Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-22

ana In course ol Au nour
conversation found him courteous
gentleman, .and in accord with our
views upon the temperance-political
que1kion. We are sorry to have
do1re him injustice by blunder.
irkwooA and Dack Pay.
he Democratic press OF Iowa Is
trying to make terrific noise In
chs6ging Ex-Gov. Kirkwood with
beiAg a ''Salary Grabber." This
chasxe was sufficiently answered
thsupgh the columns Of the JOURNAL
In ~ issue of the LIST inst. We will
her, however. briefly recapitulate,
though We regard the matter rs Of
email consequence, and scarcely
wofthy of the space required, except
that the people want to know, and
have . right to know the facts upon
whtch the charge Is based:
The charge is that Mr.. Kirkwood,
while United States Senator, In 1866,
voted for an increase OF salary to
ConGressman, and accepted pay at
the Increased rate for time previous
to toking his seat.
Htfe are the facts, and for the pres
ent We are content TO let our readers
form their own conclusions:
Mr. Harlan, Senator from Iowa
resigned his seat, and his resignation
took sffect May 18th, 1865, after the
clos the session. On the 18th OF
January following Mr.. Kirkwood
was elected to ill the Harlan vacancy
the term not expiring until March
4th, 1867. Within a few days after
bis election Mr.. Kirkwood took his
Atek'ongress having then been In
seS1I6n, only three or four weeks.
Serving out an unexpired term, he
was entitled to and received the sal
airy from the date Of the resignation
OF his predecessor. The term was fill-
ed by the two men. and the two were,
according to law and the universal
custom entitled to the salary for the
term. The first draws to the
time the vacancy occurs, and
his successor for the remainder OF the
term. The increase Of salaries at
that time was to $1,000 per year from
$4,000. The increase was voted In
July, 1866, and was not ut that time
considered extravagant, in view OF
the Ave per cent. income tax to come
out Of it, the deprecated value of
the currency and the consequent
high prices Of every thing In the
market.
With the exception OF three or
or four weeks absence as above stated
full service was rendered for the
term, just ~ IL would have been
had Mr.. Harlan ratained his seat to
the end OF the term. BY confounding
this with the later increase OF salaries
and back pay affair the Opposition
are endeavoring to make it appear
that Gov. Kirkwood was guilty OF
corruption and fragrant dishonesty.
No man OF any party, has ever en-
tered Congress to serve out an nn-
expired term, a did Gov. kirkwood,
and failed to receive the salary OF
the office back TO the time the va
cancy occurred. As recent In
stance the case of Hon. s. $. Cox,
OF New York may be cited. Mr..
Cox was elected to fill a vacancy oc-
casioned by the death OF Mr. James
Brooks, and though not elected for
several months subsequent to the
death OF Mr.. Brooks, he receives
the salary due the Office from the
date OF Mr.. Brooks death. And
this s. S. Cox was leader Of the Dem
ocratic disciples In the House during
the last session OF Congress. This
same thing has occurred in hundreds
Of cases. Is IL not a little singular
that a.the end OF hundred years
of the Governments existence II
should have just been revealed 70
the pious Democracy that the custom
aud the law are corrupt, and that
adherence 10 them Is dishonest?
Gov. Kirkwood will make a gen.
erai canvass OF the State. and II the
Opposition choose TO ask for his ex-
planation they will doubtless get IT,
He will not be frightened from the
stump. we presume, by any venfila-
tion Of his record and the people
know him too well 20 judge him
guilty Of maIfeasa,ice before he has
been heard.