The New York herald., 1876-03-10

r corruption which has swept over tho country
mansion mas become sickening to the people This
was good year 10 begin the reformation; this was
good place to begin IT. He hoped all would unite to
restore pure service and unite all the people LOT prac
ticabe, substantial and useful reform.
or MORTON
Mr. MORTON said IL had been said that civil
generally followed by period of decentralization to
greater less degree, and he supposed thore was
something in that and IN that case the responsibility
those who made that should be, perhaps the last
persons complain OF ts consequences If the Senator
from Georgia (Mr Gordonl could suggest any practical
measure 10 prevent frauds collect the revenue
he (Mr. Moronl would unite with him anybody else
for that purpose True there had been corruption IN
| the collection OF tho 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 all the good men
party and all the bad men In the otner was
| beneath his contempt
Mr. GoRDoS said he could not bear the idea Of having
the Senator's contempt and, therefore, must correct
his assumption He did not say that all the good men
were in one party and the bad ones in the other. He
meant the party who administer the revenue system,
as at present organized would bring bad men to II.
| Mr. MoRroS resuming said the Senator (Mr Gordonl
said there was TO be change in the party admnstra
ting the government and the democratic party would
bring honesty TO the collection of the revenue. He
in substance that the revenues were now diverted
| 20 the support OF party, and charged that
Morton, denied any such assumption that the
democratic party had all the good
| When II was assumed that the democratic party
had all the good aud the republican party all the
had known the democratic party. They had known
that party from chldhood and were unable to say
that on average those h that party any bet
ter than other people. Ii the republicans admitted
that the democrats were as good as other people,
they did about as much as they could
conscientously do The Senator Mr. Gordon) had
declared that ST. OOO 900 had been stoen but tho
Senator rather extravagant In his figures Tho
government was substantially In the hands OF the
democratic party in 1865 1866, 1867 and 1868. The
Tax collected on whskey during these years was
follows:In 1866, s33 326s 900; in 1857 $3s 542 900,
nd
tax OF 81 per gallon whiskey. In
nj1S73 the tax collected whskey $52, 900 900;
in 1874 $40 600 0O0 and in 1885, $52 900 600 and this
with tax less than onehalf as much as that imposed
under the johnson administration. Could 1t be inferred
from these figures that when the democratic party
came into power II would bring panacea Tor all these
sf Ii the Senator wanted revenue officials TO be
partsans, why did not his party in the other house
bring forward n bill TO make revenue collectors
lite oflcersS The Senator (Mr Gordon), had
eulogized the system of England II appeared from his
remarks that he admired that country more than a re-
pubhc irbe INT Gordon wanted ali tax officers to be
life appontees, why had he not urged It's adoption
Georgia Had 1t been adopted there the state Treasu
would not have deiaued as was recently the case,
TO the extent OF $500, 600 or $40O 600
| Mr. GoRDos-Does the Senator state that a factS
Mr. MORTON said he had seen II stated in the papers
Mr. GoRDoS said the matter was now being adjud
Gated In the courts and the Treasurer claimed that
| every dollar could DO accounted for
| Mr. MoRroN-wel he is democratic official and
will be dealt with tenderly Resuming his argument
Mr. Morton sad-As the democratic party expects TO
be in power they would appoint this excise corps for
| life. Would Of them be republicans He
| thought not The whole country would understand
why this proposition brought forward this time
There had been some difficulty collecting the rove
nue. in the Southern States, owing to the murder OF
revenue officials; and then u was said there were
family stills there where they distilled enough for the
| neighborhood only. The civil service REFORM pro-
posed by the Senator from Georgia. was very sweep
ing. Why did he not bring IN bill TO have 1t ex-
tended to all departments of the govern
ment If the life tenure was such good
thingY In other words Why not come out in
favor of monarchy instead republicS There
where the whole proposition ended What the Senator
(Gordon) knew about whlskey frauds he knew from
Investigation put on foot by republican administra
tion. He could not point to an instance where any
such investigation had been authorized by
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION
The Sanborn frauds and Credit Mobilier exposure
were the result of investigation set foot by repup-
lcan House of Representatives That party was an
honest party which investigated its own members and
punished them. There were some other forms of
rupton quite as dangerous as whiskey frauds Tho
Senator ordon) had reference to an event which
a shadow all tho land. He (Morton would
not discuss that. he might have TO sit
Judge on that case, but If common report was true
that appointment as near being non partisan
appointment could be- 1t had the democratic
roundngs. Mr. Morton then read from the speech of
Mr. Gordon delivered in Atlanta and said that senator
had paid attention to the uttcrances OF Toombs, de-
livcred few days before at the same place. to the
effect that the Georgia election had been carried by
bribery and intimidation If that charge wastrue IL
q damning one against the people OF Georgia and
II not true Il was foul caumny IL was the place or
the Senator TO repel IL, and he had passed by in
silence
Mr. GORDON said the Legislature took formal action
lutlons adopted by that body read
MIR. MORTON said the Legislature NAV have thought 1t
worth while to take some notice OF them, but The
port in the newspapers showed that the
UrTERASCEs OF Mr. rooMBs
were chcered TO the echo That n OF corrup-
ton far more reaching than the whiskey frauds The
Senator mr. Gordon) had charged the republican party
with being tyraDnicaL he (Mr. Moronl denied IT,
The party bad been magnanimous ana his friend Mr.
Gordon was living monument to It's magnanimity.
The party had dealt magnanimously with those who
fought against the government
Mr. of wal ne first
time since the Internal Revenue law had been passed
that party speech for party purposes had been made
against It, HIS friend ir. Gordon) might disclaim any
intention OF making party speech, bat all who heard
il would regard II such. The revenue
laws had been framed by men Of both
parties honestly and faithfully The resolution pro
business before the Senate IL was unconstitutional
for the Senate TO frame matters pertaining TO the
revenue. II the resolutions should be sent TO the
Committee Finance the constitution prevented their
consideration by that committee. He argued that the
law It now stood required survey Of every dis
tlery the country, anu tue Internal Revenue Oice
knew the producing capacity OF every distllcry Ifit
was discovered that dstilery running short its
producing capacity the law required that II should be
taxed according to its producing capacity, unless n
satisfactory explanation could be given. IL was inn
possible enforce such law that proposed uy the
Senator from Georgia II would be taxing business
before such business carried It would be
ing the whiskey before 1t was made. No
heard Of such thing Ho then referred to the whis
key tax and said he thought II mad been too high
hereoore therefore he voted against increasing last
winter As to excise corps, the people OF the United
States would tolerate any such band. The Office
of tax gatherer should be under the head OF the
reau, that officer could be removed the moment
fraud was suspected The gentleman tMr. .Gordon)
had charged that ST. 0O0 600, 900 had been lost Al
least $192 000 900 Of this must be charged the
Johnson administration.
Mr. GoRDoS asked how many collectors, appointed
by Mr.. johnson, confirmed by the Senate.
The discussion which followed purely political
in its character, Messrs sherman, OF OHIO, GORDON,
OF Georgia. and Withcrs Of Virginia, taking part
therein and at It's conclusion the Senate adjourned