The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-09-24

it is right to punish the South by such
agencies and in such modes ..EssE


| it is right to punish the South by such
agencies and in such modest -.F.s-.
But if you are sunk into such an abyss
of degradation, perhaps you are not in.
sensible to your own interests. Your
Federal Government owes a debt oil
over $2,200,000,000 So long as the
South is kept impoverished it cannot
contribute to the payment of that debt,
and the burden of it rests mainly upon
the North, and is mortgage upon every
dollar OF property you own and every
dollar that labor earns. Do you not
wish the South to pay fair proportion
of that debt, and thus tighten your own
burdens2 If so, Why not aid in restor.
ing her to prosperity, and thus enable
her to pay her share2 Why seek to per-
Petuate her ruin, and thus punish your
self in order to CRAFTY your passion and
prejudice s.e. :.
There is another dreadful event of the
South, and one that is calculated to ex.
cite the liveliest apprehension. The pop
ulatlon of those States is composed of
about four millions Of the, African race
and about twice as many OF the white
race. Every consideration of interest
and humanity dictates that these races
should live on good terms with each
other. But what is interest with the
whites is absolute necessity for the
blacks, who are without education, with.
out property, and numerically the weak
er party. To their peace, their prosper
ity, their improvement, the good will of
the whites is Indispensable; but what do
we see? We see the entire black race
arrayed in solid phalanx against the
whites, united in secret and oath. bound
leagues, sworn to vote against the vast
majority of their white neighbors, and
all under the guidance and control of a
set of unscrupluous adventurers from
the North, who have no interest in or
sympathy with the region where they
have temporarily pitched their tents
And how has this state of things been
brought about? p? 1t was brought about
by the arts and industry of Government
agents, and the use Of Government
money. 1t was brought about by your
Freedman's Bureau political far more
than humanitarian institution, and
which used tens of millions of your mon
ey to produce this very antagonism that
every good and intelligent man, who re
fleets upon it, cannot but deplore OF
all the enemies Of the negro race the
men who have been, and are, engaged in
arraying them against the whites are the
worst and most deadly They are lead
ing that race to ruin, if not to desrruc.
ton, and the sooner they are compelled
to loosen their hold upon their diipes
the better will it be for all concerned.
| turn, gentlemen, to the subject of
civil service reform. 1t is great, and,
confess, very perplexing subject The
Constitution vests in the President, by
and with the advice of the Senate. the
power Of appointing vast multitude of
Federal officers; but an almost or quite
equal number of officers and employees
are appointed by the heads Of depart
ments, who are themselves dependent
upon the President for their tenure of
office, and these latter appointments re.
quire no confirmation by the Senate
The President has, therefore, directly or
indirectly, the power to confer honor or
emoluments, or both, upon more than
one hundred thousand persons now, and
the number increases every year. Such
a patronage has ever been regarded with
jealousy by thinking, patriotic and
thoughtful men. One of the objections
made to the adoption of the Constitution
was this very power Of the President
From time to time the most eminent
statesmen of the country have raised
their voices against it, and sought to
limit it. 1t was, in the opinion Of Madi-
son, Clay, Webster and Calhoun, one of
the most prolific sources Of corruption
and Decentralization to be found in our
institutions. In the early days Of the
republic it was not abused, and no evils
Resulted from it; but in later days it has
been shariefdlly prostituted, and under
no Administration so much as under
that of GRANTS. 4
Under what other Administration did
Federal office holders dare to dictate to
State Conventions their nominations. and
even to control and overawe them by
military force? Under What other Ad.
ministration did they dictate the renom-
ination Of their Chief as they did at
Philadelphia? Under what other Ad-
ministration did Cabinet officers desert
their posts and abandon their duties at
Washington and perambulate the coun-
try making speeches to effect theit own
continuance in office Under what other
Administration were laboring men in
navy yards and arsenals deprived of en-
ployment because they voted according
to the dictates of their honest judgment ?
Under what other administration was re-
lationship to the President or his family
principal recommendation for office ?
Under what other Administration were
gifts to the President rewarded by hor-
ors and emoluments Under what
othor Administration were military par
asites allowed to usurp civil functions,
and that in direct violation of law.
My friends, until the Constitution be
amended 80 as to provide remedy;
there will be but one means Of rectifying
these evils and abuses, and that is the
adoption by the people Of the one-term
principle in relation to the Presidency
A long as the President can hope for Il
second term he will he irresstibly in
duced to use his patronage to effect his
denomination and secure his re election.
The public interests will be wholly sub
ordinated to his desire and interest to
prolong his power. Gen. Grant, before
he was candidate for the Presidency;
was an advocate Of the one term prin-
ciple; elected President, and Influenced
by parasites, flatterers and office-hold-
ers,he has bent all his energies and used
all the patronage of his office TO secure
his reelection. The consequence has
been decentralization in the public ser