North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-03-23
The Carpet Bagger's Speech.

The Oquawa Spectator says the follow
ing farewell speech of the carpet-baggel
from South Carolina, Whittemore, who
sold the cadetship, was not sent over the
telegraph, nor was it allowed place in
the Congressional Globe. How we secur.
ed copy of it is our business
Mr.. Speaker, and members of this
house-excuse me if it be the determined
honesty that shall hereafter be mine, by
saying "gent(emen''-the bloodhounds Of
buncombe have been upen my trail, and
find myself victim upon the altar of a
cheap patriotism. The public, with their
eyes fixed upon the capitol, have com.
menccd mutsering at the corrupt practices
of their public servants, and the member
from South Carolina has been transformed
into broom to kick up large cloud oil
dust, to hide, awhile, the rasealities oil
those who are creating for themselves
vestments of sham virtue, but which are
in reality but rags of shoddy. What is
my offense? 1t is charged that gave the
appointment of cadet in exchange for mon.
ey. Granted. That money disbursed among
the poor OF my district. Who among ye
can honestly cast stone at me for this ?
l came here stranger and verify my as
sociates took Inc in found the chief of
our party if not selling Offices, at least be.
slowing Offices as reward to those who
had given him good gifts. This ye cannot,
dare not deny! saw members from the
west Winning and dining with the iron men
of the lobby and then voting dead against
the interests of their constituents and into
the hands of the iron masters! beheld
good radicals, whose names are written
high up on the lists of the favored ones of
the party, voting to take money from the
people and to pour it into the Golfers OF
the national bankers, and, what was
worse, those capitalists we're not of their
constituents. l associated with you daily,
until evil communications so far corrupted
whatever of good manners remained to
me, that ventured to follow timidly in
your footsteps. Alas! That tinidity has
been my ruin. am living example oil
the saying that the little rascal must suff-
or while the great rogue goes free. My
cowardice has been the cause OF my un-
doing. Had l sold my vote to the tariff
lobby, | might to-day be wearing white
kids at presidential levee Had made
little trade with the bankers, l nigh,
have been giving champagne suppers, OF
buying palaces on the avenue! Unfortu.
nately for me, lacked pluck the raj
msnts of conscience that Washington life
had not eradicated told me to do gooG
with my plumber; put my hand to the
pillow, but / turned back And for thi,
ofense ye are bounding me down! an
to be driven forth as q fellon, because
robbed one man of pittance, and gave
that pittance to the poor while the mer
who handle the whips herewith l an
scourged, have robbed the many, hav,
been the mercury instruments of none,
sharks and tariff leeches to bleed thei
constituents and consume their substance
1t is well. But let it be henceforth in
scribed upon the dome Of the capitol tina
that ye deile. There is no longer homo
among thieves!
In copying the above we declaim an,
personal allusion to Harlan and Allison
OF Iowa, they ara among "the just mel
made perfeet!'