The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-06
CONGRESSMAN LAMAR'S SPEECH.
ON TAXING THE CHAIR AT THE
OEMCCEATzC CAUCUST NOM
INATE 4 SPEAKER.
Ee Pleads for al Honest Government, g
Sound Currency, ESevenue
Tariff, and Equal Rights for
all without Regard to
Race or Color,
An Eloquent and Patriotic Effort,

6ace or Color,
An Eloquent and Patriotic Effort,
At the Democratic congressional caucus
in Washington, on Saturday, to nominate
speaker, Mr. Lamar, on taking the seat
# presiding officer, made the following re-
marks.
GENTLEMEN: In calling me to this go
sition of responsibility and distinction, you
have conferred an honor which | appre-
ciate most highly and for which | thank
you most cordially.
We here are confronted with a crisis in
the history of the Democratic party and of
the country which brings to our party
grand opportunities, but is at the same
time freighted for US with solemn respon-
>ibilties; and if we do not improve these
opportunities and rise to the measure of
these responsibilities, the fruits Of the
great political revolution which.has brought
us here to-day will be for US like the
fruit which grows upon the accursed sea-
The people of this country, by over
whelming majoritles of states and majori-
ties in states, have placed the Democratic
party, after long period of exclusion
from power, in possession of the mcst i'm
p0rtant department Of the federal govern
ment When | say important do not
mean that the Individual members are in
vested with imposing prerogatives OF great
personal distinction. The departments
# patronage, those which hold and Gem
mand the gittering prizes of government
emoIumeGts and honors, are the co-ordl-
nate branches Of the government which
are still under the control Of our political
opponents. The members Of the house of
representatives have no patronage what
ever beyond that Uf the appointment of a
military or naval cadet, and their compen-
sation is barely adequate to q lite of Re
publican simplicity and prudential econ
ouy. There are many offices in the gift
of the executive far more profitable, and
in the public esteem far more distin-
guished, than that of seat il the house
Of representatives: but this branch is,
nevertheless, under our matchless system
Of government, the cornerstone of our
fabric and liberty, because it is the only
department of the federal government di
recily responsible to the people of the
country, and receiving its powers directly
| from their hands. All other branches OF
government are two or three degrees re-
moved from the people in the mode OF
their selection or in the nature of their res
possibility.
But while the house of representatives
| is thus immediately responsible to the
people, all the other branches of the gov
ernment arc responsible to this body. The
people of the country have charged the
Democratic party in the house of repre-
sentatives with the important duty OF
bringing these coordinate branches OF the
government to their just responsibility
| The people demand at our hands a sweep
ing and thorough reform in the civil ser
vice, which shalt be conducted in a spirit
that will secure the appointmt~ t to places
Of trust and responsible lty of the honest
the experienced, and the capable. There
is also an imperative demand that vigil
ant examination be made into the admin
istration Of the public revenue Of the
country, that all the pubic accounts shal
be scrutinized by US, and corruption bt
terreted out, aud wrong d0ers. no matter
how high or now low, shall be fearlessly
arragned and fully exposed and punished
One of the most pressing demands up, I
us is to perfect and adopt such system 0
taxation as will bring in the required
revenue will the tewest restrictions upOr
commerce and with the least burden to tn,
people, and that b"rden equitably distri
buted and skilluly adjusted.
Owing 10 the exigencies OF one of thOs
great interneclne conflicts incident to the lit
OF almost every country, as also TO u PERM
cious system of legislation, our people ar
suffering from the evils of an irredeemabI
currency. In meeting and graphing wit
the difficulties Of this vital AID perplexiu
!, question, it will be our duty to take car
that nt thing is done which would impai
the good faith Of the country, or tarnis
the public honor, or lower or disturb tn
credit Of Or government; but we are
remove those distractions which bar th
progress and check the prosperity Of tn
, American Republic. 1t is our duty a
/, Democrats-it is the duty and is to be tn
glory of the Democratic party, while
controls this house,-to see that the ni
tionai debt is paid in full, and that tn
o currency of this Democratic Republic
made equal with that of any nation on til
earth.
The grandest aspiration of the Demt
cratic party is, and its crowning glory vi
= be, to restore the constitution to its prlm
8 tive strength and authority, and TO max
r it the protector of every section and
:. every state in the Union, and Of every h
r man being Of every race, color, and cond
:. ton in the land.
y Apprehension and distrust that one pa
of the nation, that portion of the sOuThel
people arfayed against the authority
r the federal government in the late wa
would be an element of disturbance
e the American Union, has mainly disa
l. peared. as is evidenced by your electio
and in its stead has grown more tratc
nal feeling, which regards US Of the sout
ern states as fellow citizens OF the san
s great nation. On the other band, the pc
n pie Of whom speak and Of WHOM | d
e nne, are here to-day. by their chos
,, representatives, ready TO honor any DR.;
!. which the American nation may DIR;
upon their patriotism or their faith in t