Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-18

1
ton of the Government, and the spirit,
not the letter of the constitution. The re
ceiying of present or gratuity from cit
zen or millionaire, exerts an influence a
dangerous and as corrupting in its characte
as though they were received from an,
Nngor Prince of a foreign State. In fac
the dangerous influence might be create
than offered by person more remote. d.,
object Is not to elaborate this subject o
brides and gratuities, but simply to expose
and show It's violation of the Constitution
and of public and private morals. Thi
would have been very fitting case for th,
Congress OF the United States to have baset
articles Of Impeachment, ifthey were acting
in good faith In attempting to impeach for
mer President. Inthe language of the Hon
| Charles Summer, of Massachusetts,, "Wby
the grand inquest of the nation which
brought Andrew johnson to the bar of the
Senate, should have slept on this conglom
crate misdemeanor, every part OF which
was offensive beyond any technical offense
charged against bis predecessor, while Il
had background of nepotism, gift-taking
officially compensated, and various Presi.
dental pretensions beyond all precedent
all this will BE one of the riddles of Ameri-
can history, to be explained only by the
extent to which the one-man power had
succeeded in sllbiugating the government. "
| Gen. Grant is now impeached before the
American people for receiving gifts, gratui-
ties, which is nothing more nor less than
the price, or bride to obtain the Offices
within his gift, and have no doubt of the
decision they will render on the first Tues
day in November next, which win be as
that rendered by the British House of Par
lament in his expulsion from office of Sir
John Trevor for receiving bride of one
thousand guiueas from the corporation of
London, which was insigniicantly small
compared with the vast amounts received
by Gen. Grant.
NATIONAL DEBT.
There has been much said recently
throughout the nation in reference to a re-
duction of the public debt. Mr.. McCol-
Tough, the Secretary of the Treasury, in bis
report to Congress, Dec. l, 1858, makes tie
following statement:
SIT is thus shown, within period of
three years and seven months, the revenues
or the receipts from all sources of revenue
reached the enormous sum Of one billion
six hundred and sixty-two million four
hundred and ninety six thousand dollars.
And that six hundred and thirty million
were paid on debts which were actually
due at the close of the war, and for boun-
ties, which, like the pay Of the army, were
a part of the expenses Of the war. Adding
the amount thus paid to the debt, as exhib-
tied by the books of the Treasury, on the
LIST day Of Aoril, 1866, it appears that the
debt of the United States at that time was
two billion, nine hundred and niHety-seven
million, three hundred and eighty six thou
sand dollars, and that the actual reduction
has been four hundred and seventy tmillion
two hundred and fifty. six Thousand dollars;
and, but for the advances to the Pacific
roads, and the amount paid for Alaska,
would have been five hundred and nineteen
million, six hundred and fifty thousand
dollars"
This is the reduction, as stated by Secre-
tary Mccullough, of the public debt of the
preceding administration to Gen. Grant.
Mr.. Mccullough, in this connection, shows
what condition the country was in when
this great reduction of the public debt was
made. he says:
''NoLhing can better exhibit the greatness
Of the resources Of this young nation than
this statement, or show more clearly its
ability TO make short work of the extin-
guishment of the public debt. l. will be
borne in mind that these immense revenues
have been collected, while one-third part of
the country was in state Of great desti-
tuition, resulting from its terrible struggle TO
separate itself from the Union, with its
political condition unsettled, and its indus
tIy in great degree paralyzed; and while,
also, the other two-thirds were slowly re-
covering from the drain upon their produc-
tive labor and resourcas--a necessary ac-
Compartment of gigantic and protracted
war"
1t win be seen from this statement that |
under these Instantaneous circumstances
the public debt, under the much |
abused administration OF Andrew johnson |
was reduced five hundred and nineteen |
six hundred and fifty thousand |
dollars.
There has been much said, through the |
public press, and various public speakers,in |
regard to the reduction of the public debt |
under Mr.. Grants administration, or by Mr.. |
Boutwell,, the Secretary of the Treasury.
By turning to the report of the Secretary |
Of the Treasury, made Dec. 4, 1871, Mr.. |
Boutwell,, in his report, makes the follow
ing statement:
"During the fiscal year, ending June 80, |
1871, the reduction of the public debt was
ninety-four millions, three hundred and |
thousand dollars. The total |
decrease in the public debt, from March l,
1869, to Dec. /, 1871, was two hundred and |
millions, two hundred and |
eleven thousand dollars.
The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr., |
Boutwell,, states that while this reduction i
was being made, the country has been
during the year no closing, and
.he public finances have shared in the gen.
sral prosperity.
Thus it will be seen from the reports of
,he Secretaries of the Treasury that the re-
sources and prosperous condition Of the
country was much more favorable for re-
1uction of the public debt under that Of
Mr.. Boutwell, that it was under Mr.. McCul-
ough. Yet the actual difference, accord
ng to their reports, will be found to be IN
Iayor of Mr.. Mccullough, or the johnson
administration, in the reduction of the pub
ic debt, as thus:
Reduction under Mr.. McCul-
lOugn.. .S5l9 DOT, $50
Reduction under Mr.. Bout
well. ..s................-. 1921 1906
AAO N1hOiOASSs ssss pLtI,toO, tO3
So the balance in favor of Mr.. McCul-
ough is two hundred and forty-two million
our hundred and thirty-eight thousand
eyen hundred and fifty-four dollars, throw.
ng off fractions, and speaking in round
numbers.
This, my countrymen, said Mr.. johnson,
S simple statement of facts from the re-
lords of the Treasury Department, which
how that if any one is entitled to credit
or reduction of the public debt, in the
manner it has been reduced, that the pre-
,eding administration is entitled to nearly
iouble that of the present.
In this connection, it would not be out Of
,lace to show the growth of our public
iebt to its present colossal proportions.
In 1889, when the government COM
nenced operations under the Fe leral Con-
titution, it was burdened with an indebt-
'dness of seventy-fve millions of dollars,
reated during the war of the Revolution. l.
his amount had been reduced to forty-iiye
Millions of dollars when in 1912 war was
declared against Great Britain. The three
ears struggle that followed largely increas-
ID the national obligations, and In 1916
hey had attained the sum of one hundred
nd twenty-seven millions. Wise and eco
lomical legislation, however, enabled the
government to pay the entire amount with