The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-26

their posts. and seek pleasure in fashion
and dissipation. Measures of reform in
Congress were called attacks upon the
administration, and opposed as such.
cnaoge was necessary to secure re-
form. Mr.. Hendricks spoke of the at
tempts to defend and justify the nepo-
tism OF the President, and referred to
the elder Adams, who offended in two
instances, when public opinion compelled
him to refuse all applications. Perhaps
ie was just to General Grant to suppose
ne was not Informed Of the practice of
his predecessors and OF public sentiment.
Ii disapproved now, the practice would
not become corrupting precedent.
he reviewed the practice of taking
large presents as one tending to blind
the eye, pervert the Judgment, and hurt
the public service. General Grant said,
''Let us have peace" and he was elected
upon the faith that the assurance would
be made good. The people longed for
ooncillatiou and fraternity, but hs has
not allowed it. The evil passions of
people had been 30 aroused that partisan
supremacy might be maintained. The
worst governments in the world have
been maintained in many of the South
ern States. Gigantic frauds have been
permitted there, crushing people and
Prostrating business by heavy taxes.
We want good governments and pros
perlty in all the States and hurmony
between all factions. This is our natural
relation. and disturbance is o crime.
lie had no faith in schemes and plans
for resumption Of specie payments. 1t
would he brought about in accordance
with the laws Of trade and commerce, by
our Increased production OF the great
staples which command the foreign mar
ket, so that wo shall sell more than we
buy abroad. aud the tendency of gold be
toward our shores. Then resumption
would be easy and natural. The policy
OF this Administration is hostile to an
early resumption OF specie payments and
hurtful to our important future inte-
rests. Our debt being made foreign
one, every six mouths the gold leaves the
country TO gay the interest. Great eff
forts should have been made to nego-
tiate the new loan ut home, 80 that the
lntereat would remain in the country
and pass into the channels of commerce.
Gov. Morton has claimed that the Re-
publican party had reduced taxation. re-
pealed all internal taxes. (exoept on
whiskey and tobacoo,) aud was paying
the national debt at the rate of $780,
.O0O yearly; that this was due to the
introduction of economy aud retrench-
ment into every department of the Go.
vernment, and by an honest and faithful
collection OF the revenue. This state.
ment the speaker claimed was within
about $50. 600, 900 of being correct. In
respect to the reduction of taxes, two
years ago, the impression sought to be
made WIS thut Gen. Grant, by economy,
was able to pay the debt, although the
taxes were 80 reduced. He compared
the financial statements of the Govern
ment with those of Mr.. johnson, and
showed that there had been no increase
OF tax collections. Enormous sums
had been received from other sources,
and much larger reduction of the debt
might have been made, had economy
prevailed in the public service.
He styled the Philadelphia platform
an appeal to the credulity of the people,
and criticism and satire upon Grants
administration. 1t declares that it is
demoralizing to regard subordinate posi-
tlons as reward for mere party zeal, and,
adopting the statement of the Cinoin-
natl Convention on reform, declares that
honesty, efficiency and fidelity are essen
tial qualifications for Office. It declares
hostility to further grants of public lands
to corporations, after giving away the
most desirable parts thereof. Gen. Grmnt
should have been spared this blow, in
view of the fact that on the day he signed
the bill giving 37,00O.O 600 of acres to the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company, he
illustrated his economy and zeal for the
public interest by vetoing Judge Ho-
m"n's bill for paying private in the Sd
Indiana Regiment of Cavalry for one or
two horses he had lost in the war. Mr..
Hendricks closed with review of his
past record, answering the charges of
Senator Morton. in reference to his
course in the United States Senate, and
pledging himself, if elected, to labor for
all useful reforms in the State, and to
labor for the general welfare.
The particulars of very funny affair,
which occurred not thousand miles
from Aiken, at barbecue, the other
day, have just come to hand. During
the day. pic.nio paEsy assembled there,
and were enjoying themselves with the
good things provided, when young
man and lady Of the party thought they
i Al.