The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-19

from that committee TO inquire at what
time the several roads which received
grants Of lands under the Pacific Railroad
act OF July 1st 1862, were completed and i
any additional legislation Is necessary to
secure the right Of settlers to purchase
such land as have not been sold within
three years Of the completion Of the road
atS1 25per acre and reported bill in rela
ton to the sale Of lands granted to GER
tain railroad companies and asked It L
be printed and recommitted to the Com.
mittee on Public Lands. So ordered.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL. ..
The morning hour having expired, the
Chair laid before the Senate the unfn'
ished business, II being the river and har'
bor appropriation bill, the pending ques.
ton being on the motion Of Mr.. Thur
man to recommit the bill to the Com
mittee on, Appropriations with instruc
tions to report aibill reducing the aggre'
gate amount for the Improvement OF the
rivers and hafbors 10 . sum not exceed
ing s., 100000.
A;sHARp DISCUSSION CROSSING OF DA'
'I NAsCus BLADES, 49,
Mr.. Merrimon made speech defending
the House from the imputations thrown
out yesterday by several Senator'S, that
the bill was framed in such a way as to
secure them TO that party; he showed
where large sums had been appropriated
for worksi in Republican districts.
Mr.. Sherman asked what single reform
had the Democratic party accomplished
since 1850, and said he could show fifty
for the Republican party.
Mr.. Morton-I would like my friend
TO name me single good act Of any kind
that the Democratic party had done with
in twenty-five years. [Applause in the
galleries.
Mr.. Merrimon said that in the years
preceding the war there was nothing to
reform. The revenues were not stolen
and taxes. we're SO light that the people
scarcely knew that they were contribut-
ing to the support Of the government.
Now, on tho contrary, one.fourth OF the
revenue was lost in its collection. The
frauds practiced by the Republican par
" from 1856 10 1871 were so appalling
that the better men OF the party could
not fail to see the evils, and commission
was raised TO iendeayor 10 reform the
civil, service Of the government That
commission, composed Of George VIM.
Curtis, A. G. Cattell, Joseph Medill, D.
A. Walker, E. B. Elliott, Jos. H. Black
man and D: G. Cox, was endorsed by the
Republican party. These gentlemen he
supposed belonged TO the better class oil
Republicans, and he did not deny that
there were good men in the Republican
party, but they were impatient to control
that party. 'u'
Mr.. Morton reviewed the history Of the
Democratic party, and said that the
party.in Convention in Chicago in 1854,
with Tilden hjmselfon the committee, de.
clared the war failure. In any other
country, than this that declaration would
have been punished rs. high treason. The
Democratic party had the blackest and
MOST DAMNABLE RECORD
in the history OF parties in this or any
other country. It was true that the ex'
penses OF the government had been in.
creased, but who was responsible for it?
His friend Merrimon and those who acted
with him. They had laid the burdens on
the people OF the country, and it required
a good deal OF face 10 stand up in the
Senate chamber and sayyou Republicans
did not conquer our rebellion rs cheaply
as you should have done.
He then referred to the Hamburg mas
sacre, and said II the Republican party
used force 10 prevent repetition OF these
things, it was justified in doing so. He
(Morton) we'll understood the Democratic
party. He had been mingling with Dem
ocrats u good many years. ~
Mr.. Merrimon-You used to DO one.
Mr.. Morton-Yes; but | left that party
IN 1854, and I am Of age in the Republi.
can party. Now whenever a Democrat
wants to hurt my feelings he charges me
With having been a Democrat. [Great
laughter.l
Mr.. Merrimon said he didn't mean to
Hurt the feelings Of his friend. He spoke
of his being a Democrat, thinking they
were the proudest days Of his life.
Mr.. Morton replied that the proudest
days OF his life were the days when he
assisted in putting down the rebellion
and conquering his friend (Merrimon)
and those who acted with him.
Referring to the question OF reform, he
asked TO whom could safely be intrusted
theiwork Of reform II not the Republican
party? The necessity for reform always
existed, and that party was the true re-
form party which carried on the work
Of reform quietly every year as the Re
publican party had done, and not thai
party which broke out every now and
then for reform, : u
ANDPRACrICED ExrRAvA0ACE
when it got chance. The party who
put down the rebellion, amended the Con
stitution and abolished slavery was the
party 10 entrust the Government to. II
was better TO entrust it to that party thar
to those hacks and humbpgs who had come
down. from the Democratic party before
the war; better than To- those who hat
been kicked out Of the Republican party
better than to the Alumni OF Tammany
Hall.
Mr.. Salisbury said the Democratic
party took hold Of the country in its in
fancy. It's first act was to wipe out sedi
tious laws from the statute books. II
took hold Of the country when il was
composed OF but thirteen small colonies
and added the great Western domain. Il
added the Lone Star Of Texas and The
golden California. II took hold Of tht
country when it had shinplaster cur
rency, and substituted gold and silver
It paid off the national debt during The
administration OF Gen. Jackson, and i
would pay off the national debt which
the Republicans had created.
Mr.. Salisbury then referred TO the re
sumption act Of last session, and sale
that the act was passed by the Repub
licans without any intention Of resuminG
specie payments.
Mr.. Morton said that the country wa
on the eve Of a great campaign, and tha
the success Of the Democratic party de
pended on. carrying Louisiana, Missis
sippi, South Carolina, Florida and North
Caroiina-States all largely Republican
Their chances Of t'success were in over
coming that majority by bloodshcd, ant
the campaign was opened at Hamburg
the other day.
Mr.. Merrimon remarked that il hii
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