Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-09-19
Political Discussion In Fairfax.
Correspondence CT the Alexandria Gazette.

tic SAID 1t was Dls QGly 20 appeaF peioie hlo
constituents to give 40 account of bis steward.
ship, aud to discuss what he proposed to DO in
the next Congress. His past course had been
thoroughly discussed, and the representatives
of lG,4OO constituents had nominated him
without dissentaut voice. He would, there
fore. consider pendipg issues. First there was
the fiuaucal question, in which all were 10
tcrcsted. At the close OF the war, over one
and half billions of currency were 10 clrcua
tiop, and at much below par. The republican
party had made systematic efforts to bring 1t
down to gold standard. For all the legislation
from 1861 TO the present time the republican
government was responsible. La 1868 or 1864
they iuaugarated tho system of national banks.
lie believed it was great mistake. Suppose
the people OF Fairfax wished to start national
bank, First they would have to subscribe
$50 900 10 bonds Then they could issue
s45, 900 n national currency. This would take
from the people money used 10 agricultural
pursuits, and loan to the United States $4,000.
The back would only pay per cent. for the
money, but the people would be compelled to
pay from to 10 per cent, when formerly they
got it from zach other Tor per cont. The na-
tional banks we're 1000 10 number, and their
currency amounted 10 1922 100000. This put
| into the Treasury at Washington bonds to the
| value of $780, 900 900, and the taxpayers had
| to pay interest on them. Thus the banks
could charge interest on what they owed. lie
would get rid Of the system by issuing green
| back currency upon which the people would
| pay no interest. Thus We would be rid of SlS..
OOO 600 of tax, and if he should be their rep.
| rcseutative, as he certainly would be in the
ucxt session, aud probably in the next after,
be should work for this object. lie believed
the currency had been too rapidly contracted.
| During the past ten years productions havo
| greatly increased, yet in 1867 the productions Of
Virginia we're worth $4,000. 600, and in 1876
only $50. 100000. Why are grain and corn and
beef so low2 Because there has been an no.
| due aud too rapid contraction of the currency.
| La 1875 the republican party passed the re-
sumption law When it comes into force every
his Indebtedness in gold. This was not just to
| the debtor class. a man purchasing a
, farm upon credit might be compelled to pay
| 80 per cent more than the contract price. o.
| Two different occasions democratic house had
repealed this law and left the matter to the
laws of trade.
10 1869 50 900, 100000 of bonds were made
payable 10 coin by the republican party. By
the operation of this law the bondholders pocS-
ctcd S5lS 600, 600 which were taken from the
pockets Of the people. Not contentcd With this,
in 1878 the bondholders demanded that the
bonds should be paid iu gold alone, and de.
mouetized the silver Of the country. This gave
the bondho!ders 81 600, 900 moro, and robbed
the people of circulating medium which bad
been always in use. A democratic house passed
the bill remoaetizing silver, and thus increased
The currency $50 600, 600 year. He was,
therefore, in favor of greenbacks instead of ma
tional bank notes. the repeal OF the resumption
act, and az increase OF the volume of clrcula.
ton not to point at which it would be worth.
less, but 50 far as the needs of the country re-
quire.
Another point was the extravaganza of the
government. Tie would not criticize tho ex.
peoses Of the government during the war, but
the expenses from 1867 to 1876 were $22, O0O,-
900 more than the expenses of the government
Tor the seventy years prior to 1861, not incIud'
iDg any expenses entailod by the war. In 1874
d majority Of democrats was elected. Their
first effort was to cut down this extravaganza,
and although stopped at every step by re-
publican Senate and President, yet they dimu.
ished the expense of the government $50, OO0.
0OO per annum.
With reference to the tariff, 10 the olaeu
times, wings and democrats differed upon this
suite but they never dreamed Of such tariff
as tho present one. For every dollar the citizen
paid for the support OF the government be paid
ten to twenty times as much to Northern manu-.
tacturesr. The duty on imported blankets was
IS, 900. while the purchase OF those homemade
was enormous, and upon every one tho tariff
was paid to the manufacturer. "a many arti
clcs the tariff was 100 per cent, prohibiting
importation and hardening the South aud
Al ,lok nf3 ha nrth 10 Rn.
pubcaa party is responsible for these uni ust
laws, and t6eir repeat will lead to revival of
prosperity. The people, after the war, were
rapidly recovering, until the contraction system
was put in operation BIZ the government, who
since 1875 had taken 10000 900 from the
currency Of the country.
Upon another question, that ofthe free bridge,
his conduct had been misunderstood. lie was
member Of tue committee which had charge
Of the matter. 1t 10 early period he got The
bill through tho committee and put it on the cal.
epdur. Mr. Lacy who bad taken an active part
10 the matter desired him not to press it uotil
no (Lacyl should feel the pulse OF the two
houses. When he wished bin to press it there
was but One day Left for District matters. by
mistake the bill was not reached 90 that day,
but he Was always ready to push it and pledged
himself upon the hrst opportunity to push it
through. LII aGS"eI u qu"SLiOU3 ne Salu lnaC
the estimated cost was $4,000 The effort to
make the Aqusduct bridge free had failed. An
i1surmouatable objection to the purchase was
that there was not clear title, and besides his
constituents wanted the new bridge. The Aque-
duct was az cxtortonato monopoly. The people
who used it naid to it in the COURSE of year
double what they paid to the State government.
The honorable gentleman then gave a history
OF the electoral commission up to tho publica-
ton OF the Senate bill BY the Now York Sun.
In caas, quanca Of this caucus was held of
which he was one. lie had not agreed to the
Senatc bill. Several Northern and Western
men were for var rather than yield. He ad
dressed the CAUCUS last. He was willing to 20
as far e. the iurthest. But if the bill vas not
PASSED the president Of the Senate would count
Hayes 10 and Grant had the army and would
iuaueurato him 1t this was to be prevented it
must be done by force. Where was that to
coulc from? HI asked the war advocates how
uauy men they could put in the field. Where