National Republican., 1880-03-17
NEW YORK III THE HOUSE.
Her Voice on the Civil-ServiCe Gag
Law.
Speech OF Hon. David z. Richardson on the
Political Assessments BliI-The neal
Text of tho Bill-An Effort tn Punish
Ben for Being Repubilcans-
The Right of Every Man to
Control His Own.
Tho Empire states Representatives.

resontatives as Martin I. Townsend Ellis II.
Roberts, Lyman K. Bass T. G. Platt and others
that might bo mentioned have dropped rs
stars from that galaxy, their places have bcon
filled by Levi p. Morton, Anson G. Cook, John
NJ. Bailey, David p. Richardson, Richard
Crowley and others, all Of whom have brought
into the House sterling talent and marked
debating power. This became manifest last
week during tho discussion of tho question of
political assessments. Mr.. Richardson adj
dressed the House on that question as fol-
lows:
"Mr. Speaker had believed that this bill,
which 80 long veXed the extra session, would
not again be pressed upon the attention Of tho
country and the House, for l thought that
wisdom had surely been learned by the last
springs experience and prudence by tho last
fall's defeat. | do not stand in my place to
resist either by voice or vote any efforts that
may bo made to render 1t impossible TO eXtort
unwilling money from officers employees of
tho Government for political or other pur-
poses; but do stand here to resist any and all
efforts to deprive them Of their innliouablc
right to use their own as thoy will, which is
denied to them by tho provisions of this bill
1T is u truism that in government by the
people the largest liberty should be granted
the citizen TO express his views on every sub
ject, and thus we find in the Constitution of
tho United States and in tho constitution Of
every State In tho Union tho provision guar
antoGing the Freedom of speech and freedom of
the press; and 1t Is declared in many of these in
strumcnts that tho citizen may speak, w,ic
and publish his views on every subject. So
fully has this right been recognized so sacrodly
has it been observed, that criminals, al.
though deprived Of the right to hold Office, of
the right of suffrage, of the right to sit on
jurios and TO tostify in tho courts Of Justice,
have never yet been denied the right to dis.
cnss political questions or 10 pay their money
In furtheranco of such discussion, or, indeed,
in the furtherance of any political object, In
the same mannor aud to the same extent rs
other mon.
"But this bill makes it unlawful for the
officers and employees Of this Government to
pay for political information; malSos it un-
lawful for them to pay for publishing their
sentiments on any political subject, aud dobais
them from engaging in political discussions or
in political work, however Innocent 1t may DO,
that require for their prosecution the oxpendi.
ture OF money. 1t seems to me that measure
could not be proposed or conceived more des.
potic in its character, moro subvorsyo OF
popular rights, more destructive to personal
liberty, and less in harmony with the spirit of
our institutions and the practice aud trali-
tions of our people.
ut has been supposed that frecmen owned
what they earned (porhaps this Is the dis
tinction between them and slaves), and that
or their right to enjoy it unless by due pro.
cess of law; that their property could not be
taken or destroyed oven for public purpose
without compensation. But the value of prop.
orty Is in its use Let Its use bo arbitrarily
restricted much or little, and to that extent
is tho property destroyed aud the owner de.
privcd of its enjoyment, without process and
without compensation.
"Tbe money paid from tho public funds to
tho individual who labored to earn it Is no less
his property than If paid to him for interest OIL
United States bonds and If tho right resides
in Congress to restrict the expenditure Of
money because 1t has lain in tho vaults of the
Treasury. ought it to be exercised in the one
case and not in tho other? To be sute, the
cmploye of the Government is compelled to
toll for his daily bread, and tho bondhoder
may dress In scarlet aud fine linen and fare
sumptuously every day yet before the law
thoy are equal and if discrimination is to bo
made ought it to be in favor OF capital, that
can always take care of itself2
UNITED States Senators und Representatives,
as well as the officers OF the Government are
the servants of the psoplo Their time and
services belong Ito the people, and they are
paid their salaries from the money of the peo-
pie; aud by parity of reasoning, If there Is any
reason or principle in this thing, they ought to
be included within the provisions OF this bill;
aud yet is there any gontlonan on this floor
W
interesting and instructive spectacle to behold
a country postmaster, because he had contrib.
utrd few dimes toward the expense OF n
political gathering held in his neighbOrhool
driven from his office under and by virtue of
a law made by men who may, with impuulty,
spend all they own, and all they can borrow
to DO returned 10 Congress Do dcspots make
laws for themselves or for other men Pass this
bill, let it become law, and the cX'Confodor-
ate may still use his money and his
shotgun, it reports nre true, In behalf of tho
Democratic party. And where is tho Demo.
crat who will find fault with him
But two hundred thousand Union soldiers
whose claims are now pending before the
Commissioner of Pensions violate tho law If
they spend ons cent for political purposes.
Should they pay for II conveyance to carry
disabled oomrudO to the polls, thoy forfeit, In
the terms of this bill, the pittanco duo them
for wounds received aud diseases contracted in
lighting II rebel crew, or starving in prison.
pens [Applausc on the Republican side.
And yot these are they who on hundred
battlo-hcl1S testified their devotion 10
country, and but for whose efforts these halls
would DO silent to legislation and they arc
now to be branded as maleinctors by tho laws
of tho very Government they preserved for
exercising rights so freely enjoyed by traitors,
who by all the machinery Of war attempted TO
destroy IT.. [Applauso on the Republican side.
an this Congress during this session poih.
cal disabilities under which our Democratic
friends labored for indlscrctions committed
somO time since were removed, and not II voice
was raised against IT,, except on two occasions
and you all know that was against the form
and not tho substance Of the application. And
1t is now proposed to impose disabilities and
restrictions upon the officers and employees OF
this Government because they arc Rcpubli-
cans, Is that Democratic reciprocity? Laugh.
ter ON tho Republican side.l Is that retrench.
ment2 Is it relOrm2 Or is tho word not yet
coined that fifty expresses this iuamy2
This bill destroys rights of property, smoth-
ers free discussion, and makes II a crime for
ono class who are neither convicted nor guilty
of wrong, to do that which is permissible and
legitimate in ovory other citizen. Caucus
may decree and Congress may enact this in-
iquity, but that which is more powerful than
caucus or Congress, public opinion, will con.
demn IT, for the intolerance which robs aud
cruciAes the citizon because ho holds politi.
cal faith not In harmony with that of tho
majority of this House will, aud ought to be,
cXocrated by good men everywhere, Aud tho
effort 10 enact this Intolerance into law Is q
greater outrage than 'bulldozing or the at
tempted larceny of u State goyernment. Ii
will be received and accepted rs another evil
dence that the Democratic party will leave
uutIied no means however infamous, to in.
Ill. ....N . q