The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-28
Ghe Daily Are1ts.
lContinued from second page.

Continued from second page
of the work produced, rather than by the
virtue OF the results. can scarcely be set
down as trst-class statesman, to say the
least.
1t was not the multitude of laws brought
down from Mt. Sinai, after that protraeted
period of anxiety, which restored order
and strength in Israel, but rather the vir
tue of the ten simple propositions revealed,
and which have since endured as the basis
of all codes of civil conduct throughout the
enlightened world down, to the present
time. What the people require of their
representatives at the present session, is
First Economy in their appropriations
and expenditures. Secondly; Such
amendments to existing laws as will re-
lieye them as much as possible from the
burden of taxation, and from the oppres-
sion Of monopo1ies. Reference is made in
| the newspaper article in question, to the
general assembly of 1868, which is refer
| red to as the last Democratic legislature
until the present one came into existence,
and as being the worst that ever assembled
except the present one. The editor seems
to have been perfectly satisfied, and even
charmed with this i'll founded and utterly
reckless assertion of his correspondent, and
thereupon endorses it aud sends it out to
| the wide world as true and conscientious
| review" ...ss--.. dr.. .--
had the honor of being member of
the house of representatives upon this
floor at the time spoken of, and must con-
tess that no such conduct as spoken of on
the part OF members ever came to my
knowledge. But in order that the merits
OF these several general assemblies shall
not rest altogether in mere assertion. Let
us test the same by that rule which the
people seem to have applied in making
| their decision at the last election.
The total expenses of the 23d general as
semblye 63) called the Copperhead or Dem
ocratic legislature, as appears from official
sources, being in session fifty-one days, was
$95, 953 But the reign of this party in
the general assembly passed away, and
then came new order of things-a new
generation that knew not Joseph. Laugh
ter ..
In 1865 came the twenty fourth general
assembly, with Republican majority. 1t
was in session forty-six days, and the total
Iexpense to the people was $lO7, 1902.
In lS67-the twenty fifth general assem-
bly-this Republican majority came back
again. 1t was in session seventy-one days,
and the total expense was 1916, l79-a
very great increase in amount over the de-
spised legislature of 1868.
And again this Republican majority came
back in 1869, the twenty sixth general as
sembly. 1t was in session--days, and
the total expense was $273, 3OO-about the
same as the one last before it,
Then in 1871 came the twenty seventh
general assembly with the same Republican
) majority. 1t was in session two hundred
J and ninety days, and the total ex
! pense was $693,O62
Following this. in 1878, came the TWEEN
ty-eighth general assembly with contin
ued Republican majority, holding a session
Of two hundred and four days, the tota
expense of which, according to the audit
or's report, was $539,39O
The present general assembly, which il
characterized as mob, and the very wors
that ever assembled 10 the state, should i
i. terminate its session at the end of eight!
days, and it should not extend much be
yond that, will cost the people about SIG,
600, exclusive of whatever may be the
expense Of printing. The entire cost o
the session certainly can not exceed $3.50,
600, and we shall return to our constitu
l. ents with this as our record as against tn
10 profigate showing of our Republican pred
ecessors, to which have called attention
J, (Conluded tomorrow