The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-09-27

swers following, that the readers can see
how beautifully this shallow device of
some low flung political wire puller up in
Wayne, (or mRyhap of Bataria) was
turned back upon Its inventors With crush
ing effect:
QUESTION l. Do you endorse the law
that exempts the bondholders from paying
taxes on said bonds, while we boys have
to pay the taxes, at least our portion, af-
ter serving three years to put down the
rebellion, while you bondholders remained
at home and enjoyed ease and comfort'
Mr.. CLARKE's ANSWER: You soldiers
enlisted under promise from the Govern
inent that you should have certain stip-
ulated sum per month; would you not
have thought your Government very un-
justif after it,had got your three years
service, 1t had Informed you that it did
not intend to stand up to its contract, but
that 1t would make you take a less sum
for your services than 1t had pledged Its
faith you should have when you went into
the army? Now,, the Government told
those who took Its bonds and furn-
ished money to carry on the war; that those
bonds should be free from State taxation.
Don't you think the faith of the Govern
ment just as solemn and binding In the
one case as In the other? But you insln-
uate that the bondholders are rich. Sup
pose It is so; where do you find authority
for violating contracts with men because
they are richf Would you steal horse
from man because he Is rich, and feel
you have done something to be proud OFF
In my judgment, the man who would steal
from rich man would steal from poor
man, If the opportunity presented itself.
No, gentlemen soldiers, propose to have
the Government stand faithful to its con-
tracts with all men. If bad contracts are
made, take care when new ones are to be
made that you cure the errors Of the first.
am In favor of equal taxation; tax the
rich according to his riches, and tax the
poor In like manner; but I am not will
ling to ruin the credit of the nation by re-
. pudiating Its contracts in order to draw
money from the pockets Of any Of Its cit
I izens, rich or poor.g,. %. 5-..'-N2. .-'
4lb.Q. a, Are you In favor Of the negroes
/ exercising the rightof suffrage with us
II not why did you vote for such q law in
, the District Of Columbian fo -e-.. f-
A. am not now, and never have been,
in favor Of negro suffrage in Ohio. Here
we have laws that give to the black man
his civil rights; he is recognized as a hu-
man being, and as such protected as any
other citizen: he can sue and be sued
hold property, sell and convey It; can
make contracts and enforce them by law
can testify in courts. But in the District
of Columbia the negro has no rights the
white man is bound to respect Even the
} money of black men is taken by tax and
} put in the hands Of white. men to educate
4 white children. The District of Columbia
! sent thirty-fve hundred black men as sol
/ diers, who fought three years in the Union
, army itsent its white soldiers who fought
three or more years. in the rebel army. :.
votes; and the negroes, if allowed that
privilege, vote as they fought-on the Un-
ion side. believe, that a loyal negro,
who had fought three years for the Union,
, Is as safe to trust with the ballot in the
! District of Columbia as the white traitor
h who fought three years In the rebel army,
!. and have not found loyal white man
1 In this country who is not of like opinion
And further, the negroes Of the District Of
i Columbia are not the stupid, ignorant
} degraded creatures that certain negro.
hating politicians would represent then.-
Q They numbered, in 1860, about 5000
s they had taxable property amounting tc
4 one and quarter millions; they have
twenty-one Christian churches, costing
> twenty-one thousand dollars annually,
! with 1890 members, they have twenty
two Sunday Schools and over 5000 chill
dren attending regularly; they support
, thirty-three day schools, with over 2,0OC
: scholars; and they take, pay for and read
400 daily newspapers Such are the peo-
q pie have said are as safe to be trusted
Q with the ballot in the District of Colum-
: bia as the returned rebel whose hands are
red with the blood Of Union soldiers.
O. 8. Will you be SO kind as to tell US
: low much money you and the party to
Q which you belong voted to keep and sup
= port the negroes in the South, and who
/ pays the taxes for that purpose?
v A. We voted for as much money fol
said purpose as in the hands of good and
faithful men would prevent the starving
, poor of the South, white or black, from dy-
ing of hunger. We have been blessed
with abundance of food in our country,
q and while enjoying the great blessing Of
! Divine favor, we ought not, we must moi
!. permit the poor of our country to die Of
starvation. And as to who pays those
! ! taxes, can safely say that thOse. who pay
! least Of them make, the most fuss about thi'
|. benevolent, Christian application of th'
: very little that is thus turned 10 eharitabll