Year: 1873

The Clerk had proceeded as far Is New
Jersey, and was saying s. and the Clerk has
to repeat" when Adams, tt" the old man elo-
quent," sprang to the floor and exclaimed,
~ arise to interrupt the Clerk" In an
instant the most profound silence prevailed.
After pouring forth the most bitter elo- |
quence upon the shame and disgrace to
themselves and to the nation, Of submitting |
to such usurpation and upon the hazard |
ous position in which themselves and the
nation were placed by such proceeding,
he submitted motion requiring the acting
Clerk to proceed with the call of the roll
Similar motions had been made, but the
Clerk had declined to entertain them. The
universal cry ran through the house,
"How shall the question be put" q Who
will put the question" All was confusion,
but above the tumult, in trumpet tones,
was heard the voice Of the venerable states.
man: ~ intend to put the question my
SELF" That word brought order out Of
chaos. Tho house was organized, business
proceeded. The master mind had spoken.
The pilot had seized the helm; the ship
was safe.


The people of this country have suffered
like usurpations.


The servants whom you have employed
and paid, the creatures that you have
created, whose existence have depended
upon the peoples wills, have refused to
entertain their motions, have set them at
defiance and held them in contempt
Bound by precedents. afraid of violating
rule, or running against some imaginary
authority, the people have submitted.


You have seen venal, corrupt men ele-
waited to Office against your choice, and
have asked that some means be adopted
whereby the people may have some voice
in choosing candidates to Office. The
usurpers have quietly replied, honest men
have nothing to do with politics. Politics
are corrupt. Your opponents use corrupt
measures, and corruption can only he met
with corruption. Honest, good men must
keep away OF they will be defled. Hands
off, do not dabble in the muddy water of
politics or you will get your hands dirty.


The politicians are corrupt you have
been compelled to admit; so corrupt, in
deed, that it is to be doubted whether or
not many an honest man has not actually
been placed in the dilemma that Mr.. Perkins
Of the Albany Legislature was placed by
jovial friend. A friend who knew his in
tegrity and wished to try little practical
joking, approached him and inquired how
he was going to vote on a certain bill called
the underground railroad bill. Perkins re-
piled, have not decided, but rather like
the bill and think shall vote for its pas
sage. The friend replies, had supposed
that you favored it and would give it your
support, and thought as friend, would
inform you that the Companys agents
were here paying five hundred dollars for
votes and you might as we'll have the five
hundred. Perkins, indignant, "stop, if
they are going to carry the bill by cor
ruption, shall not give it my support. I
shall vote againstit." His friend, ''all right,
the matter Of the passage Of the bill is
immaterial to me, and the opposition
company have their agents here and are
moving heaven and earth to defeat the bill,
and they are paying five hundred dollars
for negative votes" Perkins, very much
excited, walking rapidly back and forth,
"Can these thing be? A plague on both
your houses. I shall stay away. shall
not vote either way" His friend going out
the door, Every we'll, can get you five
hundred dollars for remaining away"
But while admitting the corruption you
have had to ask: "Shall good come out
Of evil? Good government be the Off
spring Of corrupt men and corrupted pol
itics?"


Politics corrupt? Politics, that is
nothing less than the science of govern
ment-government whose foundations are
eternal justice, whose center and source is
the throne Of the Almighty, whose only e1-
preston is in law; ; in law which is from
God, and like Him 10 everywhere and from
which is the harmony Of the Universe


You have even been told, that you had
no right to inquire into the private vices
Of your candidate. As though the man
who had set At defiance, in his private life,
every law of honor, decenoy, religion and
good government. would. if only elected to
Office on your ticket become the champion