Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-12

QclalS, instead OF winch ne COulcIIOu
Independent powers upon them, max
ing VITA them a contract allowing
them fifty per cent of the amount re-
covered, and giving them seeretinstruc-
tons outside of and unknown to even the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
himself, who is by law clothed with
absolute authority over everything ap-
pertaining to internal revenue. Prey
ing upon the community. Thus
armed, Sanborn, Kelsey and others
went forth to prey upon the oommuni-
ty. They Levied their contributions
right and left, bullying, coaxing, threat
ening and intimidating banks, rail-
road companies, bankers, merchants
and others. The innocent and guilty
alike were brought before their minis
terial power and made to compromise
under fear of prosecution, and yield up
at least something to swell the pockets
of these Treasury cormorants. What
amounts have been received by these
persons cannot be known. The gov
eminent does not know, and, of course,
Congress cannot know. Considering
the character of the men employed, d.
rectly and indirectly, the probabilities
are that not one dollar in five of the
amount recovered has ever found its
way To the Treasury. But enough has
already been reported which shows
that these three persons have pocketed
within three years at least S5OO,OOO
apiece. The Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue says that,
in his Judgment not one dol
lar has been covered into the Treasury
from these sources that could not have
been &c wei as collected by the regular
officers of his bureau, without any cost
whatever for so doing; that he Is al
ready clothed with ample power to have
every dollar really belonging
to the government, and, therefore, that
the creation Of this authority, outside
and independent of him, has, while it
has brought nothing in that wotild not
have otherwise come, considerably him
dered and embarrassed his own agents
in the discharge of their official duties.
Certainly there must lave been some
mysterious power which could have
officially created these per
sons or clothed them with such author
ity, and which has so successfully been
maintaining them ever since. There is
a secret influences somewhere, and 1t is
not for me to say who and what it Is.
Sufficient for the day is the evil there
Of" We have to deal with facts as
they exist, and so perform our duties
as to remedy abuses of such aeharacter.
The Indian policy of the Administra-
ton was then discussed and con-
demned, and finally the case against
the Republican party was summed up
as follows:
l. Through the Government of its
creation it has maintained a large
standing army at great expense dur
ing time of peace.
,. 1t has issued and continued a de-
preciated, irredeemable paper currency
called legal tenders, without taking one
step toward redemption.
8. 1t has usurped, by force, the State
in several States, producing
anarchy and despotism, and repudia-
ton of their moneyed obligations.
4. 1t has increased the civil list from
A, 500 persons in 1860 TO $500 per-
sons in 1873.
5. 1t has instituted a system of es-
pionage and oppression in the execu-
ton of the revenue laws which has re-
suited in enriching customhouse and
other officials without aiding the public
treasury.
8. 1t has created and maintained di-
rect taxation, which, until its advent to
power, has been unknown in this cOun-
try since the close of the American
Z. Ithas slealthily absorbed the whole
Governmental power of the country at
the Federal capital until all State in
terests are made subservieRt and de-
pendent upon its will.
s. 1t has driven from circulation
gold and silver, the only constitutional
and Notwithstanding its large
receipts in coin from customs duties
and mines, does nothing towards its
9. In disregard of the policy adopted
by other leading nations, it has permit
ted the export to foreign countries of
about 81 zoo, 100000 of the precious
metals, instead of retaining it here for
its necessities and the restoration of a
sound currency.
TO- 1t has increased the salaries of
all officials, including that of the Pres
ident, which it still maintains, though
industries are oppressed and poverty
goes starving through our streets.
IL. 1t has maintained a protective
tariff in the interest," of a class to the
detriment of the whole people.
u. 1t has, since 1869, anticipated
the public debt not due for twenty
years, and paid S40,O00.O0Ofor the priv
ilegL of doing so, although the imme-
date obligations of the Government
were dishonored, and the Treasury is
now exhausted.
II. 1t has inaugurated fatal policy
in its treatment of the Indians-part
peace and part war-by dealing out
moral suasiOn to the most warlike, and
certain death to the most peaceful, thus
adding to the difficulties and expenses
of a proper settlement of this serious
question.
H. To divert public attention from
the extent of the proAigacy and ex-
travagance Of its horde of officials, it
pretends the establishment of a rule
of civil service reform, which it applies
altogether to few clerks in Washing
ton, where there are no votes to be had,
but ignores elsewhere, where party
service as a reward for Office is re-
quired.
Is. 1t has diffused erroneous ideas of
the nature of our Government to the
youthful and uninfOrmed, and taught
by example a general looseness of pub
lie and private morality, which tends
to subvert the permanency of our insti-
tutions, and loOses the foundation
stones Of social order and public well
being.
GRANGE MATTERS.
1t is claimed that 1000 Oranges will be
established in Georgia by Jan. /, 1875.
Fourteen hundred and fifty Oranges have
been formed in the State Of Indiana up to
this date.
The Patrons of Husbandry in Wisconsin
have started a newspaper entitled the MOI1-
ing Machine.
The number of Oranges in Wisconsin is
repOrted by the Secretary of the State