Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-10-05

~ III
that we have. Applause We cut
down hat army bill eigbt million
aallors.
They put in a sundries civil ser.
vice bill. This bill is a peculiar
one. 1t makes up all sorts Of things
This bill is generally full Of steal
ing. We cut it down ten million
dollars below the estimate; aed,by
the way, l have been much inter
ested in seeing criticisms on this
Confederate Congress, as they call
il, because we did not cut tLatriv-
err and narbor bill more than We
did.
Now, We cut that river and har.
Dor bill down just about as low as
we could, and we sent it over to
the Senate, and they made a pre-
tense that they were going to cut
it down still further. Instead Of
that they added to the river and
harbor bill several hundred thouS.
and dollars. This was added by
this virtuous Republican Senate.
and it was forced upon this wicked
and outrageous Democratic Con-
ffederate H ouse. But, after all,
we cut down their river and barbor
bill nine millions below tie estim,
ate. Their Indian bill and heir
Indian ring! Why, ny fellow-citi,
zens. it would be a theme for a long
discourse; it would be the most ex
citing novel that could be written
If anybody couil describe in full
the thlcrery connected with this
Indian Ring. They got scared
about this themselves, and they cut.
it -down, snd our House was only
able to cut it down about one mil
lion below the estimate.
Then came the legislative, exec
.utive and judicial bills. This was
a great point. This is where we
are moved to tears. This is where
all the wickedness of. this Demo
cratic Congress, upon a grave in
s-stigation determined that there
we're something over a thousand
people in the different departments
at Washington VINO were dong no
thing but drawing salary, and feel,
ing that they were very badly
paid even at chat. The undertook
to get them out. The succeeded
10 getting out beta cen seven and
eight hundred, after the most per-
sistent opposition that possibly
could be brought to bear by the
different executive departments
against any action of that Con-
gress. and it was this that was
likely to keep US in session there
until the beginning Of the new
Congress, and it was that did keep
US in session a long time. That
does not cost the people anything
congressman are paid by the year,
and 80 are their clerks. IL was
this bill that We determined we
would fight through on that line if
it t ok US all summer and all Iall,
and we did fight it through. Cheer
Now we hear the cry from all
parts Of the country that we have
out unemployed people and
hat people suffer. Well, my fel
.ow- citizens. | don't think this is a
paternal government. | don't
mink that it is the duty Of the gov,
srnmeut of the United States to
feed people and clothe them. I
don't believe even that it is the du.
" Of the government of the Uni
ted States, or Of a State, to con-
;rol mems habits md practices. /
ion't believe that if Mr. Barnes
'hould happen to be secretary Of
he would have a right to die
tate to me whether / should take a
glass or not, and l don't believe
that the Government Of the Unit.
I'd States, or the government Of a
has anything else to do ex>
to protect men in their rights
and to see to it that so long as
they do not interfere with their
their neighbors shall not
interfere with them. [Applause .
In other words l. reject the
idea Of a pa%ternal govern
nent. More than that, | believe
and think the taxpayers Of the
country believe-and in them in.
,lude the thousands sf unem Logged.
.aborers, for they pay large ind"
rect taxes--I think they do not be
!ieve that this Government has to
be run rs an elecmosynary institu.
lion, and that it is its ddty to take
care Of the people at W ashington
imply because they are not willing
20 do honest work at home. APP