The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-03


was only mistake, and not crime.
do not believe he intended a wrong.
He acted openly in the presence of peo-
pie who could punish, as he well knew,
if they did not approve his act. [ do
not believe he meant to defy them, be-
cause when he found the people did not
approve he reversed his action. What
was the mistake of the act OF 1873!
Either that it was retroactive, or that
it fixed the salary too high, Or both.
For myself I am well persuaded no such
law should be retroactive. But the
fact remains, that every such law had
been retroactive, and SO far as know,
no previous law had been objected to
upon that ground. It will hardly do to
execute a man for an act which has the
authority of numerous precedents, and
has been sanctioned by universal con-
sent.
Perhaps also the salary was too high.
That is question upon each side OF
which, much has been and much more
NAV be said. I never want to discuss
such question. / venture to observe,
il was not SO much too high that vot-
ing for it affords conclusive evidence OF
moral obhquity. The law has long &C
corded to Judges and Cabinet officers
higher salaries, and not one of them
works so many hours in year as a
leading member of Congress.
7 think the law was mistake, but
mistake not specially disastrous IN its
consequences. It took two millions out
Of the Treasury. If it had taken that
sum out of the pockets Of one man, or
few men, it would have been hard, but
q contribution of five cents each by the
American people will more than replen-
ish the Treasury. In fact no human be-
ing has felt the loss, while some very
needy and hard working public servants
have been made more comfortable by it.
It is very well for the people to correct
such mistakes, as they have corrected
this, but I hardly think it becomes a
great people to be very vindictive upon
such mistakes.
II the people never mean to forgive
mistake in public servant, then they
cannot consent to Mr.. Carpenters re-
election. Nor can they consent to the
election of Governor Washburne He
made the same mistake, as is well known,
in 1856.
Public justice has sometimes been
subjected to the reproach of imposing
penalties for an offence committed by
another. But public justice, I think,
was never SO blind as having two men
at its bar, at the same time, and equally
delinquent, to cruelty the one and
crown the other.
But while this vote is remembered
against Mr. Carpenter, something should
be remembered to his praise. When he
vas elected to the Senate six years ago,
many thought the party assumed a
grave risk on the score of his fidelity.
For six years, however, he has been
faithful, even wheni others more trusted
have been faithless. He has kept ali the
instructions the party has given him.
When he has erred, he has erred for
want OF instructions. Moreover during
his first term he has achieved the first
honor of the Senate, and has done as
much to distinguish Wisconsin, and to
distinguish the West, as any one whom
the West ever sent to Washington.
And while I do not mean to disparage
the efforts Of others, [ think no man has
doGe SO much as he, in the late canvass,
TO rescue the republican party in Wis
consin from the defeat which surprised
il one year ago. We ought to be just
If We cannot be generous.
know very well, if Gov. Washburne
is not elected, many excellent repubi-
cans viii feel that he is denied the re-
ward his eminent services merit. That
I fear will cripple the party some. On
the contrary, if Mr.. Carpenter is not
elected many republicans, just as ex-
cellent, VIII feel that he has been visited
with q censure from which his eminent
services should have protected him.
That / fear viii cripple the party more.
OF two perils [ always prefer to con-
front the least.
Very truly yours.
T. O. HOWE.