Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1871 — THE CAMPAIGN IN OHIO. [ARTICLE]

THE CAMPAIGN IN OHIO.

•*•*•!» of Secretary Delano. SUnduskt, August 44. Tho campaign was opened here to day by the Republicans, the chief feature of the occasion beiog the spoech of lion. Oolumfcus Delano, Secretary of the Interior. Excepting the introduction, which eulogized the Republican party and criti cisea the New Departure of the Democracy, the speech was devoted to an exposition or the work of the prewnt Administration. CONTRABT WITH JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION. In tlfw way of collecting the revenue and reducing taxation a striking contrast was drawn with what was done under Johnson's Administration. The present Administration found the public credit impaired by the dishonesty and incapacity which pervaded the public service. Tho public debt wm rather increasing than diminishing, with a reduction in the rcceipta from internal taxation. How was the falling credit of the government to be repaired, ita current expensea met, and the debt reduced, In the face of this discouraging condition f This serious and embarrassing question could only be solved by the energetic enforcement of the laws and the faithful application of the moneys collected to public liabilities. It was done. During the first twelve months of the Administration the receipts from internal revenuewere $177,437,718 29, and during the first fiscal year $185,235 867 97, n»lwithstanding the reductions already stated. Without reduction, the amount of receipts from internal sources on this basis would havebeen $263,235,867 97. The lax on spirits during the fiscal year 1868 of the last Administration yielded only $18,000,000. In the first year .of the present Administra tion there was collected and paid into the Treasury, from the same source, $55,000,000,—an increase of $37,000,000, and this on a reduction of 75 per cent, of the rate to be collected. Tims tho $78,030,000 exempted from articles previously taxed has been recovered, and its loss counterbalanced by faithfully enforcing the revenue laws and honestly accounting for the * money collected. Observe, further, that in 1868, in the last Administration, the expenses of the Internal Revenue Bureau ware $8,387,793.17, while for the first fiscal year of this Administration the same expenses were reduced to $5.910,410 22, making a gross reduction in the cost of collecting the revenue, $2,471,382.95. Mr. Delano also showed that there had been a net gain in the revenue from customs for 4he fast-two years >Bl the present Administration, of $59,926(000, and an increase of revenue during the same time of $84,994,000 —a tolerable handsome saving. To see the full force of the comparison, it should be remembered that the rate of tax ..ation has been reduced by law during two years, affecting the gross receipts $50,000,000. The expenditures from Mrrch 1,1867, to March 1, 1869, were a little over $450,000,000; from March 1,1809, to March 1, 1871, a little over $323,000,000, showing a decrease in favor of the present Administration of over $126,000,000. This great work of economy, of which, he said, tiie Republican party and Grant’s Administration may be proud, has been accomplished by strictly enforcing the lawsand reducing the public expenditures. EFFECT ON THE I’UBI.IC CREDIT. The Secretary then proceeded to illustrate the effect of this management upon the public credit He gave the quotations of gold and bonds at different periods, showing the steady appreciation ot Anteriaan securities. TAMMANY FINANCIERING ILLUSTRATED. This highly gratifying condition of the national finances he then contrasted with the example of Democratic financiering in New York city. On this subject he said .- In thia elysium of Democracy it is understood that systematic and magnificent plans have been fostered for securing a national triumph at the next election. It is believed that these plans embrace the raising of large sums of money there, which, being expediently used, will enable Tammany Hall to control the Democratic nominations and secure the election. That conclusive proof of this corrupt scheme should be so early presented to the p; opie was not expected, and, but for- the courage and integrity of an able and prominent journalist of New York in exposing the plan, it could scarcely have been realized. This scheme contemplates the expenditure by the city officials of large ainountsof money, ostensibly for work never done, as well as enormous sums for jobs actually executed. From the amounts thus corruptly disbursed, contractors are to contribute with corresponding munificence to the Tammany fund for the purpose of the next Presidential election. Here is the motive for these enormous and ed fjands, without which it is difficult to understand how such gross dishonesty could have been perpetrated. With this key observe the monstrous fact that the ofbtof New York city increased in twen-ty-eight months 50 mills on the dollar. This example ought to be sufficient. It illustrates the venality, peculations, and political prostitution which cover the Tammany Democracy and render its moral atmosphere and presence feculent, obnoxious and infamous. Here was paid a larger sum for repairs, carpets, and furniture for county offices than the present Administration paid in the same year lor • mail transportation throughout the United States; nearly three times as much as the entire diplomatic expenses for two years past; as much as the yearly cost of collecting the customs revenue, more than all the miscellaneous