The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-21


ries Of members to Si,5oo per annum.
The war with Great Britain was Just over
and there was much distress 10 the NORTH
ern and Eastern States the taxes were
heavy and business mucn depresses. IL
was the general opinion that the action OF
Congrcssln augmenting their com pehsatlon,
when retrenchment was most needed, ex-
hibited very little regard for the welfare OF
the people Protests came from every
Quarter-from legislatures, city authorizes
and from public meetings. 1t was made
the leading issue in the campaign, and
those who voted for the increase and came
forward for reelection, were met with un-
qualified popular opposition, The result
was that about seventy candidates who had
served in the preceding Congress were bad
ly defeated and on the first day OF the
meeting Of Congress the following bills
were introduced 10 both houses providing
for the repeal of the obnoxious law. 1t
wo g removed at once from the statutes IN
force.
THE FINANCIAL PANIC IN 1857.
II has been claimed as remarked before,
by the organs of the present admlnlstra-
ton, that invariably following financial
crisis the party in charge of the national
administration suffer by loss OF confidence
on the part of the people. In fact. some
console themselves by attributing the re-
cent Republican defeat in every portion OF
the country to the commercial crash OF last
year. The great monetary collapse OF 1891,
which extended all over Europe, occurred
during the early part of the fall when Mr..
Buchanan had been well on to year IN
the Presidential office. Immense meetings
of the unemployed were held in this and
and other cities and severe and widespread
destitution prevailed among the working
classes The New York State election
took place in November, 1857, and the
Democrats swept the iield. No Governor
was elected, but all the other State officers
we're chosen by majorites averaging 10000.
The Democrats gained forty three mem
bers of the sssembly and eleven senators.
When Congress met in December there
was Democratic majority of SO over the
| Republicans in the House of Representa-
tiyes and 10 in the Senate. At this time
the country was very much disturbed by
the Kansas controversy, the Nicaraguan
difficulties and the Mormon war. Party
feeling ran exceedingly high on the slavery
question, and it must be stated that there
we're some indications of a general, bolt
from the Democratic party, which devel-
oped itself three years later by the election
of Lincoln. But the financial smash up
had nothing to do with this matter
THE IRREpREssIBLE CONFLICT
manifested its force from 1857 to 1859,
The Know Nothing party had gained
strength in the Southern States, but it was
in the main in sympathy with the Demo-
cratic party The Kansas question was
still unsettled and the country generally
was in a very troubled condition. War
ragged in Kansas and John Brown had act
ually accomplished his toolhardy raid on
Harper's Ferry. The Thirty sixth Con
gress met December 4, two days after
Brown was hanged. The Democratic
members Of the House Of Representatives
numbered % Republicans, ll3; native
Americans (Southern opposition ),23 anti
Lecompton. 9. The Republicans lacked
six votes to effect an organization, but il
was thought that the Southern Opposition
would unite with the Democrats. A pro
longed contest, extending over two months
for the Speakership took place. John
Sherman, of Ohio, was supported by tn
Republicans, and came at one time within
two votes of being chosen. Finally William
Pennington (Republcan). OF New jersey
was elected The Senate, however, stl
retained working Democratic majority o
twelve. but it was the first time IL
, great many years that the llous
of Representa- tives came under op
position control Two days after the meet
ing of congress in 1857 there was a mum
ciDal election in New York, The candida
ties were Fernando Wood, Havemeyer (th
present incumbent) and George Opdyke
Wood, who was the representative OF cou
servative sentiment, was elected, nave
meyer, was the impersonatiOn OF the Bufta
= 10 anti slavery crusade Of ls4S. and Up
dyke was at that early day the avowet
champion of the same idea in its more
modern form of Republicanism. The lat
ter stood lowest on the polling lists. TIL,
result in this city was regarded as an ex
preston of opinion in favor of the Union
: peace and prosperity of the country and &
defense on the rights OF the south.
THE SECESSION MOVEMENT,
The second session Of the Thirty-sixtl
congress met a year later. The wilC
schemes of the Southern leaders haC
reached n climax in consequence OF the
election of Lincoln. They were determin
, ed upon breaking up the Union. No Sc
cret was made of their intentions. TIT
representatives of the rebellions Common
J monweaths resigned their seats one atte
the other until both houses remained un
der the control of the Republicans, anC
the war was vigorously prosecuted by thu
North. The late Mr. Seward introduced
a resolution into the Senate recltlng tina
the Legislatures of Kentucky, New Jerse.
and Illinois had proposed amendments t'
the constitution to the other states, an(
requesting that the subject be taken II
consideration IN accordance with the tlLl
article of the constitution. Fernando
Wood introduced resolution to the sam'
effect. but no positive action was taken II
either case. The present great defeat O
the Republican party proves that popula
patience is exhausted with its continued
blunders and its Indifference to pubh
opinion. The organization suffers such
reverse that leaves it helpless and in
path that leads, unless some remarkabl
change takes place, to extinction, Th'
revolt against party control IN complete
THE RESULTS.
After looking at the returns i'll the eon
r gressional districts, which show a majori
ty of nearly eighty, which will certainl.
be increased 10y the elections to be helt
next year in California, Connecticut, Mis-
! ,issippi and New Hampshire perhaps L
ninety, the result is certainly astonishing
the senators To be elected by Democratic
, Legislatures will, probably, reduce tn
! Republican majority to nine or ten, whicl
4 4 In