The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-17
Concluded from third page

quoted.
After giving an elaborate history of the
tax, with statistics as to the amount OF
cotton raised. exported, etc., he said:
There is no legal obligation resting upon
''the Government to refund to the producers
"au the tax collected" He then shows
that the producers of the cotton grown in
IS66-7.S, which was taxed and which was
afterward exported. had at the time OF ex-
portation clear equitable claim upon the
Government for the repayment to them OF
the amount of such tax, but that it was
impossible to make good that claim in a |
court of law, as the cotton could not be
followed and identified, and that there |
were iusurmountable difficulties in the way |
of refunding the said tax. Besides, the
claims had passed out Of the hands OF the
producers into the control OF ring OF
SPECTATORS and middle-men. He said
Il am unalterably resolved never to coun-
"tenance by my votes or action OF this
"House, any measures which will favor the
| schemes of the lobby at the ex
"pense of the people. None of the
bills now on our files proposing
''the refund of this cotton tax are so
| framed as to meet my views OF the duty OF
Congress.
After showing tae unconstitutionality of
the tax, its cruelty to an impoverished
people, and its inequality,he concluded by
saying mo such indeiensible tax was
lever before exacted In our country. To
"me it is source of sincere and profound
regret that | cannot consistently with con
''victions and safe principles OF action find
"some more efficient mode of relief. Bat !
cannot, and am not willing to adopt
mode that will establish additional vicious
'precedents and endanger the interests OF
the whole country"
And yet majority of the Democratic
members from the South, knowing per
fectly well his views upon tnls subject,
voted in the Democratic caucus for Mr.
Kerr for Speaker, with the full knowledge
that be would constitute the Committee of
Ways and Means, as he did, against the
refund of this same cotton tax.
Is anything more wanting to settle the
stupid lie about the refund of the
cotton tax being a Democratic scheme
And will the Republican spouters on this
subject claim that the Republican party
has clean record in rega rd to this same
proposition, in view of the foregoing re
cord?
AS to the rebel var debt, We presume
that Gen. Henderson must be aware of the
fact that the constitution of the United
States provides that neither the United
States nor any state shall assume or pdy any
debt or obligation incurred in aid of an
surrectioH or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or enamel
patton Of any slaue, but all such debts,
obligations and claims shall be held
illegal and roid," The constitution
settles that matter.
Having effectually disposed of every in-
portant statement in Gen. Henderson S
speech we leave him and his mis-
representations to the indignation of all
intelligent people. That a man who Is
asking the votes of his fellow citizens for an
important Office should SO insult their in
! telhgence as to make the statements be
makes IN speeches only shows that his
party dare not risk the issue before the
people on the true facts and must try to
call the attention of the people away from
, the shocking corruption and maladminis
tration of his party.
REMOVALS AND APPOINTMENTS IN THE
CLERK S OFFICE.
There is one mora subject we will barely
alllde to. The report of Henderson
speech says:
Gen. II here entered upon a scath:ng expose OF
of the course Of the Democratic House Of Repre-.
sentatives in turning out competent and 10y al
| officers. many OF them maimea Union Soldiers and
putting into their place horde of mi erable in
compel mt seal awa.s. many of them TX rebel sol
diers and all of them mere psrty runners and bum
mers.
This is the same outrageous felsehood
uttered by Mr.. Hawley. in Cordova, and
exposed by us in our Daily of the 9Th and
Weekly of the 7th We have the name,
officially reported by the clerk, of every
, employee, white and colored. who held
: any position under the Republican clerk OF
the last house and the Democratic clerk
of the present house. and their antece
dents civil and military.
Tue employees of the house are 232 iu
numoer, and of these only % are ex-c1n.
federate soldiers The union states have
IT'S positions, while only 81 are held by
persons from states engaged in the re.
belion, and of these 81 many were loyal to
] the union during the war. 81 of the old
employees are retained, and the list in.
ludes Is colored men and Sc union SOL
2 diers, of whom 10 were wounded in the
service. The number of union soldiers
!, employed is exactly double the number OF
confederate soldiers, and the employees
from union states are over three times as
t great as those from rebel states.
The union soldiers employed by the
Republican house, 10 the Add. congress,
o numbered, as far as can be aseertained,
: only SO, SO that the Democratic house has
= given employment to more union soldiers
! than the Republican house which preceded
! it, In other words, the Democratic hous,
o appointed three union soldiers to .erery tsct
= appointed by the Republicans.
Hon. WIN. II. Morrison, of this state,
chairman OF the house committee on WAYS