expenditures of the Interior Department for either year of the present Administration, and more than the entire annual expenses of the Indian Bureau. Here is a larger sum paid in eleven months for plastering than the entire expense of the United States for foreign intercourse during the present Administration, and more for plumbing and gas-fitting in one year than the expenses attending all the public buildings and grounds in Washington City. There was paid more money to three men for such expenditures in one year than was paid for the collection of the entire inland revenue of the country in any year of the Administration ; more than double the expense of the United States Courts for two years, and more than all the expense of the Forty-first Cpngreas. With such a policy as this transferred to Washington, the Democratic clamor that the national debt must not be paid off BOW would be found full of meaning and fall of danger. Public credit would fall, and distrust of all public securities be openly avowed. The government could not long survive such mismanagement. OUB PUBLIC DEBT. Passing next to the consideration of the public debt, he said.- t Hitherto it ha«. been the policy of -the Republican party to reduce the public debt as rapidly as the prosperity of the pehple -and the financial interests of the country would’ permit. I believe this to be wise policy, and hope to see it continued, General Grant has wrought to this end steadily and persistently, with results already shown. It ought to be added that the snnnal saving of interest on the debt and paid is $12,000,000. This reduction h«« not been made by the aid of additional taxes, but under a large repeal of taxes. If the fidelity, integrity, and economy Of the Administration enable Congress to make a still farther reduction in the rate of taxation, and exempt a still larger list of objects, it ought to be done—if It can be done without impairing the public credit s* home and abroad, and without

there are some good Republicans who have serious doubts as to the policy of reducing the debt so rapidly during the present generation. I have shown that tho reduction already made was from money saved by the economy and vigilance of the present Administration. Thus far no one certainly ought to object, nor to its continuance on such terms; but if we stop re- ■ during the debt because we ray the next generation will be so much more able to pay it, and, therefore, leave it to them, that generation will,-in all probability, be quite as willing to adopt our example, and leave it to their children, and so it may bu postponed from one generation to the next, until, In the end, disasters may overtake the nation before the debt is provided for. Our public credit will thus be seriously impaired, and our prospects of funding the debt at a lower rate of interest utterly overthrown. OUR INDIAN POLICY. After showing that the Indian policy of the present Administration was more economical than that that pursued by preceding administrations, Mr. Delano reviewed the serious and difficult questions at issue between this country and foreign nations, dwelling more particularly on our critical relations with Great Britain. THE ALABAMA TREATY. He gave a short history of the negotiations for the settlement of these questions, including the much-vexed question of the Alabama claim. In connection with this subject he said: An unsatisfactory adjustment of these difficulties had been attempted during the last days, aud amid the expiring embers, a* it were, of the last Administration, tl • results of which were so distasteful that they were at once repudiated by President Grant, by the Senate, and by the people. This first resolute announcement by the President of the attitude of this government toward England was, I think, the cause of our subsuquently successful negotiations. There was no threatening, no blustering, but an expression of determination to insist upon our rights. This, also, came from one known to have fixed purposes and a fearless character. Here we paused, and Great Britain reflected, and re flection led to an advancement by England, endiDg, finally, in a treaty which, I think, is one of the noblest achievements of diplomacy that has ever been accompanied by this government. TIIE SAN DOMINGO JOB. In the matter of the late negotiations for the annexation of San Domingo, the Secretary explained many facts hitherto not generally known, which reflect credit upon the President and present the Ban Domingo question in a light very different from that in which it has recently been brought before the country. He said: This imperfect review of the foreign policy and acts of the Administration would be incomplete, were it not made to include the San Domingo question, concerning which so much has been said and written abusive of the Administration. Every effort seems to have been made to induce the,belief that the scheme for the annexation of the Dominican part of the island of Hayti, or the acquisition of the Bay and Peninsula of Samana, originated With General Grant, and that he had used undue means to effect those objects. A greater blunder has not been committed, aud I wish to show the exact process by which the question was brought to its present status. It is a matter of history that as long ago as 1845, during the administration of Mr. Tyler, an agent was sent to Hayti to examine the Bay of Samana and the adjacent portion of the island, with a view to obtain a foothold there for a naval station. Again, during the administration of Mr. Polk, in 1846, Lieutenant D. D. Porter, now