The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-28

| est, was SlU5,Ul6, l49. 81. VI the lntereS
paid in 1879, S3,925, 900 was paid on bond
sold for resump ton purposes. If this is de
Quoted from the amount, the actual savin,
during 1879, from refunding operations, GOV
] cred all the double interest paid in the pro
cess OF refunding and left balance over o
S644,3l2.33. Thus showing that in thes,
years instead of an increase of interest O
/ Sl3,OOO,000 as charged there was an actua
:. decrease OF over 10000, 00-more than sui
1cient to cover the entire sum of double
interest paid in the process of refunding.
The remaining charge in General EWING
curious medley is, that the Treasury Depart
ment increased the principal OF the bonde(
debt,$o6, 100000 1t is true that under the re-
sumption act 100000 of bonds we're sold
$50, 900, 600 of them at premium of II pei
cent, yielding the Treasury 500, 100, 600
| This money is now in the Treasury of the
United States in gold coin and yet General
Ewing includes in the debt nearly all of this
S90, 1000, 900 without saying one word about
the gold on hand. Now, if the Democratic
party does not like the large reserve we have
on hand, it can use this gold to pay or buy
bonds; but surely, while the gold is on hand
General Ewing ought not to speak OF the in.
crease of the Understanding debt without
mentioning the gold on hand, the proceeds
OF the bonds sold.
DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY.
The Democratic party claims great credit
for alleged economy in the past four years,
during which they have controlled the House
OF Representatives. AS a party in opposition
to the Executive. it was natural it should
closely scrutinize and reduce appropriations.
For any reduction it has made without Grip
pling the public service, am very willing to
give it credit. But let us see The first year
was the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877. For
that year the appropriations for ordinary ex-
penses were reduced to 1924, 1872 ,010.72. The
next year, by making no appropriation for
rivers and harbors, and reducing the appro-
priations for the deficiencies in the postal
service to one-half the demands Of the service
they cut the appropriations down again to
$114, 069, 4s3. l3. But the next year, 1879,
this ill-advised economy showed itself in an
aggregate appropriation Of STAG, 304, 309.2l, 8
part of which was made up by the largest de-
ficieney bill passed for many years, amount
ing to 1928, 259.21. But the appropriation
made for the current yea, or the year end
ing June 80, 1880, amounts to $162, 404 ,647.-
76.
On the other hand, Republican admins
tration has largely reduced expenditures In
all those branches Of the public service where
the amount is subject to its discretion. Thus,
it has reduced the expenses OF collecting the
customs duties in New York $477, 969.S5 an
nually, while, at the same time, collecting
at that port So, AIS, $500 more revenue in
1879 than in 1877. It has reduced the ex-
penses of collecting customs in Philadelphia
81 .5l5.lS, while it has increased the receipts
50, OBS, 966.S9, and in Boston expenses have
been reduced $22,001,42, and receipts in
creased $500, 1865. 1t has reduced the ex-
penses OF collecting the entire customs, pay
able from permanent annual appropriation
from 6.501, 037.59 in 1877 to So, 1856, 49, in
1879. Thus, while it is claimed that DEM
ocratic Congress has forced economy upon
upon the Republican administration, the
facts are that the most marked econamies OF
this administration have been effected under
those branches of the public service for which
Congress does not make annual appropri-
ations, or where ample appropriations are
made.
It may be fairly said of the administration
of President Hayes that it has honestly, eco
nomically and faithfully conducted the pub
lie business in all branches Of the public SER
vice. Beside the ordinary functions OF the
diplomatic service, the State Department has
given increased importance to our consular
service in the collection OF valuable informa-
ton that has enabled our merchants to large
ly increase their commerce. The Indian aft
airs havs never been more successfully con-
Quoted. Very important reforms and i'm
provements have been made in the Navy
Department.. 1t is claimed that the reduce
ton of appropriations was made in spite of
the most vehement and determined resistance
of the administration. This is not true.
The amount estimated by the Treasury De-
partment to Congress for the ordinary ex-
penses of the fiscal year 1879 was $l3S, 107,-
CASH., while tine actual appropriations made
by Congress were STAG, 304, 309.21, or IS, 1885,
66044 iE excess of the sum estimated. And
so for the ordinary expenses OF the govern
ment the estimates presented to Congress for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1850, amounted
to 1929, 197, S12.6S, while the appropriations
made by Congress for the ordinary expenses
OF the government for that year amount to
$1G2, 404 ,647.76, showing an excess of appro-
priations over estimates OF $32, FOG, $50. 0S.
If this is specimen of the economy they
will inaugurate when they have the control
of all. branches of the government, with war
claims and Mississippi levees, with dry brooks
wanting water and harbors without COM
merce, all demanding appropriations, l can
only say, God save the Treasury Department !;
1 wonld not like the task OF administering
it.
Fellow. citizens, why is it tha., now when
we have the best system of currency ever de-
yised-the national bank currency; when
we have the gold dollar and the silver dallar,
three hundred and forty-six millions of
United States notes redeemable in coin, and
three hundred and twenty millions bank
notes as good as gold; now that we have
resumption, one kind of money for all, and
all as good as gold; now that prosperity
brightens up all our industries, and Provi-
dence blesses us with bountiful crops-why
now tinker with our currency and yield to
the demagogues Of the hour? The Republic
can party is strong enough and brave enough
to do what is right and honest, with GER
tainty that our Democratic friends will find
out that we are right after we have done it,
and ungracefully acquiesce, as they now do
in regard to resumption.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
| But there is question infinitely more inn
| portant than money or bonds or property or
silver or gold. Several of the Southern states
recently in rebellion, aided and encouraged
by the Democratic party, have nullified for
the time, in whole or in part, the constitu-
| tional amendments passed since the civil
war, and intended to secure its results. 1t
is true that the thirteenth amendment, which
abolished slavery, is nominally respected,
but in the great body Of the cotton staIes
the colored people are still in condition
| little above that OF slaves. Inc fourteenth
amendment. which was intended to define
the rights OF citizens and to secure the
freedman in these general rights, is sub
stantally nullified. The fifteenth amend
ment, which was intended to secure to the
freedman the right, as citizens of the United
States, to vote, is practically nullifed. The
latter amendment especially has been over
ridden by force and violence, and by crimes
so revolving as to indicate a civilization
scarcely above barbarism. In communities
where the colored people are in the majority
they have not only been deprived OF the cleo
tive franchise, by force and violence, but
driven to swamps, terrorized and bull-dozed.
I And where this was impracticable, as in
some of the parishes of South Carolina, they
have been literally cheated with tissue bal
lots-the meanest form of ballot-box stuffing,
| and now several members OF Congress hold
their seats in Congress by virtue of the COM
mission of thesa crimes. In this way the
Southern states have been made solidly Dem
ocratic. And now, this system of terror and
and fraud having deprived the colored peo-
ple Of the elective franchise, is being extend.
ed to white men, especially to the green.
hackers in the South, who seek by independ-
emf movements to secure some kicd of repre-.
sentation OF popular opinion. Cases have
recently occurred where men OF character,