Year: 1860

loon you W CouIpdiC IiO hUiai, ooeiai,
and pslitical condition of this country, with
what it was thirty years ago. am ac-
quainted with the workings of this Gov
eminent, and have been for great many
years. Over sixty years ago went into
the western country, when that portion
OF 1t which now occupies five States north
west of the Ohio river contained but
twenty-five or thirty thousand. inhabl-
tants. l have seen that mighty country
grow up; and I have seen the physical
mora, and will not say the political
condition of the country improve, and be-
come what it is now admitted to he-not
excel!ed in these respects by any portion
OF this country.


Now, there is not gentleman upon
this floar but will agree with me that here
is the source of all these abuses, and that
1t is just as plain as it is 10 multiply two
by two. Pay men in proportion 10 their
services, and make the pursuit Of agricul-
ture just as profitable as it is to open
and shut these doors, and Jou will lessen
this struggle for office. Pay your mem
bers of Congress just about half what
you pay now, and you will have just as
able members Of Congress, and you will
have great deal less disturbance. Just
In proportion as you increase the salerles
OF men, just in that proportion do you
lncrea.e their extravagant modes OF llv-
ing. Office is then hunted for, and and
an excitement is gotten up by this scram-
BILE for office, which demoralizes the
country and everything connected with
| it.


Now, I appeal to gentlemen upon this
floor, if the people of the country could
come here and witness what / have
witnessed upon this floor, would they
not be astonished at the spectacle? They
would see no part OF the House arrayed
against the other, and at times, appar.
emily, in the very attitude of war. And
what is all this about? Why, it is all
} about the negro. That is however, but
scape- goat. The negro has great
deal to do with this matter, but there
are other controlling Influences. Anc
, until these arc driven out of the arnea o
conflict, and the people apply the remed,


you ned not look for any great change
t But we have great difficulty now in un.
, derstanding what the Constiltior
means. We have side issues, ane


we have front and rear issues, and VIZ
} cannot understand language at all as VIZ
, did few years ago.


, All these things have resulted in tn,
, gratest excitement. and in what l mus
: pronounce a most ridiculous State O
t things. Task if these influences are no
t spreading all over the country. I asl
you whether our action here correspond.
with the expectations of our consttu
ents! We are doing great many things
here which we would not like to let our
constituents know, laughter;1 and until
gentlemen can meet on this floor, and
meet as men meet elsewhere, and attend
to their business faithfully and honestly,
you will have just what you have seen
here. The people will be deceived, and
parties will war to the knife, and vet
divide the spoils. When you offer to the
man who performs what you consider
your menial services about the Capitol
the same fair compensation that the
farm laborer receives-and the sam
disparity Of compensation extends
throughout all the States-you will
effect great improvementin all our public
affairs. This disparity of compensation
tends to elevate one class above another.
and increases the extravaganza of living
of the better compensated class and that
expense greatly exceeds what a man car
by honest industry ,and by private effort.
in the or dinary ways Of life, earn.


Slavery is degrading to a white mar
who works and for that reason 1 obiec
to slaverey going into free Torritory.-
It degrades the white laborer. lido no,
ask that you will raise farming above
what it now is. Let it stand upon its
own merits, and let those who are here
receive but the wages they got at home.
That is all i ask. Unless there is some.
thing done to arrest the political excite-
ments of the day, just so sure as we are
alive we will become distracted and se-
vered people.


1 consider examination into these
questions of great Importance, We
must put down the extravaganza Of the
times. We see, every day that expenses
are increasing, and labor is becoming
degraded. The farmer has now no
ground for encouragement. He is merely
regarded as farmer.


Now, you really do want to do any
thing for the great agricultural interest
of this country then let there be seperate
department Of the Government established
for its benefit, and let some man be
placed at its head who is competent for
the discharge Of the duties imposed
upon him. Let that man be responsible