The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-21

try. A distinguished republican senator
from New Hampshire Mr.. Haiel mas testi-
fed II, the senate, aud q distinguished re-
,,nhl;can renresentatiye from Massachusetts,
fMr. Dawesl has testified in this house that
more Of the money of the people was stolen
dining the first wear of Mr.. Lincoln's adj
Immigration than the entire expenses Of con
Quoting the government during the four
wears of Mr.. BuchanAn's administrators.
And, sir, that inundation of thievery which
commenced then has been growing and roll
ling, and swelling from that day to this, |
until the people are brought to poverty in !
one section of the country and to starvation |
in another. If the party that brought about
this thing has any remedy to offer, it is time
the remedy should be presented. When the
people are crying for relief from the enor-
nous burdens which are weighing them
down. it is high time that this party, now on
its last legs, and about to retire from
power forever, should inaugurate some sys-
TEN by which the people may be hereafter
protected from such robbery as that by
which they have suffered. There are many
ways of introducing reform and protecting
the interests of the people. know of one
method which | think would be infaihbie,
and l hope my colleague, or, if that IS
hopeless, at least that the honest masses
who have been deceived by the false preten-
sions of the party in power, will JOIN me IN
bringing about the desired reform. at
do no,, must confess, have very strong
hopes that my colleagues will unite In the
proposed effort, but the remedy is palpable
one, and that is, to 60 back to the old prin-
ciples and practice of democratic admins
tration, bring in democratic president and
democratic congress, and introduce the
the principles of economy and Justice which
we're always carried out when that party was
in power. Then this robbery of the people
will cease. will guarantee it, sir. The
history of our government from its founda-
ton to the present time furnishes irrefraga-
BILE evidence that this is the remedy, and
now the only remedy.
Nv colleague proposes one plan by which
to increase the revenue from abe whiskey
tax. / propose another plan and thatis to
get rid right now Of this party which has thus
wronged and oppressed the people, and
brought desolation, ruin, mourning, and woe
to our fair land. Let the sleek, unctuous
gentlemen around me bow themselves out of
these halls and let the old fashioned demo
cratic administration come into power, and
| will guarantee that we will have an admin
istration which will relieve the people of the
| enormous burdens which are now crushing
| out their very lives, and that we well drive
| the thieves and money changers IN disgrace
| and ignomy from this great temple OF liberty
which they have been polluting and desc
Grating.
| Mr.. MAYNARD. Met me ask the gen.
tleman question. Mr.. Floyd, one of the
| old, fashioned economists, has unfortunately
| departed, but can he inform us whether ia
| cob Thompson is accessible, and what mean:
we shall resort to in order to get him back
| Laughter
| Mr.. MARSHALL. | have heard charges
against these men, and they may be true
but Mr.. Buchanan's administration was not {
| favorite of mine. have, however, the testl
mony of leading republicans for saying thai
the stealing during the first year of Mr.. Lin
coins administration amounted to larger
sum than il cost to run Mr.. Buchanan's ad
ministration for four years, stealing and all
| Great laughter.
This thing of stealing, sir, has become ,
wholesale business, and has grown to mos
appalling proportions since the advent of tn
republican party to power, and it will cease
in my Judgment, the very day it goes out O
power, and not one moment sooner. Tn
present condition of the country, sir, ough
not 10 be considered cause for surprise o
wonder to any one who has brains enoug
| to comprehend the natural and inevitabl
connection and sequence between cause ant
effect. Similar causes would produce SINH
lar results IN any age or any country. TIL
: abolition, now called the republican or rad
cal, party was founded on the maxim, whic
they spread out on their banners and boldl
| proclaimed to the world that 1.-The Unite
States constitution is a covenent with dealt
and an agreement with hell, and that Their
was higher law than the constitution, en-
no man was bound by its provisions or obi
cations. And this party, since it came int
power, has been true to to this theory upo
which it was founded Every feature an
every principle of that sacred instrument
and every safeguard placed there for tn
protection of the rights and liberties of tn
citizen, have been openly and defantly tran
pied under foot by this party. And now j,
great leaders and representatives upon thi
floor openly proclaim that they are admin:
tering the government ''outside Of and
f open defiance of the constitution. n
wonder, Mr.. Speaker, that all sense of mora
obligation has been destroyed among thei
followers. No wonder that the foodgate
f have been broken down and deluge {
CRIME, ueDaucDery, ana prostitution. point
cal, moral, and social, has swept over lant
When the chosen and select prophets of tn
: sect openly and defantly disregard the san,
? tons and guarantees of that great charte
which they have just sworn to support, VIII
: should we wonder that the lesser lights an
5 disciples should feel resting lightly upon the
the obligations of the commandment whic
says, Thou shald not steal" or be surprise
r when we see them engaged in wholesal
f plumber and debsuchery?
) 1t was the most natural thing in the worl
= that, when the leaders were engaged in VII
, lating their duties to the country and i
2 constitution, the lesser lights should pra
tise upon the rules of venality which ha
t been laid down for them and 60 to fllin
: their pockets. And they have done it wit
| a vengeance.
0 These robbers are now rioting in luxur
all over the land, while the bonest indu
: trious laboring people are borne down wit
f poverty and taxation. The very brea
!, which they make by the sweat of their bro
I is wrested from them before it reaches Ii
: mouths of their children, and one-half of tt
$ revenue wrung from them is taken to fee
e and clothe lazy, yagabond negroes, or pl
: into the hands and pockets of these plunde
|. ers.
l. This system must cease, and there is
:. remedy for it and the only remedy is to 8
e back to the original principles of the govern
: ment to reinstate that party in power whic
C tor 6O years safely and economically carrie
y on the government and or,oossfnljr ,rou