Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-11

Borie presented him with house and loi
worth SAC, 1000, for which he was appointed
Secretary Of the Navy. / might, if tiMe
would permit, enumerate a long list of sich
cases. Estimates of the gifts received by
Grant to the amount of $495, 900 hate al.
come this,
Is It Time
talk to about who were Whigs,
who Democrats, Rebels, or Rad
icals? Rather see to it that the great
foundations of the public service are strictly
adhered to. Where are your public
morals to be found when your
offices of trust and responsibility are
bargained and peddled out by corrupt
rulers? How far has Grant gone towards
enforcing the constitution of the country
The true philosophy of a mans holding
office consists in his carrying out the details
of his department strictly in accordance
with the laws. How are they now2 All
disregarded. The interests of the people
are all disregarded. If the source is cor
rupt, the branches will be corrupt also.
My aim is to secure the adoption of true
principles rather than the success of men.
Much has been said about the reduction CT
The Public Debt.
Many think that the taxes on the people
have been reduced. 1t may be that they
have, but it is not so where 1 live. Much
ado has been made about myself, that
have said and done so and SO. will say a
few words touching that part of my poliLi-
cal history. When the war closed one half
OF the country was paralyzed and the other
half was crippled. 1t was important that
the rights anu interest of all the people
should be looked after. The official report
of Mr.. Mccullough, Secretary of the Treas
ury, made Dec. 4, 1868, shows that within
period OF three years and seven months
the revenue, or receipts from all sources of
the revenue, reached the enormous sum
of $l66, ,249, ,606.20, and that $3.50, ,431, ,125.-
20 were paid out ON the
debts which were actually due at the
close of the war, and for bounties which,
like the pay OF the army, were part of the
expenses of the war. Adding the amount
thus paid to the debt as exhibited by the
books of the Treasury on the first day of
April, 1866, it appears that the debt of the
United States at that time was s., 1897 1885,
2O3.22, and that the actual reduction has
been $470, ,256, ,650.42, and but for the ad.
vance to the Pacific Railroads and the
amount paid for Alaska would have been
S519, $780, ,650.42. The official report of Mr..
Boutwell, made Dec. 4, 1871, showed that
during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871,
the reduction of the public debt was $94,
327, ,764.S4 and the total decrease in the pub
lie debt from March 1, 1869, to Dec. l, 1871
was $2T7,21l, ,S92.16, and the annual interest
charge has been reduced $16,7 1851
[By comparing these two official reports
of the Secretaries of the Treasury, it ap-
pears that the reduction of the public debt
during Johnson's administration exceeded
that Of corresponding period of Grants
administration in the amount of $242, 1885,
754.l
1t was well known that Congress alone
is responsible for the expenses of the Gov
ernment, that not a single dollar can be ex-
pended lawfully without their approval
l wish to call your attention to the
difference in the estimates made BY the
various cabinet officers, and the amount ac-
tually expended, making the sum of S175,.
100000. These should be cut down and
not allowed to go beyond the estimates. II
any difference, they should aim to fall below
the estimates. What fidelity or trust can
be placed in such public officers?
Honesty is My Policy.
Mr.. johnson here quoted the saying o.
Edmund Burke, one Of the most profound
reasoners of his age in relation to public
| revenues; he also read extracts from hi:
message to Congress at the second regular
session of the fOrtieth Congress, showing
the expenses of the Government as com.
pared with the population for long period,
and calling upon the people to take actor
upon the action of their public men, anC
earnestly appealed to their intellect anC
| Judgment
1t is high time for lis to consider what il
the best course to pursue in relation to q
change in our rulers. 1t is no time to say
this or that is or is not my party, but let u
unite in saying
This is my Country.
| | would call your attention to the prin
ciples established by Washington. Charlie
Sumner has said great deal about defal
cations and breaches of trust in the various
departments of the Government. Many o
them are ten times greater than the alleget
crimes for which l was arraigned befor
a court of impeachment. Nov
the laws and morals are violate,
with impunity. Next November the higl
court of impeachment will assemble anC
take up the cases of gifts and bribes, cor
ruptiOns and nepotism, and will hurl then
from power. The constitution and morals Q
our country must be preserved. A great CT,
was raised that l turned out of office
large number of men. 1t is true that die
so when they were found to be unfaithfu
TO the trust entrusted to them; but when
appointed others to fill their places from th
ranks, the Senate would refuse to confirm
them, fearing that the officers so appoint
ed would become my friends.
| Mr.. johnson cited the instance of j. II
Anderson, collector of the 4th district o
Virginia, removed for frauds by himself
and the Senate refused to confirm any one
else.1
Anderson was prosecuted and convicted
and thus it it was that he was
In the Penitentiary,
and yet drawing his salary as co
lector. That is how men are punised fC
malfeasance in office now.
consented to address you lon the vita
questions now agitating the public minC
The question comes up, What is going tt
be done in this contest? The Cincinnati
plaform inserts clause sustaining the
One Term Principle.
Four years ago Grant was for one tern
Now he is ror two. Greeley is fc
one term. am for the Oh
term principle. / am in favor {
the President and Vice President bein
elected directly by the people. Now &c
electoral votes constitute the Electoral Co
lege. l am in favor of amending the Coz
stitution to a one term basis. / woul
divide the States into electoral districts /
have Qne vote, and favor the ol
doctrine of bringing the Government
near the people. The old fogies have b
come fossilized, old issues should be buriet
Let dead issues alone. They are anon
the things that were. During the We
many changes were made. Now, indeed
we need more perfect form ofgovernmen
the constitution is carried out in trut
and spirit, this corrupt power can b
changed. 1t can only be done by goin
back to first principles. Time has demon
strated in favor of the one term princ'pl
and the election by the people. In th
Senate of the United States are many me
elected through fraud and bribery by th
, use of money to buy votes. We canno
expect any better form of government frol
such men. ! have more
, Confidence In the People
than in the officeholders. 1t would be mol
7 difficult for candidates for the Senatet to bu