North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-09-12
CONGRESSMAN Mercur's Record.


so by the fact that he asks to be sent to
congress again from this district. Though
the meeting was called ''g"and Mass
Meeting" and the notorious Jack Hamil-
ton, Andy Curtin and other celebrities
were announced, it turned out to be
most contemplate fzzle both as to hear
ers and speakers
The LntrlHgenrer makes the following COM
mcntS on Mercurs speech by which it
seems that he concluded, in that county, IL
drop the niger and mount the tariff as
his hobby. In speech at this place last
court week, (held there, so as to insure an
audiance) We are told that not a word was
said about the tariff bat that the "barbari-
ties of southerners" and the misfortnnes
of the "loyal'' were his themes. He and
Landon both unequivocally declared them
selves in favor of giving the right of suf-
frage to the negro, and of keeping ont the
south until that right, as they called it,
was accorded TO him. Surely their votes
in the Senate and in Congress show that
such is their position. But read what the
htelEgpncer says:
Mr.. Mercur took the stand and COM
menced a speech. which, however lengthy,
however lame in argument, was gentleman
lv and decent in tone compared to that of
the flAdgling who had preceded him
Mr.. Ms anxiety appeared to be to clear
up his record in the Rump Congress. He
dwelt long time on the subject of the
tariff, hobby that every opposition cam
dldate in this district is sure to mount
when they come this way. They imagine
if they only talk tariff to the people, all is
well. and accordir gly Mr.. Mercur gave the
audiance fill surftit of this subject. Ac-
cording to him, it was tariff, first, last and
all time. But he neglected to tel his au
ditors, notwithstanding all his efforts, and
all his attcmpte to prove he belonged to
the tariff party, that the Republican Rad
iraIs having over two thirds vote in both
Honses of Congress, slaughtered the tariff
bill. He also dwclt long and pathetically
over his action on the soldiers bounty bill
contendlng that he had placed himself
right on the record on that measure, ex-
c"pt that when it came to the final vote.
he voted against it. As did some thirty five
other radicals, AID had IT not been for the
votes of Democratic members the bill wo',i
have been defeated. His excuse was the
Bounty bill was coupled with another to
raise the salary Of Congressmen, and his
conscience would not allow him to vote
for the latter An India-rubber conscience.
truly, he must have, considering that he
was not too conscientious to draw the
additional amonnt voted to his salary out
of the National Treasury. All his pleas
and subterfngas and att mpts to palate.
that vote will not avail There stands thu.
record WHEN THE BILL WAS UP
BEFORE CONGRESS- GIVING NE
GRO SOLDIERS $500 BOUNTY, MIR.
MER CUR VOTED FOR IT. WHEN
TIVE BILL GIVIN'i 800 TO WHITE
SOLDIERS WAS Up BEFORE THE
SAME BODY. MIR. MERCUR VO-
TED AGAINSTIT.
Mr. Mercur also took occasion to COM
plain of the Dcmoc attic papers for charg-
ING the Republican party and its leaders
with being 10 favor of negro suffrage, and
sought to defend his party in Congress by
a transparent attempt at deception. He
wanted his auditors, whenever they heard
a Democrat cha'gn the Radicals with be-
n r,
the former to show any act passed by the
late Congress compelling any State to
adopt negro suffrage. Now Mr. Mercur
must have known he was addressing at
least some men of intelligence, persons
who were able TO read and judge correct
" in ref renee to what they dill read. and
knowing this he should not have treated
them as being igpOrant or credulous. Fur
thermore he has bern Judge of an i'm.
portant Judicial District, and thrref re
should rise above the fnesse AMI arts of
the pettifogger He knows and every
other man with a modcnm of brain
knows, that Congress has not the power to
interfere with or regulate the elective fran
chise in the States. But in the Distric, of
Columbia. and in the Territories of the
United States Congress has sole control in
this matter rience, so far as Congress
had the p over. they used it to fasten me-
gro Suffra ge on the people. The House
of Representatives passed hill forcing ne
gro suffrage on the people of the District
of Columbia, Notwithstanding the citizens
of that district had protested against it by
vote 600O to SO votes in favor Of it
The following is the section of the bill
comforting the right Of su ffrage on negroes
in the District OF Columbia.
A Bill exteuiing the right OF suffrage in the Dis.
trict of Columbia
Be 1T ENACTED, &c. That from all laws and parts
of laws prescribing the qualifications of ee ctors for
anv Office in the District of Columbia, the word
white he, and the same is hereby stricken out.
and that nm and after the pazsag ge of this act n,
p' rson shr he disqualified from voting any cleo
tion held in the said District account of color.
| SEC, 2 That all acts af Congress and all laws of
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