The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-10-26
WHOLE NO. 10.

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three-tourths of the community in which
he lives" to-wit: the people who were
in favor of a vigorous prosecution OF the
war. The speech was not remarkable
for any prejudice against the people Of
the south who were endeavoring to
destroy the country, but for prejudice
against the people of the north who
were endeavoring to destroy it. He
proclaimed" 1--WE copy from the report,)
THAT the infamous proposition was ad-
vocated that Neither the constitution or
the law should be an obstacle in the
path OF radicalism, whether it was
beneficial or Utopian. 1t this doctrine
should succeed, the west will choose her
own position, and will insist upon a
permanent and eternal separation from
that country whose principal ingredients
are granite rocks and modern
liberty"
1t is claimed that in pursuance of the
feeling which dictated these expressions,
which, if they meant anything, meant
that Judge Wilder was in favor of 3
dissolution OF the Union and consoli>
dation of the west and south in new
government. he, Judge Wilder, refused
to pay his share of the taxes of the town
of Featherstone, in Goodhue county,
levied tom reiburse certain gentlemen
who had advanced money for the rails
ing of volunteers, and that he brought
suit to remove the cloud upon the title
of his lands caused by those unpaid
taxes.
While Judge Wilder admits the SUBJ
stantial truth of the charge, he claims
that the fact that the taxes were levied to
pay for bounties already spent, and not to
be spent thereafter ;entirely changes the
whole matter; and that while it was per-
fectly right and patriotic to pay taxes to
pay bounties it was altogether another
thing to pay taxes to repay bounties.
We must say that this appears to US a
distinction without difference. But in
Justice to Judge Wilder, who is. per-
sonaly, very reputable and honorable
citizen, we quote the substantial parts OF
his letter to the Pioneer-Press-Iribu
in answer to the attacks made upon him
leaving our readers to judge for them-
selves as to the merits of the contro>
versy.
ii resided in Red Wing. Without
bounties or taxation We furnished in
that city our full quota Of men, and
more, and in advance OF the calls, or at
least at day SO early that no steps for
draft were ever taken. In accom-
plishirg this was not less active than
others. More than one man volunteers
ed relying upon my personal assurance
that his family should be seen to and
provided tor. During the war the num-
Der in Red Wing to be thus looked after
and in whole or in part provided for
was not small, nor was the amount re-
quired for their relief by any means
triflc. How far | co>operated in that
duty my neighbors and associates, to
some extent know; and the families
of some OF those soldiers know still
better.
whether this view was sound or not
| do not now propose to enquire. / SIM
ply state the fact, adding that one OF the
results of that system was that in many
instances the property of soldier who
in the early part of the war had volun>
teered without bounty, was taxed to
pay bounties to others to save his neigh
bors from the discharge OF duty that he
had voluntarily resumed. 1t is true
taat this feature of the law was, at a
later day, changed, but it existed for
year or more.
These bounty taxes with the excep-
ton Of those in two or three townships)
amounting to nearly or quite $500 !
paid in full, and without objection.
The taxes in these two or three town
ships, for special reasons, which had no
relation whatever 10 any question Of
loyalty or disloyalty, or anything OF that
sort. declined to pay. as did other citi-
zens. The result was an action to en-
Join the collection of the tax in the town
OF Featherstone, to which your article
refers.
1.-The case was tried before a court
held by an able Republican Judge, who
held the tax void, among other things
tor the reason that it was not levied to
pay bouniies, but TO reimburse certain
citizens of the town for funds by them
voluntarily contributed for that purpose.
Like suits were brought and prosecuted
tojudgment in Goodhue county by sew
eral OF her citizens, one OF whom, at
least, was volunteer, and served in the
army, and two Of whom were, and are
Republicans, OF type not likely to be
termed "copperheads" or denounced as
''disioyal."
.'And in conclusion allow me 70 say
that he who asserts that from the time
the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter
until the surrender Of Lee and Johnston
was not in favor OF vigorous prosecu-
ton OF the war. and of the suppression
OF the rebellion by force OF arms, talks
blindly OF that OF which he knows noth>
ing. or else is recklsssly following the
example Of those bitter and unscrupu-
lous partisans whose rule is to traducc
and slander every political opponent ~
the expense Of truth and Justice. The
assertion Is absolutely false. and Is
either mistaken or malicious.
Ynnru Truiv