Admiral, examined the island for the same purpose, and made a favorable report. Also during the administration of Mr. Pierce, Captain George B. McClellan made a similar survey for the same purpose, and returned a favorable report. At this time, and for some years following, the representatives of Spain, Great Britain and France opposed the acquisition by us of any rights in the island, threatening thepeople there with the direst punishment if they did not at once forego such negotiations. It was of the utmost importance to Spain to obtain exclusive control of the territory of San Domingo, with the bay and peninsula, as it would give her absolute control of the entrance to the Carribcan Sea, with all the immense political and military advantages which would result therefrom; but she was compelled to abandon her efforts. In August, 1865, a provisional government was formed, and in the Eame year negotiations were resumed with the United States. lir January, 1867, the Assistant Secretary of State was sent out as a special agent, attended by Rear Admiral Porter, and invested with ample power to conclude a convention, subject to ratification by the Senate, for the cession or lease of the Bay and Peninsula of Samana, provided it should be found to offer the advantages that were sought Owing to a prohibition in the Dominican Constitution, that government could not consent to an absolute sale of territory, but offered a lease, upo* the details of which the parties failed to agree. President Johnson, unwilling to relinquish the project, directed our commercial agent there to accept terms for a lease whicn had been rejected by the former agent. No progress being made by the agent for some months, his instructions were revoked. Later in the same year, 1867, it was announced that the two powers on the island had entered into a treaty not to alienate any portion of their territory. This was subsequently found to be an error, but it had the effect to put a stop to our negotiations for a time. Agate, however, in November, 1867, the Dominican Government sought to renew the negotiations, and they were pending in march, 1868, at the time of the downfall of Cabral and restoration of Baez. This termination of our negotiations gave rise to great solicitude on the part of some of our leading men, the distinguished Massachusetts Senator among them, lest some European power should obtain possession of the bay, the great importance of which was then conceded by all men who had studied the subject In December, 1868, the government of Baez opened negotiations with the United States for the annexation of the island, and the entire unanimity of the people was assured. This was the situation of the San Domingo question when Genera] Grant was inaugurated. In June, 1869, he appointed Mr. Hunt of Philadelphia, a gentleman thoroughly acquainted in Hayti, to visit the island and make a report upon its resources, and the condition of its population. Mr. Hunt accepted the appointment bat was prevented from sailing by a severe attack of illness, and General Babcock, of the army, was appointed in his stead. Under the instruction* given him, the latter concluded a treaty for the annexation of the San Domingo territory, and, as an alternative, a conventien for the lease of the Bay and Peninsula of Samana. 1 The terms of the treaty required a ratification by citizens of that country, which was given with great unanimity. This treaty, it will be remembered, did not receive the ratification of the Senate, and the convention for the lease of the Bay and Peninsula of Samana is still pending. On the 12th Of January, 1871, under the authority of a joint resolution of Congress, the President appointed a commission to visit the Island of Hayti and make a report of its condition, resources, etc. The selection of this commission was such as to fully satisfy the entire community, and | their reports more than corroborated everything the President had said relative to that country. It was elaborate, thorough

efything of interest or importance In relation to the island and its people. At this point, the subject having passed beyond tho control of the President, he transmitted the entire question to tho Senate, using in his message the following language: -A" Aik) mow my task t« flniehed, anil with tt rnde s■]"■ rv.-.ml policlinic on the subject. My duty Wni' done, yours begins, and I gladly hind over the whole matter to the Judgement of the American people, aud of their representatives In Congress assembled. Thu facts wl 1 now bo spread Wore the country, and a dedson rendered by that tribunal whose conviction! so seldom err, and agalua. whose will I have no policy to enforce." AI'JKAL TO REPUBLICANS. Mr. Delano concluded with an appeal to Republicans to relax no effort to secure the completion of the noble work undertaken by the Republican party, and to prevent the government from falling upon the reckless and extravagant control of Tammany politicians. lie said: “All important considerations gather together and demand that you neither sleep upon guard nor surrender to the foe. You will realize this, and continue active and vigilant. Advance your picket defenses close upon the enemy, and invade his lines whenever or strategy shall warrant success. So you shall conquer again, and bold for your-elves the country and the public trust which treason and rebellion cast upon you. You can then lqok proudly back to what your valor has accomplished, and lok forward, with hope, to the progress of civilization, the happiness of future posterity, and the present glory of the nation.”