Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-09-08
A DEFENSE OF PERJURY,

Tilden's false swearing to avoid
payment of the tax upon his income
finds ready and jealous defender,
in one of the reserve corps Of volun-
tecr writers for the Conservative,
whose services are called into requi-
sition whenever an attempt is to be
made at argument, which is seldom.
The article is a mere elaboration of
the weak apology-lt does not rise to
the dignity of defense-of Tilden's
private secretary, TO the effect that
the $4,000 that Tilden received from
the Terre Haute railroad company in
1862 was the earnings of previous
years, and therefore not rcturnablc in
that year. This theory has already
been pronounced, by leading Demo
cratic organs, too thin to do service
in defense of Tilden, but it furnishes
the only possible plea in justification,
and is seized upon by the organ over
the way with the desperate energy of
of a drowning man. 1t founders
through a weak and evasive argu-
ment, in which it confounds invest
ments with income, and cites suppo-
sitous examples not at all parallel or
pertinent to the subject of Tilden's
perjury, and winds up with this die
ia:
The plain intent of the law was to levy
tax on the profits of the year 1862, and
the six following years, and not on accu
mutations or earnings previous to the year
1862.
If the paper across the way was q
final authority regarding the inter
probation of the law, the above opin-
ion might have weight, but, unfortu-
nately, it Is in direct conflict with all
the judicial decisions on the subject.
The courts have decided that all in
come, from whatever source, less the
deductions allowed by the law, recei-
ced during the year 1862, or any 9th
er year after the income law went in
to effect, were liable to be taxed.
The Conservative is compelled to no
tice these decisions, and conscious
that they riddle the fine-spun theory
of the Private Secretary, it can only
say regarding them
If that is true, there are more pcrjurcrs
in the land than ever was dreampt of before
This county can number hers almost in
to the thousands. In accordance with
such a decision, this Is nation of PERU
ry.
This evasion will not do for intelli-
gent readers. The question is not
how many thousands or millions have
committed perjury, but whether Sam
uel J. Tilden falsified his income re-
turn under oath. Unfortunately for
him, he furnishes the testimony
which convicts him of the crime.
But suppose there are "moe perjur-
crs in the land than were ever
dreampt of, and suppose any num-
Der of men did falsify their income
returns, our neighbor will please note
that they were not all great lawyers
like Mr.. Tilden, and therefore well
acquainted with the requirements Of
law, and we call its especial attention
to the fact that none of them are can
didates for the Presidency but Mr..
Tllden.
The facts in relation to this case,
which no sophistry or special plead
ing can keep out of sight, and which
are demonstrated beyond question,
are these: In December, 1868, Mr..
Tilden made return Of his income
under oath, in which he stated that
his total income from all sources was
only $7,l16 for the year 1862. On
the 5th of August, 1876, Mr.. Tildcn
made another affidavit IN his answer
to the suit of the st. Louis, Alton &
Terra Haute r.. r., in which he said
that at two different times during the
year 1862, he was paid $4,000 by
said railroad company for profession
al services. Here is the record:
On Dec 26, 1863, Mr. In lis aasager 10 tie
1ftden sU0rS 10 a return, compliant in the Circuit
under odth, in phich M, Court 0fM United StateS
said: in TIC suit OfHe 81. LOu-
Il hereby certify that is, Alton DC IerTe Udute
the fQllnNinO is q irnnI RuiIra0I "a incl