting attention from the living
issues of the times. applause. And what
are those7 I have tried to state to you what
they WERE They relate to the ercroachments.
by The Federal government upon the rights OF
State and local governments. They relate to
amnesty, and to securing the equal rights OF
all-the great principle lying at the founda-
ton of the Republican party. They relate to
a reform in our revenue system, by which tax
alton shall be reduced and so arranged as TO
bear equally SO far as possible upon all branch
es of industry, without increasing one oranch
for the benefit of another. They relate to the
publication of the civil service, and the ad-
ministration of government, by which plum.
derers shall be driven from power-(cries Of
"Good, good, ,'') and the position placed in the
hands of honest men. Now, why cannot this
thing be done? had hoped, fellow-citizenss,
that all this should be accomplished through
the instrumentalities of those now having con-
troll of the Government But the experience
of the last session of Congress and the present
session has satisfied me that these reforms can
not be accomplished through the agency OF the
ruling spirits now controlling them. ZAP
plause.) Protesting to be for amnesty, they
defeat every amnesty bill that is offered by
limitations and incongruous amendments.
Protesting to be for civil service reform, they
will do nothing practically to accomplish 1T.
Protesting in loud voice to be in favor OF the
fullest investigation and the correction of
abuses, they appoint committees contrary to all
parliamentary precedent, and all common
sense, if the object is to find out whether the
abuses exist; so organized as to be controlled
by the friends of the accused, and from which
every person is carefully excluded who believes
that abuses exist and wants a strict investiga-
ton. (Applause) Is it any wonder, then,
that these committees have only seen the sur
face of the corruption with which nearly every
department of this government is reeking.
Fellow-citizens, before this war began the
ordinary expenses of this government, exclu-
ding paying interest and pensions, were less
than SEQ, 200, 900 per year. What do you sup
pose they were last year? More than Sl4O,-
100000. Is there any reason for this2 Fifty
millions of dollars year ought to be saved by
an economical administration of the govern
ment. But we have been unable to bring this
about through the instrumentalities now exer-
cising control. And why? Because the ma
chinery of the government, the machinery OF
the Republican party, is in the hands OF d the
10000 ofice-holders of this country. Ihey
control the Republican party by packing con-
ventions, and otherwise through the instrument
tality of members of Congress and others s. CO.
operating with them, to whom they owe their
nfaces and to whom the members in turn,
many of them, owe their seats in Congress:
How, then, is remedy to be obtained =
Must the people submit? Are these encroach-
ments upon the rights of the people to continue
this collection of taxes to be squandered1
among the hirelings of the party to 60 on unit!
the. people find themselves bound hand and
foot to g. central power at Washington, that
taxes them at will and squanders money among
its fayorites as it pleases? Yes, there is q rem
edy. But that remedy must come from the
people, You cannot claim it through polltl-
clans. Why7 Politicians are proverbial cow
ards. A reform can only be accomplished, as
say, through the people, and it will take
bold, energetic, and resolute people to accom-
plish this object There is that feeling, am
clad to believe, in the country that Will arouse
its honest sentiment, and lead to correction
of these abuses. (Applause.) A notice has
dependent Republicans in the city of Cincin-
nati-(applause) e)-on the first day of May next.
That win be meeting, not of office-holders
assembled for the purpose of devising schemes
to hoodwink the people, and misead them by
prostituting the name of great party to their
wicked schemes, but it will be a meeting of
honest, sincere men, determined to bring about
reform and publication of the government.
(Applause.) am glad to say that the indIca-
tions are that the best element of the Republic
can party will be assembled on that occasion.
I notice from my own State, within few days,
that call has been issued, signed, as am
told, by all but two Of the electors, and be-
eve by every state ocsr noon VINO Tas e1Sfsd 1
perhaps npz Ss y the sozssaat r OF Of as the as
the Secretary Of the State the Treasurer of the
State, who were elected on the same ticket with
Mr.. Iincolp. have similar information from
other states. And this can if you Wilt il