National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-22

would have sold D twelvemonth since. 1fthey
ars>entitled TO any credit for promoting improve
msnts, 1t is moro than Offset By the abuse OF the
means lutrusted TO their keeping. All the pros
perity and all the substantial Improvement would
have been moro than realized with the half OF the
resources that have been wasted, and the burden
The partial COED which has been done viii not
compensate for the needless evils which have
been inflicted Honor delights not 90 much TO
dwell in SNOWY palaces as under the canopy Of
equal laws. Nor Will the American people be
eager to boast of the adornments Of their capital
which are stained with the 81 the poor
inscribed with the frauds Of their architects.
What is the practical remedy for the evils with
wiki. which we are conironteaf ! answer promptly, =
for this people, q total reconstruction, and new
and reliable body Of agents for its administration
having ne constituent Of the old irsms-wSrk IN It's
ministrative faculties by officers appointed under
Congressional authority, and particularly an
with the sanction Of the two Houses, to take in
slant possession Of oil the books and vouchers
and papers. and to examine vigorously Into the
accounts OF the present administration, and to
report the result of their labors at the next ses
sion Of Congress. Unless such an auditing board
be established, the faint traces Of truth at which
you have been able to arrive Will be obliterated,
and the countless deeds OF darkness yet uure-
vealed be forever hidden from the angry eye OF
such practical relief from the ascertainsd burdens
of the people as may be possible can be applied,
and the respective ights and obligation between
the citizens OF the District and the Federal Gov
eminent be finally settled a1d determined for
guidance In the future.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen OF the commit
tee, SO far as the rigid limits which belong to q
written brief allow, have made the suggestions
which seem to me proper to be addressed upon
some OF the salient points to tribunal composed
Of experienced jurists and sagacious statesmen,
who have already given to the whole case that
patient attention which, with trained minds,
scarcely warrants, certainly does not need exter-
nal argument TO assist their conclusions. And yet
allow me TO say that could have wished for In
diligence In the freedom and freshness of an oral
argument, In which might have expressed, and
possibly have impaired 20 yourselves, larger
share OF that strong conviction which feel Of the
wrongs, and that deep solicitude entertain for
OF my boyhood were in great measure spent;
where the dreams OF my youth were INDUCED and
some or Its brightest visions realized, and where
the primo of my manhood passed In Tranquil occu-
patton. have pride, too, In the growth and
prosperity, in the beauty and magnificence Of the
city, and earnestly DESIRE by all lawful means to
promote its advancement; because Its territory
was contributed by my native State to the Fed
eral ssterhood to become the secure abode OF
their lawgivers and statesmen, the shrine at
which liberty should be worshipped, and to which
which her votaries might flock from the four cor
ners Of the earth. Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen
Of the committee, do not suffer unworthy minis
trants to remain even In the lowest Offices OF the
outer court OF the temple.
Respectfully submitted by
WV. NJ. M ERRIcK,
or Counsel for Memorialists.