Year: 1860

JuluB tO plV'hOso bu0 lnJeIeSCS vi aBTlCul-
ture, you must get rid of great deal of
the political excitement in this Hall and in
the country; for the very moment men find
they can earn living with less exertion in
one direction than 10 another, and that one
occupation is more lucrative than another
that moment their efforts are bent in that
direction.


Such has been the case in reference to
the profession of law; and we now have
young men in Ohio-and l suppose there
are such everywhere in the Countrywide,
considering the study of law as a stepping
stone to promotion, have studied just
enough law to give the name of lawyers
Then they become politicians, go through
the country making political speeches, and
fill the country with feverish state of ex-
element. In the next step of their prog
ress they come into this Hall, and pursuing
the same course Of speechmaking and crea-
ting excitement upon political topics, we
who desire to get the floor for the consider
alton of matters of great public interest,
outside Of politics. can rarely do so without
struggle almost as great as would be nee





Laughter. / do not wish to make any
indecorous remarks in reference to this hon
orable body; but have absolutely seen ex-
hibited on various occasions, in this hall,
such struggle for the floor, and such an
effort to see who could talk loudest and
longest as, if exhibited in neighborhood
of farmers would be considered not very re-
10 ho ~ =


Mr.. Chairman, the interests of the coun-
try at this time demand, from the hands Of
every man who has any regard for his
country's welfare, a cessation of this extra
ordinary excitement upon the subject of
politics. When you hear gentlemen upon
this floor seriously talking about a dissolu-
ton of the Union; when you see a Con-
vention of men Of one single party of this
Government dividing in reference to that
question, so important to the institutions of
our country, l think it is time that every
one of us should begin to pause and consid-
er in reference to the consequences. 1t is
not extraordinary patriotism that actuates
men in making all this disturbance; and if
it is, am going to suggest plan to get
rid of at least one-half of this excess of
patriotism and make the other half worth


four times as much as it is now. Laugh


ter. You will do much towards accom-


plishing that if you will reduce the com


peusation of men in and around this Capt.


tol, and in the various departments of the


Government, to somewhat of an equality
with the compensation of men who pursue


other vocations of life. Let not man
here who opens and shuts your doors re-


receive three dollars a day, while man


who mauls rails gets but fifty cents or a


dollar. If you employ here ten men to do


the labor of one at home, and it becomes


understood in the country that men can


make more money here than at home, you


will find men rushing here from every quar-


ter of the Union seeking for effice. And


that is the very class of men who are dis


turbing the whole community. They come


from the lowest to the highest ranks-from


the constable up to the Presidential aspi-
rant.


ask you to compare the moral, social
and political condition of this country with
} what it was thirty years ago. lam acquain
J ted with the workings of this government
and have been for great many years. Ove
sixty years ago l went into the Western
country, when that portion of it which now


occupies five States northwest of the Ohio
} River contained but twenty-five or thirty
thousand inhabitants. have seen tina
mighty country grow up; and l have seeI
: the physical, moral will not say the po
litical-condtion of the country improve
and become what is now admitted to bt
} not excelled in these respects by any por
ton of this country.


Now, there is not a gentleman upon thi
t floor but will agree with me, that here i
the source of all these abuses, and that it i
, just as plain as it is tomutiply two by two
Pay men in proportion to their services, ant
: make the pursuit of agriculture just as prot
. table as it is to open and shut these doors
7 and you will lessen this struggle for office
! Pay your members of Congress just abou


half what you pay now, and you will hav
n lust as able members of Congress and
: great deal less disturbance. Justin proper
:. ton as you increase the salaries of men
a just in that proportion do you increase thei
d extravagant modes of living. Office is the
= hunted for, and an excitement is gotten u
n by this scramble for Office, which demoral
J. ICES the country and everything connecte
I with it.


S Now, 1 appeal to gentlemen upon thi
It floor, if the country could come here an
u witness what ] have witnessed upon thi
+; floor, would they not DO astonished at th
Q spectacle9 They would see one part of th
It House arrayed against the other and :
: times, apparently, in the very attitude {
s war. And what is al this about9 Why,
It is all about the negro! That is, howeve
J. but scapegoat. The negro has a greO
+ deal to do in this matter, but there are otl
It er controlling influences. And until thes
is are driven out of the arena Of conflict, an
9 the people apply the remedy, you need ne
:. look for any great change. But we haV
d great difficulty now in understanding whi
70 the Constitution means. We have side il


sues, and we have front and reat issues, an
!. we cannot understand language at all {
v we did few years ago.


n All these things have resulted in tn
/, greatest excitement, and in what l mu
n pronounce most ridiculous state of thing
o, | ask if these influences are not spreadin
l. all over the couutryG ask you wheth'