, 1873-10-06
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

Tho speech of Gov. Washburn, of Wisconsin,
delivered at Fond du Lao on the Sd inst, is pri1-
cipally remarkable for the fact that It nvoids tho
old, dead issues of Havery and the rebellion,
which form tho main staple Of tho prevailing
Republican harangaos, and deals with tic pruo-
tical iasues Of the day. auch Us tho financial troll
bles, the California upheayal, rairoad questions,
transportation, the tariff, Credit Mobilior,
salary-grabs, aud the prevailing corruptions in
sido tho Republican party. Tho straightforward
way III Which tho Governor deals with these
issues is very refreshing when compared with
tho datribcs Of Morton mud NoyoH in tho Ohio
campaign; and especially where ho deals with
tho back-pay question. This portion OF his speech
is mainly devoted to Senator Carpenter, and
must afford tint gentleman aenaation very
siminr to the feelings he would have under tho
operation Of galyanic battory. Alr. Carpenter
had intended that lis speech should not only DO
nn unansworablo argument in favor Of the rogr,-
1arity and propricty of tho salary-grab, but TINT
1t should set him right among his constituents
In Wisconsin. and repair tho breaches in his
popularity which that transaction has 1nalo. To
do this the moro thoroughly aud effectively, lie
had alleged that, in 1860, the delegation in Con-
gross from Wisconsin, G. @. Washburn, I. O..
Sloan, philotus Sawyer, aud Walter D. 3lc1n-
doc, received bacls-pay, although Coy. Wasllburn
was tho only ono WHO actually voted for 1t.
Placing tho two cases side By Bdo, tho inforonco
was clear that, if GOV. Washburn was not censur-
ab.e in taking back-ray tAon. Senator Carpenter
was not censurablo now. Having put tho case
in this rosy light and shifted allare Of tho res-
possibility upon Gov. Waahburn's shoulders,
Senator Carpenter rested content As tho Wash
burn men in 6tato politics did not clooao to ac-
cuRe Gov. Washburn Of larceny, for taking back
pay, Of course hc (Carpontor) was not indictablo
by that kind OF jury. as ho bad only dono what
| Washburn had dono. Tho Senator had an OK
| collcnt prima jacie case rs botweon the two.
| Unfortunately, however, he has all the work
| to do over again. Tho parallel which he haa
sought to draw laa broken in two iu tho middle.
The Governor shows that ho could not have
voted for back-pay in 1866, or received it, DO,
| cause he was not d member OF Congress- at thai
tilno. Unlor auch circumstances aa thcae, il
becomes interesting to know whether Senator
Carpenter Intentionally falsitlod or not. If ht
nsntlo q mistake, it was certainly a, egro
gious QUO, which he should haston to corroc
| for tho credit Of Ills own memory and genera
political information about affairs in lis ow,
State, and it should teach him lesson, tim
wlon, hereafter, ho makes q statement of sucl
importance as this, he should verify it from th'
record, II his memory is troachoroua, md no
rrn the double risk Of impoaching Lis own intel
ligonco and creablity, aud Of doing ecriou
injustice to others. II 1t WIS not an error, the,
ho is guilty Of deliberately miBroprosonting Coy
Washburn III oraor to shioll limsolf. Upo
whichever horn Of tho dien1ma Ao III impaled
thoro 10 very urgont necoBsty TINT ho Ahoul
rotraot Ills statomout regarding Gov. Washbur
at once.