The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-10


the Washington City government ring,
and last
The Horrid, FILTHY, Dirty whiskey
Ring.
I This wave of corruption which had swept
over the country and broke at last at
the very steps of the Executive Mansion,
had become slckening to the people.
He said this was good year 10 begin
reformation, and this was good place to
begin it. He hoped all would unite to
restore pure purpose.
Mr.. Morton said it had been said that
civil war was generally followed by
period of decentralization to q greater or
less degree, and he supposed there was
something in that, and in that case re-
spcnsibility would come back TO those
who made the civil war, and those who
made that last war should be the last
persons TO complain OF its consequences.
If the Senator from Georgia Gordon
could suggest any practical meas
ures to prevent frauds, or collect
revenues, be Morton] would unite with
him or any body else for that purpose
True there had been corruption IN the
collection of the revenue, and doubtless
there would be hereafter no matter what
party administered the government.
There were good and bad men IN both.
parties. The statement that the good
men were in one party and all the bad
ones in the other party, was beneath his
contempt.
Mr.. Gordon said he could not bear Ithe
idea of having Senator'S contempt, and
therefore he must correct his assumption
He did not mean that all the good men
were in one party and the bad in the
other; he meant the party which ad-
ministered the revenue system, as at
present organized, would bring bad men
to it.
Mr.. Morton, resuming, said the
Senator LGordon] said there was
to be change in the
party administering the government,
and the Democratic party would bring
honesty to the collection of the revenue.
He said, in substance, that the revenues
were now devoted to the support of the
party in power, and charged that the Re.
publican party was corrupt. He Mr..
Morton1 denied any such assupmtion
that the Democratic party had all the
good men. When it was assumed that
the Democratic party had all
the good men and the Republican
party all the bad ones, he begged
leave to say that the Republicans had
known the Democratic party. They had
known that party from childhood, and
were unable to say that, on an average,
those in that party were any better
than other people. If the Republicans
admitted that the Democrats were
as good as other people, they
did about as much rs they could
conscientiously do. The Senator Cor
don had declared that a thousand mil
lion dollars had been stolen. Some
money had been stolen, but the Senator
was rather extravigant in his figures.
An ExfrayIgaut Assertion.
The government was subsequently, in
the bands of the Democratic party, IN
1865 66-67.6S. The taxes collected on
whisky during these years was as fol-
lows: In 1866, 33,2G8,O00; in 1867,
So, $4,000; and in 1868, SIS $780,
and this with tax of 81 per gallon on
whisky. In 1873 the tax collected on
whisky was So, 100000; in 1874, $4,000
600, and in 1875 $52, 100000, aud this
with tax of less than half as much as
that imposed under the johnson admins
tration. Could it be inferred from these
figures that hen the Democratic party
came into power it would bring the pan
acea for ali these evils. If the Senator
wanted the revenue officials to be non
nartizans, why did not his party in the
House bring forward a bill to make tho
revenue collectors life officials. The !
Senator rGordon has eulogzed the
system OF the English government. 1t
appeared from his remarks that
he admitted that the country was more
than IL republic. If he (Gordon) wants
all the tax officers to be life appointees
whv had ne not urged its adoption In
Georgia, had it been adopted there, the
State Treasurer would not have defaulteG
as was recently the case, to the extent Of
$50, 100000.
Mr.. Gordon Does the Senator state
that as fact? i
Mr.. Morton said
He Had Seen u Stated In Papers.
Mr.. Gordon said the matter was now
being adjudIcated in the courts, and the
Treasurer claimed that every dollar could
be accounted for.
Mr.. Morton-Well, he ia a Demo
cratic official and will be dealt with ten
derly. Resuming his argument, Mr..
Morton said as the Democratic party eI-
pected 70 be in power, II they would ap-
point this excise corps for life, would some
of them be Republicans? He thought
not. The whole country would under
derstand why this proposition was
brought forward at this time. There had
been some difficulty in collect
ing the revenues in the South,
owing to tie murder Of revenue
officers, and then i. was SAID there were
family stills there, where they distilled
enough for the neighpOrhood only. The
civil service reform proposed by the
Senator from Georgia was very sweep
ing. Why did be not bring 10 a bill TO
have it extend to all departments Of the
government If the life tenure was such
good thIng2
The Republican party had been too
lenient in giving its adversaries the po-
litical power, and some Of the worst
troubles to the party came from that.
Gordon Replied.
Mr.. Gordon said that when he intro
duced his resolution ne had no concep-
ton of the scope which was to be taken
in debate. He had no partisan motive
IN iptroduciny than and he Was aston
ished that the Senators should think,
because be stated facts which were shown
By the records Of the Department, he was
justified in doing so; had II come 10 this,
that when southern man speaks Of
wrong perpetrsted on the government be
must be insulted by the state
men. that be occupied bis
seat in the Senate by the magnsnimity
Of the Republican party and was there
; not to mention the delInquencies Of that
party7 The Senator from Ohio LSher-
mar made an iusiuustion unworthy Of