Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-07-18

p3WttS iftittDiOTt uflkIOWtl to orr
system, and drawn by the exigeD-
ciesof the late civil war from tie
hidden womb Of the constitution,
with an annual revenue greater in
amount than that of the British
empire which has s'dotted over
the whOlesurface of the globe with
its possessions and military posts"
has caused this country within the
past few years 30 exhibit an adj
vance in corruption as astounding
az that which she has presented by
/ her boundless financial resources,
and herculean military energies.
Reck less extravaganza, criminal
waste, misrepresentation ofthe pub
lie money, and official corruption.
have displayed themselves in al
most every department of the gov
ernment. The conviction has
forced itself upon the people that a
leprocy has broken out upon the
walls Of the constitution and the
dry rot has shown Itself in the
main beams and timbers.
To the publication of this gov
ernment, above all other things,
should the mind Of every citizen
| be directed. | would reduce all
unnecessary expenses Of the gov
eminent, hold every officer rigidly
accountable for the administrator
of his trust; exercise vigilant SUI
pervision over every public expen-
diture; abolish all jobs and con
tracts with the departments, except
made in the face Of day, and after
fair and public competition and
would expose without mercy ev-
cry man who sought to enrich him
self at the expense Of the coun-
try.
| hold that gold or silver,o pa
per convertible into gold, is the
only proper circulation for any
trading or commercial people; and
yet, | would not hastily force a re-
sumption Of specie payment in this
country There is no more deli
cate operation than return to spec
Gle payment after the trade and
business of a country have been un-
duly stimulated by an frrpdeema-
BILE paper currency. The financial
history of the United States and
England are full Of instructive
lessons upon this point. Such re-
suit imprudentIy pressed, must
lead to general stagnatiOn of
trade, to depreciation of landed
property, to fall in the price Of
agricultural products, to reduction
of wages, commercial and manu-
featuring distress. and to ruinous
sacrifice of property. The curren-
cy of a country should be adequate
to but not in excess Of IFS wants.
When such excess takes place, de
probation follows. The volume
of paper currency now in this
country under the late law Of Con-
gress, ought to be fully adequate
to the demands of it's business. if
properly distributed. In our pres.
cnt condition, | would not be dis
posed either to expand or contract |
the circulation, but would seek 10 /
equalize its distribution. in ! g
full confidence that in the course of /
q few years, our increasing popn-
lati0n, reviving commerce, grow !
ing manufactures and expanding /
agriculture, will bring the present |
volume Of paper currency within /
fair financial limits, and make the |
transition from paper to specie |
currency, so natural and easy, as
to produce no disturbance in the
trade and business of the country.
am opposed to the ciuU rights
bill now pending before Congress.
| look upon it as the work of theo.
rists having no practical knowledge /
OF the subject upon which they !
propose to Iegislate. If their in
tenti0ns are good, their know
edge is defective. am not OPP
posed To the full enjoyment by the
c0lOrpd citizen " all his civil and +
political rights My course in the /
Constitutional Convention Of West /
Virginia viii speak for itself mp +
ou thiS suffice hu! this attempt /
u.s. Legislation 0 pervert the four
tpcn Il amendment 10 the COnsti- I
tutiui. and to extend 1t beyond 4
ms true construction as defined by ,
the supreme court Of the United (
States, viii be found IN It's opera /
ii n, not only to Gestroy The free {
school system IN every State south I
OF Mason and Diyon's line, bat I
will In other respects be hiEhly I
Injurious 60 the comfort and hap +
piness Of the coIoreti race.
/ am 10 enenly 10 railroads On /
the contrary, / believe they have I
exercised an extraordinary iuflu- /
ence in developing the resource.
ofthis nation, and in binding all T
its parts iuto one harmonious |
whole still, ii is now manifest