The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-23
MR.. pENDLETON's SPEECH.

MR.. pENDLEroNs SPEECH.
(Continued.)
But passing this view, is the proposition
wise and benefcient? Shall we exclude
any of our white citizens for a political Of
Tense? Shall we put such exclusion in our
constitution, when we do not put there ex-
clusion for any other crime? Shall we say
that the boy, who was just coming of age,
who was too honest to lie, and too conscien-
tious to bride, and too poor to buy substi-
tute, shall be forever excluded because he
avoided the draft in order that he might sup
port his mother or sister, or perchance, or
phans younger than himself?
Shall we say to the men of Virginia-that
Virginia which gave these five northwestern
states to the Union-that those who obeyed
the teaching of a political philosophy which
| was universal among them,o or yielded to state
| pride, or sectional feeling, or foolish preju-
| dice, shall be forever excluded from the
suffrage, but that the thief, the murderer,
| the robber, the forger, the perjurer, the bur-
ner. may come and be welcome to enjoy it.
| [Cries of No. Noll
The tendency of the world is to treat lem
iently political offenses. Shall we here re-
| verse the order, and add the vindictivness of
vengeance to severity of punishment? Shall
| we repel the intelligence and wealth and
| energy of the white man, and invite the
| ignorance and incapacity of the negro?
The Old World shames US by its example.
The Emperor of Austria has paci6ed Hun
gary-he has put on the crown of St Ste-
phen. On that day he granted amnesty for
all political offenses. And the last steamer
| announces that Kossuth-the arch traitor.
| the great rebel-the conspirator against the
| life of the government-is elected to seat
| In the very first parliament.
| An astute observer and great historian
has said: "The wise ruler never treats the
discontents of a great party as he treats the
| conduct of a mob which destroys mills and
| powder rooms. The neglect of this distinc-
| ton has been fatal to governments strong
| even in the power of the sword"
! hear it said that some republicans will
| vote against the amendment, and yet vote
for the republican ticket. This is folly or
| hypocrisy. This course will defeat the
amendment of our state constitution, but if
| amendment were proposed to the federal con-
| stitution, republican legislature would
adopt it and if Mr.. Summers bill should
pass, imposing negro suffrage on all the
states by act of congress, a republican state
| government would hasten to enforce it here.
STATE FINANCES.
Do you ever hear of the tax-gatherer in
Lima?
In 1856 the taxes levied for all purposes
in the state were eight million nine thous-
and five hundred and thirteen dollars
and ninety-three cents, f$8,009,5l3 o.
| In 1866 they were sixteen million eight
hundred and sixty-eight thousand four hun
dred and thirty-seven dollars and
thirty-four cents, ($16,sSs, 437.34)-
more than twice as much, and
this amount was increased by the alb
| straetiou of nearly million of dollars from
the Soldiers Relief Fund, and its applica-
ton to the current expenses. In Allen
| county alone the taxation for State purposes
has run up from eleven thousand three hun
dred and forty 1.-TWO dollars In 1856, to twenty
two thousand one hundred and eighty dollars.
In 1865 the taxes for all purposes were upward
of twenty millions. In that year more than
two millions were raised for the Soldiers Re-
lief Fund: The pext year, fearing to lay
additional taxes, even desiring to appear to
reduce them, they took the money, thus le-
We'd, in direct violation of the constitution
and applied it to the Sinking Fund.
They boast of reducing the state debt
Let us see. In ten years they have paid of
one million ninety six thousand two hundred
and sixty dollars and two cents ($l,096,2
60 or. Very good so far; but have shown
, you that in one year they collected twelve
millions more than in 1856, and in another
year eight million more. In each year they
have collected, in addition to the taxes oil
1856, eight times as much as they have paid
8 on the public debt during the whole ten
. years. Nor do we find in the federal affairs
a more encouraging picture.
FEDERAL FINANCES.
: The revenues of the government, derived
from taxation in 1866, amounted to nearly
FIVE hundred and ninety millions OF dollars
This was year of peace; the army had
: been reduced; the navy had been dimin
ished; the vast military movements had
ceased. Yet, the expenditure was one hun
hred millions more than that of En-
3 gland, and one hundred and eighty millions
: more than that of France. The creates,
expenditure of England during the Napole
onic wars, when even Russia was stimulated
by her subsidies-when large armies were
( kept in Spain and on the continent, neye,
reached one hundred millions of pounds
less than FIVE hundred millions of dollars
England has thirty-six thousand millions O
I property as q taxable basis. France ha.
t forty thousand millions. The United States
q have sixteen thousand millions. With les.
than two-ffths of the taxable property, oul
people pay largely more taxes. Two year,
have elapsed since the war ceased. Twt
: regular sessions two extra sessions of con
I gress-have been held. Has any scheme O
= economy, has any reduction of taxes beer
8 proposed? On the contrary, has not thu
only scheme of finance looked to the increase
: of the interest bearing debt, and to the in
D crease of expenditure by the increase of IN
terest? Ea9
The public debt, bearing interest, amounts
to twenty-five hundred millions, the interest
, reaches one hundred and forty millions