Year: 1876

country 10 DC more tnau repuDuc. II
J he Gordon wanted all the tax officers
to be life appointees, why had he not
urged It's adoption on Georgia? Had 1t
been adopted there the State Treasurer
would not have deiaulted, as was recently
the case, to the extent of $4,000 or
$4,000.


Mr.. Gordon-Does the Senator state
that as a fact.


Mr.. Morton said he had seen it stated
} in the papers.


Mr.. Gordon said the matter was now
being adjudicated in the courts and the
Treasurer claimed that ever dollar could
be accounted for.


Mr.. Morton-Well, he Ia u Democratic
official, and will be delt with tenderly.
Resuming the argument Morton said as
the Democratic party expected to be in
power they would appoint this excise
corps Tor fife. Would some Of them be
Republicans? He thought not. The
whole country would understand why
this proposition was brought forward at
this time. There had been some difficult
ty in the collection OF revenues in the
South owing to the murder Of the
revenue officers, and then it was
said there were family stills there
where they distilled enough for the
neighborhood only. The civil service
reform proposed by the Senator from
Georgia was very sweeping. Why did
he not bring in bill to have it extended
to all departments Of the government, II
the Life tenure is such good thing. In
other words, why not come out in favor
OF a monarchy instead OF republic.
There was where the whole proposition
ended. What Senator Gordon Knew
about whisky frauds he knew from the
investigation put on foot by Republi-
can administration. He could not point
TO an instance where any such investiga-
tion had been authorized by q Democratic
administration. The Sanborn frauds and
Credit Mobilier exposure were the result
OF an investigation set on foot by q Re-
publican House Of Representatives. That
party was ah honest party which inyesti.
gated its own members and punished
them. There were some other forms
of corruption quite as dangerous
as the whisky frauds. The Senator from
Georgia had referred to an event which
cast shadow over all the land, which he
(Morton) would not discuss, as he might
have to sit as Judge on that case, but II
the common report was true that appoint
ment came us near being a non-partisan
appointment as could be. 1t had its
Democratic surrounding.


Mr.. Morton then read from speech OF
Gordon's, delivered in Atlanta, and said
that the Senator paid no attention to
the utterances Of Toombs, who delivered
a speech few days before at the same
place, to the effect that the Georgia elec.
ton had been carried by bribery
and intimidation. II the charge was
true it was a damning one
against the people Of Georgia, and II not
true it was a foul slander and it was the
place Of the Senator to resent il, but he
had passed it by in silence.


Mr.. Gordon said that the Legislature
had taken formal action in regard to
those charges. He would have the rcso-
lutions adopted by that body read.
Mr.. Morton said that the Legislature
might have thought worth while to take
some notice OF them, but the report in
the newspapers showed that the utterances
Of Toombs were cheered to the echo. That
was case Of corruption lar more reach
ing than the whisky frauds. The Senator
had charged the Republican party with
being tyrannical. He (Morton) denied
it. The party had been magnanimous,
and his friend Gordon was living mon
ument Of its magnanimity. The party
has dealt magnanimously with those who
fought against the government.


SENATOR SHERMAN.


Mr.. Sherman said that this was the first
time since the internal revenue law had
been passed that party speech had been
made against it. His friend Gordon
might disclaim the intention Of making a
party speech, but all who heard it would
regard il as such. The revenue laws had
been framed by men Of both parties hon
estly and faithfully. The resolution
presented by the Senator from Georgia
had no business before the Senate. It
was clearly unconstitutional for the
Senate TO originate any matters
pertaining to the revenue. II the reso-
iutions were sent to the. Committee on
Finance, the Constitution prevented their
consideration by that committee. He
argued that the law as It now stood re-
quired the survey Of every distillery in
the country. and the internal revenue
office knew the producing capacity Of ev.
cry distillery. Il it was discovered that
distillery was running shortof its pro-
ducing capacity, the law required that it
should be taxed according to It's produc-
ing capacity unless satisfactory ex-
, PLANTATION could be given. He said
It was impossible to enforce such
law as that proposed by the Senator
from Georgia. Itwould be taxing busi-
ness before such business was carried on.
1t would be taxing whisky before it was
made. No one ever heard Of such .
thing as an excise corps. The people Of
the United States would never tolerate
such band. The Office Of tax gatherer
should be under the head Of the Bureau
so that IN officer could be removed the
moment fraud is suspected. The Senator
J (Gordon) has taken advantage. OF the
occasion when the whole public mind was
under cloud to bring this matter forward
to excite in the minds Of the people the
belief that the Republican party had pro.
duced fraud by scheming legislation.
The revenue laws had not been formed by
parties, they were the result Of the careful
study oibusiness men. Joyce, Mcdonald
and others did defraud the revenue, that
could not be helped. All the Republican
party could do was to find them out and
punish them and that had been done
without mercy, the Democratic party
had not been sovigilaht in furnishing the
delinquents OF that party in 1860, when
Floyd stole money and bonds, guns and
ammunition. Who punished them
The Republican party had been too lenient,
in giving its adverSsries political power,
and some Of the worst troubles OF the
party came from chat.


I, SENATOR GORDON.


Mr.. Gordon said that when he intro.
!, duced his resolutions he had no concep.
ton OF the scope which had been Ia
ken in the debate. He had no partisan
motive in introducing them, and he was
} astonished that the Senators should think
, so, because he stated facts which
were shown by the records Of the
Department, and he was justified in