The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-04

palpabe and supreme humbug and 1t
seems to me that nothing but the most in
tense desire to be original and independent
could have Matched out such theory in
the brain of any sane and reasonable man.
Besides, 1t is not true in point of fact that
congress or the executive ever made or at
tempted to make any compact or treaty
with respect to the centennial with any
foreign nation or anybody else.
Congress merely chartered these two cor
porations, gave them full and plenary |
powers and privileges to perform all the |
acts and carry out all the objects of their |
creation and the government is no more |
liable for their acts or their debts than it is |
for those of railroad or an insurance com |
pany'wkich it has chartered.
Again, Mr. Chairman, the record shows |
tuat those charters were passed by congress
under the most solemn and positive assur-
ances on the part Of those who sought |
them that the government should never be
called upon in aoy event to pay one dollar
or be asked 10 become in any way lat lie
for the debts or losses Of these corpora
tions. And so confident were these men
at that time that they should raise all the
funds desired and never call upon the gov
ernment, that they Incorporated, on their
own motion, this solemn promise into both
the act of 1871 and of 1879, and relying
upon these assurances congress finally with
grea, reluctance consented to give them
their charter.
This reluctance and hesitation on the
part Of congress grew out of a fear that the
very state of facts which now exists would
transpire and that congress would eventu-
ally be called upon to pay large sums of
money, under the plea that is now set up
and urged by the advocates of this measure
that unless the government comes to the
rescue the whole scheme will fail and the
republic be dsgraced and dshonored.
After what took place at the time these
charters were granted and what has since
transpired / can hardly conceive how The
| friends of this measure can now stand up
| here and ask congress to give them mil
| lion and half Of dollars of the peoples
money, in the face and eyes of their own
| solemn assurances that all they asked was
| the charters, and that the government
should never be called upon, either directly
or indirectly, to pay single dollar.
But, Mr.. Chairman, outside of all con-
| stitutional questions and scrupes there are
reasons which are conclusive to my mind,
and which alone would have determined
Inc to vote against this appropriation.
In 1878 financial simeon swept over
this country, destroying our commerce,
| Frustrating our business, paralyzing our
| industries, and driving our importers, mer-
| chants, and manufacturers into bankruptcy
and ruin.
| The primeval cause of this terrible dis
aster was deprecated and fluctuating pa
| per currency which had led the people
into all sorts of wild schemes and reck less
| speculations and the victims needed no
voice of warning, until destruction came
as whrlwind and the groans of the peo-
pie filed the whole land.
From 1878 down to the present time the
people of this country have bent every
effort and strained every nerve to the work
of repairing damages. the collection and
| gathering together Of their scattered re-
sources, and the building up of the bust
ness and industries of the nation; but under
the terrible Incubus of rag money and tluc-
tuating values they have made but slow
progress, and to-day the wall comes up
from every section of the republic that
business is depressed and languishng; that
the wheels are stopped at the mills, the
fires are extinguished at the FORCES, that
thousands of men are out of employment
and their wives and children suffering for
bread. Aud in addition to this the admin
istration is putting ingenuity and economy
| TO the rack to devise means 10 meet our
Just and pressing obligations and keep the
| machinery OF government in operation.
And more than all this, know that many
| LileIr iuteresls anu IaUOr Tor their welfare
are at this very moment groanng under a
load Of taxes, state, town and village,
which is grinding them down to the very
earth, and testing their strength and cour-
age to the utmost to survive the storm and
save. themselves from bankruptcy. Ii is
because know them and know the crush
ing difficulties and burdens under which
they are now struggling with desperate
hope and courage, that ! earnestly and en-
phatically give my voice and vote against
adding to their burdens or increasing their
distress.
Mr. Chairman, the people Of Vermont
are abiding, constitution-loying pru-
dent, and economical people; they are in
favor of frugality, and opposed to all
schemes of speculation at the Expense of
the national treasury, and the voting Of
| gifts and subsidies to individuals or corpo-
rations; but, sir, in the future, as in the
| past, If the integrity of the republic and
the honor of the flag shall require every
dollar OF their substance and the last drop
of their blood, the sacrifice will be ready
at the appointed time. Nor, Mr.. Chair
man, while | oppose this bill because
seriously question the constitutional power
of congress to pass it, and because am
firmly convinced that it is independent to
do so at this time, | believe hazard moth
ing when ! pledge you my word that the
people OF Vermont will be at that exhibit
ton. and that all her grand interests will
be fully represented that her citizens are
ready and anxious to do their full share in
this great enterprise, and that private
energy will gladly furnish all the facilities
which may be required to place her in
| honorable competition with her sister
states and the world in that magnificent
| exposition.
No people can join in this great national
festival with more spirit and pride than the
people of Vermont, for none did more 10
make possible this celebration, and none
can bring richer or purer offerings to this
exhibition. In the great struggle we are
now seeking 10 commemorate, Allen, at
the head of her gallant sons, made the first
aggressive assault upon the forces of the
crown, cut off every shadow of hope for
reconciliation, and paved the way for the
declaration of independence and the sur
render OF n proud and arrogant foe at Sar-
atoga and Yorktown. Ay, sir, among her
green hills and cleaning valleys dwell
people to day who are the best illustrations
on earth of the ennobing and sublime eff
fects Of the doctrine of that immortal dec
laration which the world will gather to-
gether in 1875 TO celebrate.
But, Mr.. Chairman, there is another view
which desire to take of this matter. which
it seems to me, will be both amusing and
instructive, and will show why we ought
not to grant this appropriation. From the
moment we entered this hall, at the COM
mencement OF the present session down to
this time, our cars have been filed with
the trumpet tones of the dominant party
upon this floor proclaiming retrenchment
and reform.
brief and cnrsory review of their acts
during that time will attest the absolute in
sincerity OF their motives and the hollow
hypocrisy with which they have deceived
the people and stolen into power They
proclaimed that they would purify the