The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-08


the turbid streams of national power re.
form existing abuses, squandor no more
Of the national treasure, and cut down the
extravagant expenditures Of the govern
ment. The objects are noble aud worthy
the best efforts Of patriotic men but how
do they propose to accomplish this work
and bring about this grand result?
No man, sir, will 60 further than [ will
in all reasonable and proper rctronchment
of the expenditures Of the government,
and in compelling an honest administra-
ton Of public affairs but, sir, am car.
nostly and conscientiously opposed to do
ing it in the way proposed by these gentle
men or beginning where they propose to
and in the name of our brave army, our
gallant navy, our noble boys at West
Point, our faithful and efficient clerks and
employees in all the departments Of the
government, the aboring and toling poo.
pie of our whole country, the thousands
of honest, industrious men WHO are now
seeking employment and finding none and
their suffering and starving wives and
children, protest against such retrench'
ment and against this appropriation.
Again, Mr.. Chairman, what have the
reformers and rctrenchers been doing 10
another directon2 put them upon the
stand and demand an answer. We have
been here in session since the fifth Of De.
cember, and | ask these gentlemen what
they have to show for two months work,
! L a.. I. al
been spending the peoples money, draw
ing their salaries, and wasting the time
which honestly belonged to their constit-
uents.
They adjourned over the holidays, los
ing two whole weeks, during which time
they ought to have been perlecting and
maturing the appropriation bills; and if
they had, every one Of them might have
been disposed of by this time and the at
tention of congress directed to relieving
the distresses of the people and reviving
the depressed and languishing business
and industries Of the country. And in
that way few hours might have been
spared to the humane and patriotic work
of preparing and passing some act which
would give pensions to hundreds Of dis
abled Union soldiers who ought to have
drawn them long ago, but have been shut
out either by some technical defect IN the
present laws, or too much red tape in the
depart monts
Let US, Mr., Chairman, ''bc just before
we arc generous" let US pay our honest
debts, relieve the needy aud destitute,
and do something to lift the dark cloud
Of gloom and bankruptcy from the people
before We run wild with gushing senti-
mentality or borrow money with which
to erect palaces or make magnificent do.
nations
If the democratic party are really hon.
est, and desire to show the people that
they are sincere in their promises to re-
licvc them of their burdens and infuse
life and vitality into the material inter
csts Of the country, now gasplng in the
agonies Of dissolution, why have they not
made haste long ere this to take an adj.
vance step toward sound currency and
specie payments in the direction OF the
act Of last session, and thus give an i'm.
petus to trade and commerce, break the
clouds which cover US with their dark
} folds, and prove to the country that they
are not hypocrites, instead of giving away
million and n half Of the peoples
money, and wasting the time Of congress
in an attempt to elect Jefferson Davis to
the United States Senate, convince the
country that Webster never replied to
Haync, that We have had no civil war,
and that the accursed dogma Of states
rights still exists in all its strength and
ugly deformity?
, They have the majority upon this floor
, and cap 60 on in the reckless expenditure
J of the public money and waste Of time
, they can pass this bill and add still more
, weight to the burdens OF struggling and
, suffering people but know ye that for
all these things you will be brought into
, judgment. The great day Of assize is at
: hand when you must stand before the
, judgment scat Of the American people to
| answer for the deeds done and left un.
= done during the present session of this
Congress. Before that august tribunal
t no dilatory pleas or assembling excuses
? will avail the secrets and intcnls Of
every democratic heart will be revealed
5 and made known, and only those who
t have been true to their trust and kept
the faith in its integrity and purity will
, .~~-;.~ ale s.s"- ef -rr.ev"l, thn dindam
OF honor and the scepter OF power.
In view oil the considerations | have
mentioned, and the additional fact that
we have now national debt of over So.
t 00O,000000, which is hanging like q
!, mill stone about our nocks, and which is
c every hour gripping our energies and
| draining the country OF gold, and will in
+ the end fear bankrupt the republic un
f less it is funded and the way prepared
. for specie payments, am entirely will
c ling to take the responsibility and vote
against this bill, and | most heartily
= wish that every republican upon this iiooi
p would 90 and do likewise.
: But, Mr. Chairman, while am driver
= and compelled by an imperative sense Of
duty to oppose this measure, | still have
r the fullest confidence and most abiding
4 faith that the celebration and exhibition
} will prove great and glorious success.
I When it shall he known that Congress:
t has for the reasons have set forth re-
fused to become member OF these joint
5 stock companies or liable for their debts
/. those more directly interested will 60 tC
r work aud raise all the funds which may
4 be needed or required, and the grand
! jubilee will be in truth what it ought and
o was designed to be in the outset, the
b great ireewill offering Of the people
t Let them manage it and take the Icspon
sibility, as they desire to, and there will
be no danger Of failure or disgrace
They have never asked you for an appro
9 priation They fully appreciate the i'm
nnrtonco and realize the benefits and