Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1876 — In Whose Hands Shall the Destinies of the Union be Placed ? [ARTICLE]

In Whose Hands Shall the Destinies of the Union be Placed ?

A party, is known by its acts. The Democratic party made a damaging, not to say infamous, war record. That is a part of its history. But it might have redeemed itself, at least in a measure. This it hae not done. It has honored, and so far as it had the power, protected, encouraged and supported tlie treason that sought to destroy us by rebellion. There is the New York city government, Democratic to a degree that it has no fear of disturbance. Fortified, in power by unshaken majorities of thousands, it has been, as it is now, a fair exemplar of the party. Indeed, it is to-day the only reliance of the Democratic leaders in the State for success, the only hope of Tilden to carry New York and secure victory in the Presidential campaign. What of tliis party in New York city? Its prodigious stealings, its increase of tlie debt of the city from $10,0U0,000 to $130,000,000 in ten years, its monsfrous maladministration which to-day imperils not only the prosperity and progress, but the trade and business supremacy of the metropolis, are notorious to all who have eyes to see and intellects to reason. Not only this, but the Democratic party, as it has manifested its sympathies and bestowed its patronage where its power is undisputed and its supremacy assured, exposes its animus so distinctly and boldly that there is no mistaking its motives and inspirations. On this point we present some evidence that requires no argument to give it logical force and legitimate effect. Burton N. Harrison was the private Secretary and trusted confidant of Jefferson Davis while the latter, the executive head of the rebellion, was President of the so-called “Confederacy.” Burton N. Harrison is now, as he has been since the .beginning of his administration, the ’private Secretary of the Democratic Mayor of New York, Mr. Wickham. IfGen. Smith, who had been educated by tlie Government at West Point, was Street Commissioner of New York in 1861. Upon the outbreak of the rebellion Gen. Smith abandoned his lucrative municipal office, joined the rebel army, was promoted to a Major-Generalship, and fought r ft r the “ Confederacy’” and against the U aion to the close of the war. Gen. Si aith now holds the lucrative office of th e City Surveyor under the Democratic m|unicipal government of New- York city. <Gen. Lovell, who was Smith’s Deputy Commissioner in 1861, and who ran away ,w|th his chief and fought with him under the flag of treason throughout the war, is now installed by the De'mocratic municipal government of the metropolis as , Deputy City Surveyor under his old chief, Gen. Smith..

r These men abandoned their offices to I join the rebel army immediately after hFort Sumter was fired upon, but we are Binformed upon good Democratic authori-, |ty that they drew their salaries from the ETreasury of New York City for months Easter Urey had taken up arms against the ■Union. | Mr. McLaughlin is the deputy of the [County Clerk of New York, Mr. Walsh — •anoffice of responsibility and profit. Mr. highest claim to this Democratic patronage, so far as we are advised, is the fact that he was a Colonel in the rebel army and fought to the “ last ditch” for the Confederate cause. Maj. Quincy holds the Chief Deputyship under Democratic Sheriff Conner of New York. Next to that of the Chief.it is the largest paying place ip connection with the Sheriffalty, the compensation in Jebs running as high as $30,000 to $60,000 p year. Maj. Quincy’s office is technically known as the Order-of-Arrest Deputy, and to him is entrusted all orders of arrest mode by the courts of the city of New York, a most responsible trust. And there is a great deal of money in it when only legitimate fees are received, with opportunities to add immensely to receipts by sedret arrangements ana ways that are dark. Who is Maj. Quincy that he should b« thus favored with the richest Democratic patronage? This Maj. Quincy was » rebel Deputy in service under the torturer Wirz, having charge of that den of rebel cruelty ana murder, Libby Prison, during the war. Wirz, it will be remembered, was tried by court martial at Washington at the conclusion of the war, aud convicted and hanged for barbarous cruelties toward Union prisoners that were placed under his charge. His deputy, Maj. Quincy, by Democratic favor, enjoys the honors and emoluments of an office yielding a larger income than that of President of the United States! What do the boys in blue say of this? ~ , This is but a brief chapter. But it points unerringly to conclusions that cannot be ignored. They elucidate more clearly than a volume of mere argument could show, the prevailing spirit, the controlling sympathies and the all-pervading animus that have possession of the Democratic party and give direction to its leadership. We do not believe the people of this country are prepared to surrender to it, any more than they were willing to surrender the Union to the possession of treason when armed rebellion sought to destroy the Republic.— Troy Daily Timet.