The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-07-03

| April Is, 1874.
Terrible Arrangement of Observation-Disclosures
Defense Of 4 Democratic Administration.
Mr.. Clymer. Ifwhat has just been stat.
ed by the chairman on Appropriations be
true, it is but corroborative of the opinion
long entertained on this side of the cham.
Der that the number of offices and the pay
attached thereto under the existing Ad-
ministration are too great. More than
once this has been asserted and shown.
SO far as | can remember we have receiv-
ed but one answer, which consists of de-
nunciations of administrations prior to the
year 1860; the design being to conceal
existing abuses and eXtravagances. And
no one has done so more persistently than
my colleague, Judge Kelly, who, when
this bill was under consideration on q for
mer occasion, took occasion to assert con-
corning the administration of James Bu-
chanan that "therc never had been such a
season Of pronigacy as those same four
years
Sir, during those four years purity in
private and integrity in public life were
the rule and not the exception. During
those years elections were free and not
controlled by military authority; the free
dom of speech and of the press were not
abridged; the right of the people to be
secure III tnulr PERSONS anu c1rvv TO was nut
prohibited; the right of trial by jury was
not denied no cruel or unnecessary pun
ishments were inflicted; innocent men
were not arrested by the "tinkling of a
bell,' and left to languish in the fortresses
of the United States during the pleasure of
President or Secretary, and innocent wo-
men were not hanged
Then, sir, there was neither unbridled
taking of gifts, nor wholesale appointing
of relatives to office. There was no "Black
Fridays" to be inquired into no corners
in gold or in stocks to be accounted for,
and no "Leet and Stocking" jobs and con-
tracts to be execrated. Collectors of Gus
toms were not forced to resign by outraged
merchants, nor were presidential letters
needed as "bills of health" for exposed and
deposed officials. Innumerable and uune-
cessary offices were not created to support
in uselessness and idleness the "barnaclrs"
clinging to the party craft, and the pres
ence of the Federal tax-gatherer never
darkened the door of either the rich or the
poor.
Then, sir, presidential or other salaries
were not increased, neither was the Treas
ury depleted by the use of contingent funds
for the ease, luxury and splendor OF high
officials. Our ships of war were not used
as pleasure boats, nor were the soldiers of
the Republic employed as menials in the
streets and houses of this capital.
During those four years a Vice Presi-
dent of the United States was not in COM
plication with infamous practices, and sent
to his home in shame and dishonor. Then,
sir, no man questioned the integrity of the
Congress Of the United States, nor was it
compelled to purge itself of those who had
stepped themselves in infamy by their con-
ncction with fraudulent schemes, such as
were exposed by the "Credit Mobilier" in
vestigations of the Forty-second Congress.
In those years sovereign States were not
reduced to condition of vassalage, their
substance eaten up, their treasure squan-
dered and stolen, and their pleasant places
made everywhere desolate by the hand of
the despoiler. The very dregs of Northern
yagabondism were not forced into their
highest executive and legislative positions
by fraud and violence, and kept there by
the DEGREES of a corrupt Judiciary, sustain
ed by Federal bayonets, in defiance of
right and justice and in contempt of the
will Of the people.
Then, sir, from under the very shadow
of the Capital there came no despairing
cry from the people to be relieved and pro-
tected from the burdens and exactions of
the task-masters set over them by Federal
authority, whom they accused of malfeas-
ance and corruption by which their prop
erty was being confscated, their means
exhausted and their prosperity destroyed.
In that season Of profligacy," as it is
stigmatized by my colleague, the body po-
lite was not diseased to its core, so that it
might be touched nowhere that vile cor
ruption and fostering rottenness would not
ooze forth. In those days spies, informers
and moiety grabbers were not hired and
sent forth to prey upon merchant, citizen
and corporation, so that favorites might
fatten on dues belonging to the Fedora
Treasury. Then defaulters were moi
screened in their populations, or pardoneC
if by accident convicted, and their bonds
men left unmolested by reason of their SO
cial and personal relations with those il
authority.
lnen, sli, ~ VIII Iallroau SCueIneS Wcr'
fostered by the Government, by which lay
man and priest, widow and orphan, wer,
plundered and ruined. Millions and ten
of millions of acres of the public domain
were not given away to lawless corporation
without price and for no considerations
and by them used for the enrichment o
"inside rings" of gamblers and Spectator
who have brought shame and dishonor up
on our national name and credit.
Then manufactures, trade, commerce
and business generally were not stricken
as ifby the hand OF paralysis, and starvin.
men and women did not march through