Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01
Correspondence of the Yorkviiie Enquirer.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

Correspondence of the Yorkviiie Enquirer.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1873.
Washington just now is gay and lively
place. The session of Congress is we'll under
way, and the city is filled with Congressman,
claim agents, lobbyists, sightseers, honey
mooners, newspaper correspondents and pick
pockets.
There has been scarcely day since the
opening of the session that the galleries have
not been crowded. People flock here from
all parts of the country to see the sights, and
hear the sounds at the capitol ofone Of the fore
most nations of earth. The northern element
greatly preponderates, owing to variety of
causes. In glaucing over the pages of the
hotel registers, as I often do / am struck with
the number of registrations from northern
States, compared with the few from the South.
The southern people, in measure, seem to
have lost interest in Washington as the capi.
tai, and governmental affairs generally, since
the whole thing has been almost bodily trans
ferred to northern hands. Before the war it
was not so then south III people Aocked to
the capital and claimed Washington as a
southern city, with southern ideas, customs,
habits, manners and proclivities.
I dislike to see either section monopolize
matters here, but deem it better that each
should have an equal share in government
concerns, equal patriotism and equal interest.
The truth is, and it is painful to US Of that
section, the South is not considered of much
Importance here. AS section, it does not
rank high in the scale. 1t is regarded about
as Great Britain regards Canada-a good
thing to have, but of secondary importance.
A variety of causes contribute to this.
First and most potent, is the carelessness
which has been manifested in that section as
to the character of public men that have been
sent here since the war. Carelessness is the
most mild term can use =, In many instan-
ces this could not be avoided, but often it
could. The plain truth is-and it is humili.
ating-there has not been representative Of
commanding ability sent here from the South
since the war. With the exception of Horace
Maynard, of Tennessee, and Alexander H.
Stephens, of Georgia, they have all been Sec
ond, third and fourth rate fellows. Maynard,
although man of ability, is selfish hog, and
as cold as corporation ice-house.
And now word as to Stephens, the man
who, by age, experience and ability stands at
the head of the Southern delegation. He has
only been two weeks in Congress, but long
enough to shape policy and take course
which has been bitter disappointment to his
friends He has made one speech here, and
better by far for him that it had never been
made. With one fell blow he has disappoint-
ed the fond expectations and crushed the
hopes of his friends. In Alexander H. Ste
phens we expected to fnda man of the people,
who would labor for the people-who would
! use his vote, voice and Influence to tighten
their grievous burdens by advocating. WITH that
ability go peculiarly his own, retrenchment,
reform aud repeal. Yet, what do we see
Alexander H. Stephens comes to the aid of
the salary grabbers, back pay thieves and
scoundrels of the last Congress, who added to
our yearly burdens over two millions of dol.
lars to crafty their inordinate thirst for gain.
Instead of denouncing this criminal business,
this un provoked raid on a helpless treasury,
he upholds it. and says that it was proper,
legal and right! Right. indeed! Ifa banker
in Yorkville hires cashier for two thousand
dollars year, and at the very last day Of the
year the cashier, having access to his employ
er's safe, deliberately helps himself to three
thousand, and walks off with it, is it right
Would he not be thief, and condemned as q
thiefin the eyes of all men? What did Con.
gress do but this? Did not every member
agree to serve for FIVE thousand dollars year?
Was not that the contract when they were
elected, and did not they, at the very last day
of the last year, help themselves to seven
thousand, five hundred dollars? Is that right ?
Can any man with half grain of common
sense or common honesty say that it is? Sup
pose such practices should prevail among
business men in their everyday transactions?
Whom, then, could We trust7 Would not
confidence be broken, and the very frame
work of civilized society shattered?
Mr.. Stephens has made great and grave
mistake. His friends feel it keenly, it was
such blow; so different from what they ex-
pected of the "great commoner." Had Mr..
Stephens stood up like true Democrat, and
denounced the swindle as it deserves, and as
it has been denounced in every Democratic
convention, he would have added column
Of strength to the fortunes of that party. But
he has thrown away the opportunity; more
than thrown it away, and brought his friends
and admirers to shame and confusion.
We seem to be on the down hill course in
more ways than one. The government is
daily running behind-every day her expen-
ses are greater than her receipts. The Ma
tional debt is increasing, as regular thing,
from eight to ten millions month. Think
of that, taxpayers of the country, and de.
mand of your Congressman that they shall
apply the remed dy-retrenchme That is
the only remedy, unless taxes are increased.
This last the people are in no mood to have,
although I see no escape from it. Certain it
is, there must be either cutting down of ex.
penses, or increase of taxation. There is no
half way ground.
1t is likely that tax will be laid on tea
and coffee, by which twenty millions Of dol.
lars can be raised. This comes out of the
pockets of the people, and at time when
they are already oppressed with taxation.
We are now the most outrageously taxed peo-
pie on earth, and only the steady, unceasing
toll of the laboring classes enables US to bear
it. What we eat, drink and wear is taxed,
and the very coffin in the grave and head
stone over it has burden to bear. If all
these burdens came in the shape of direct,
instead of an indirect tax, you would hear
cry from the people that would make every
Congressman get out of his seat in hurry, or
lend his voice and vote toward retrenchment
and reform. MEMO.