Year: 1868

1he ErtrdcoJance Of Rddicnlism- Waste


.tm Expenditures since the close Of tn


War--1 Series Of Pertinent Questions-


What the People Demand Of the Radica


Paty-7he platforms Contrastcd-Ar


Tnequirocal Endorsement Of ,Seymou,


and Hah'-Triumpham Success Predict


ed, de-, de-, dc.


On Thursday in the Senate, Mr.. Hen


BRICKS OF Indiana, delivered the following
eloquent speech upon the follies and ex-
travagances of Radicalism, the platforms
of the two parties and the abilities and
services of iIoratio Seymour and General


Blair. 1t is an able appeal in favor oI
Constitutional Liberty, and in opposition
to irresponsible military power. 1t is a
bomb shell thrown into the Republican
camp, which will, in its irresistible force


scatters the tlimsy arguments of the Radi-
Gals, as the wind scatter the dry leaves:


M. President-It was my desire at this
time to submit some rather extended re
marks to the Senate upon the political
questions now occupying public attention.
but the condition of my health to day will
only allow brief reference to them.
have observed for a few days past, pur-
pose on the part Of Senator'S who reprcs-
ent the majority, to avoid tic position of
the defensive and to assume. if possible,
that of the offensive in this political con-
test In my Judgment, that is neither
practical nor possible on their part. 1t is
not in the nature of the case. For eight
years the Federal Government and most of
tie State Governments of the North have
been controlled by a party now in the
majority in Congress, and it is not possi-
BILE that that party can avoid response to
the people upon the questions that attract
public attention. Waving an inquiry in
to the conduct of that party during the
war which they claim it is not just to make,
and confning the inquiry to the three
years since the close of the war and the
return Of peace, there are certain import
ant questions that mast be answered
And first the people will desire to know
verv distinctly and cmphatically what has
been done with the 81 l,2OO,O 100000 that
have been collected from them under the
Internal Revenue law and the tariff system
since the first day of July, 1865. know
that Sl0O, 100000 may be accounted for.
at least in part in the payment of interest



will want to know how it is. independ> ntly
of the interest on the public debt, that it
has taken $500, 900 to carry this Gov
ernmcnt through period of three years
when in time of peace it used to require
but from sixty to seventy or eighty mill
ions of dollars annually. The people will
wish to know during this contest whether
this enormous sum of money which has
put the citizens everywhere over the land
upon the observance of the strictest econo-
my to respond to the demands of the
has been expended in the
promotion of the public welfare or whether
it has been expended in the promotion of
the interest OF party. Whether it has
been expended to extend the enterprises Of
the country or to maintain i'm the Southern
Stltcs that system of government which
has gradually proceeded from step to step
in arraying one race against another.
Whether it has been expended in genuine
acts of Denevolence and kindness or in
q political system by which
the colorcd people have been organized
the South into Il political par
~. 1t other words, whether this enor-
nous sum that has been wrung from the
people has been expended for their inter-
2sts and for their good or for other pur-
ooses. And no arts of the orator or in
cenuity Of the sophist can avoid an an
'wer to that grave, direct and important
inquiry. Why is it, sir, that in time of
peace it has cost one hundred
Millions ot dollars year to support an
rmy of lilty-six thousand men? The peo-
lie especially will want an answer to that
question when you propose to elect to the |
presidency the head Of that army who for


portion OF that period was not only the |
iencral Of the Army, but the Secretary of
Var. They want to know how it was that
Turing the administration Of the Depart |
nent by him it cost at the rate of one hun
red and twenty millions to support the
Var Department and army, when it used |
o cost but million of dollars to the reg
ment. The people will want to know why |
t is that in Il time of profound peace,
1hen we have no war except inconsidera-
lie strifcs on our borders with the Indians,
80, 100000 were expended in tue fiscal |
ear before the last to maintain the army. |
Independent OF bountieS, and that for the !
uarter when the candidate for the presi-
ency was Secretary of War it cost about
80, 900 900, or at the rate Of one hundred |
nd twenty millions per annam-two mill
Dns to the regiment, two thousand dollars
D the man. The people will want the
Majority in Congress, when they demand
he continuance Of power beyond this per-
ID OF eight years to answer why it is that
0 much money is drawn from them by
he extraordinary power Of taxation, that
may thus so to support the most expen-
i've military system that has ever been
nown in the world. l might speak of some
f these expenditures-I might speak Of
hat favoritism in small way which has
hown itself in the publication in the
ewspapers that are favored by special
,gislation in the District Of Columbia OF
Offices for inconsiderabe army supplies
pom the Rio Grande and at the distant
'rts, when it was impossible, from the
ate Of the publication. that any man
ould receive information by such publi-
alton which would enable him to compete
4 the bidding. | might speak of other
expenditures of like sort indicating
lvoritism not worthy of any political par
, that claims the confidence of the coun-
y, but | will not occupy so much of the
me of the Senate. The people will wish
, know during this contest why it is that
,e Supreme Court has been denied the
gbt of inquiry into the. constitutionality
T the legislation of this Congress. The
eople know that the Supreme Court was
Established as one of the securities to their
bcrty-as one of the props and pillars
their institutions. They want


know why this prop and pillar has been
ricken down, and for what political and .
srty purpose it has been done. If your
gislation be constitutional, valid and
ght, thea the people will wish to know !
by Congress should shield itself in its
lactments from that inquiry that the
onstitution intended should be had in re- /,
lrd to all legislation. The people during I
is contest will wish to know why il is :