The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-04-16

among us.
The war closed, tho armies were dis.
banded and slavery forever prohibited by
amen1ment; the equal
lights of all were established throughout
he lind; provision was made for the
tebt incurred in the maintenance Of the
union, and Tint the payment Of bountics
and psnsion of soldiers should be forever
sacred, sud that the debt Of the rebels and
for slaves should never he made.
Since then provision has been made BY
which the debt incurred Is in gradual
course Of extinction to-day. Al the
states are restored ~ their former. re nations
in the union, and what uap Is there 10 dis
turb the happiness and peace Of tho
people.
There nre several causes for the dissat-
isiaction Of the people, which 1 can only
briefly Nilude TO On the present occasion,
and shall not touch upon many which
ought TO be discussed before the pc, pie ~
large. But one cause of complaint when
produces alienation IN tho late insurrec-
tionnry states, and keep alive the hates aud
an,mUsiiies engendered by tue war, is the
continual &c oi political disabilities after
the occasion for them has passed away
In cons, quence of this continuance the
government in the late insurrectionary
states has fallen into the hands Of expcri-
enced, and IN many cases corrupt, advcn-
turers who piundered the people of these
states scarcely less than you in the city OF
New York Lave been piuhdercd by your
former city government. Applause.
Why are these disabilities continued
Why arc they no. removed and the
people en,ranchiscd ? think there are
two causes, and two alone which prevent
it, one mercenary and the ether political.
fApplause1 The mcrcenary one is that
thrss adventures should exclude from
office in these states the former leading
men that reside there or large experience
and capacity, and although they were tru'-
tors during the war, they were not thieves
nor plunderers. Loud cheers The ex-
clusion has thrown these governments in
~ the hands of men who have used their
power to plumber the people over whom
they ralc, and the debts of the Southern
states have been swollen, in some instances,
70 fold from what they were before the
war began, and they don't even have what
you had in the city OF New York, to show
Tor the money expended.
Another reason for the continuance of
these political disabilities is, us 1 said of q
partisan character. The men in authority
use political disability as SO much capital
upon which to trade. To illustrate what
mean will refer to what took place in the
state Of Georgia u few years ago when
man named Bullock was governor. When
the legislature Of that state was about to
be organized, IL was understood that Ger.
tain persons had been elected who were
under political disabilities.
They were given to understand that
those of them who would sustain their
governor could have their political disa-
bilities removed, and those who would not
could not take their seats in the lcsisla.
ture, and the result was that the political
disabilities were removed from such us
acted with the governor, and Others were
excluded, and he had control Of that Lee.
islatuie and succeeded in fastening upon
the State debt The discovery OF which Of
late caused him to fee the state and e..
cape the Punishment which would have
followed tue frauds committed.
So it is with the members Of congress
elected from the southern states. They
promised to remove the political disabiii.
Ties from. mdberents, and they are always
ready to do it where they can gain favor.
Three cheers were heartily given for
H,'racc Greeley, who was e.pied on the
Senator Trumbull-I am glad to bear
such cheers in honor OF the first cham pion,
believe, in the country and he pro.
claimed IL boldly-of universal amnesty.
Renewed cheers
One great measure, then, which is dc.
handed IN the name OF honesty; in the
name of peace and the best interest, is the
passage Of n general bill removing pollli-
cal disabilities. Great cheers ! Another
cause Of complaint among the people Is
the way in which the patronage vi the
government is used-used rs If 1t were SO
much money-to carry elections, not in
tue interest Of the party,
even,-it does hot rise 10
that high dignity-but in the interest
Of faction OF II party. Great applause
1t is notorious-you all know 1t in the
city Of New York for it has recently been
disclosed by an investigating committee
which sat in that city-lhat your custoin-
house is mere flied with men who, instead
OF having received their appointment in
consequence OF their fidelity, thei, ability
aud their capacity to discharge the duties
OF their offices for the hest interest, Of the
country, are appointed because Of the
influence IT is supposed they can exert ut
some primary election or state convention
or 10 teaching you people whom ~ vote for
ut the polls. LnughIer.]
This civil-scrvice system of ours is In.
parent Of many evils that cannot stop
Tonight to point cut The officers IN
many localities are taxed a portion of
their salaries for party purposes, and #
they do not perform the political duty
required Of them, they are very soon
removed and others substituted who
will DO active in politics.
Passing from this question Of civi.ser.
vice reform. which would occupy mn
hour to discuss properly before You, i
come To another measure which SHOULD
create alarm throughout tho country. |
allude particularly TOT the assumption:,fun-
warranted p wer on the part OF the fed.
erai government and departments of the
federal government cheersl To illus
lrd,e, the military officer in command
IN Georgia issued nm order prohibiting GER |
tam men to sit in the legislature, and nj. |
owing others to take their seats in direct
iehancc Of the act of congress. and which
hould have subjected that officer 10 i'm.
risonment not less than two years in the
enitentiary. Was any notice ever taken
NJ Yes; the matter was referred 10 the
nmmittee on judiciary in the senate of The
nited States, and n report was mnde Inv
nat committee, drawn up by senator Ed. ,
lunds, OF Vermont, an ardent friend of ,
ne administration, expressing in mild ,
''Ws that the committee were constrained
y Gay maj the action Of the military nu-
,na was contrary to law TapplauseI
mu '"a' Is the only notice ever taken uf