PART XII.

Democratic Responsibility for Recent Hard Times--The Democratic Tariff

Tinkering

Cheese-Paring Economy and
Opposition to Resumption.

From the preceding tabulations it will be seen that, even during the period of depression recently passed, the condition and wages of American labor were far superior to the condition and wages of foreign labor, and that the wages of the American laborer were far greater in 1874, when the Republicans were in full power, than in 1860, when the Democrats had full sway. It must be remembered that when the Democrats regained partial control of the government by securing a majority of the House of Representatives, through bulldozing and tissue ballots in the South, and under the sham cry of " economy" in the North, they at once commenced the work of dragging down the American laborer-the mudsill," as they termed him. They have made more than one desperate effort to destroy the tariff in the interest of foreign manufacturers and importers, and against the interests of home manufacturers and the laborers in their employ. Their efforts to defeat resumption, their tariff-tinkering, their "cheeseparing" policy of cutting down both the pay and the number of the poor government laborers and clerks-inaugurated five years ago, when the control of the House passed to them-and which led to the throwing out of numberless thousands of deserving workingmen and workingwomen from employment in all our cities and towns, have caused most of the distress which in recent years has afflicted this land. Despite all this, however, the wages of labor in this country-owing mainly to the firm attitude of the Republican administration and the Republican party in Congress at this time, and in all of even the worst years with which Democratic folly and wickedness has afflicted us of late years, compares favorably both with foreign wages of labor, and with the low wages which labor could earn under full Democratic rule in 1860.

the average wage of labor engaged by the year or season, and which represents the steady and trustworthy force on the farms, was for the whole country last year

$20.26 a month without board. This year it is $21.75,

The cost

being an increase of 7.25 per cent. of subsistence to the laborer for the average of the whole country in 1880 is $7.17 a month against $7.14 in 1879. Heretofore, in the decline of wages, the cost of subsistence declined in quite the same ratio, but for this year the proportion is largely in favor of the laborer; as the cost of subsistence remains nearly at the lowest rate, while the wage has materially advanced. The average price for labor with board is $14.56. An analysis of the figures of wages paid withlast year, viz.: Texas, Minnesota and California; but out board shows only three States reporting less than a glance at the report of the wage paid with board shows a marked increase. It must be borne in mind, however, that in all these States the sparseness of population and absence of the facilities of the older States, render it both necessary and convenient to lodge and feed the hired help. The price paid, there fore, with board, is the safest indication of the value has been in those States where agriculture has been of labor. As was to be expected, the greatest increase the most remunerative since last year. Thus in the West, and those States bordering on the Ohio River which were the most favored, the increase has been the largest. The same applies to the cotton States. With the higher price for cotton the advance has been universal, and is in some as high as 8 or 10 per cent. The demand for labor is good in all sections of the country. In the New England and Middle States there and prices for that class have advanced very mateis a steady and good demand for trustworthy men, rially. The large number of reports from those seetions state that the usual custom is to hire with board States there is an active demand for all kinds of steady and for the season. In the South Atlantic and Gulf labor. Many correspondents report that the share system, or a division of the product in lieu of wages, is growing more unpopular daily, and that the freedmen sippi and Louisiana there are a few reports of scarcity are becoming more and more landholders. In Missisof labor owing to the exodus to Kansas and the North, but in the same localities there is reported a good deIn the mand for trustworthy labor of all kinds. Northwestern States the supply of labor is quite equal to the demand in that section. Most of the inhabitants are land-owners, and only hire help at harvest time, but skilled laborers are reported in good demand. is reported as good, except in New Mexico and MonIn the Territories and on the Pacific slope the demand tana, where a surplus is noticed. In the first-named Territory the surplus is attributed to the opening of the railway from Kansas, and in the latter to the large number of young and unskilled laborers arriving." Republican sympathy for the workingmen -Democratic scoffs at the "mudsills "The free school system.

The Republican party has always believed in and acted upon a humanitarian creed. They have believed that business could be transacted as correctly by men with human sympathies as by those who sneered at what they termed "sentimentalism." The Democratic leaders have always scoffed at the idea that Government should, even incidentally, consider the woes and sufferings of the multitude; or, as a Democratic Senator once termed them, "the mudsills of society "-a term of approbrium which at the last session of Congress was again scornfully revived by a Democratic representative from Kentucky. The Republican party has cherished the free school system, where the workingman's children are freely educated, and thus afforded an opportunity of elevating themselves in after life to place and power in both social and political spheres. The Democratic party has not been kindly to that free school system.

now, dominated the Democratic party. It was moved that the bill and amendment be consigned to "the tomb of the Capulets," as the Committee of the Whole was familiarly and aptly termed. That motion was defeated by a vote of 92 to 90, and the House was forced to a direct vote on Mr. Grow's amendment. The amendment was carried by yeas 97, nays 81, as follows:

YEAS. Andrews, Atkins, Avery, Bennett, Billinghurst, Bingham, Blair, Bliss, Brayton, Buffington, Burlingame, Burroughs, Cavanaugh, Chaffee, Chapman, Clark, John Cochrane, Cockerill, Colfax, Comins, Covode, Cragin, Curtis, Davis, of Mass., Davis, of Iowa, Dawes, Dean, Dodd, Durffee, Edie, Farnsworth, Fenton, Florence, Foster, Giddings, Gilman, Gooch, Granger, Grow, Hall, Harlan, Hoard, Horton, Howard, Jewet!, Jones, Keim, Kellogg, Kelsey, Kilgore, Knapp, Law rence, Leach, Leiter, Lovejoy, Matteson, Miller, Morgan, Morrill, Morris, F. H. Morse, O. A. Morse, Mott, Murray, Olin, Palmer, Parker, Pettit, Phelps, Phillips, Pike, Potter, Purviance, Ritchie, Robban, Savage, Jonn Sherman, Jno. W. Spine Stanton, Stevenson, Stewart, Talbot, Tappan, Thayer, Thompson, Tompkins, Wade, Walbridge, Waldron, Walton, C. C. Washburn, E. B. Washburne, I. Washburn, Jr., Wilson, Wood-97.

NAYS-Ahl, ANDERSON, Arnold, Bocock, Bonham, Bowie, Boyce, Branch, Burnett, Burns, Caruthers, Caskie,

Clark, Cobb, Cox, James Craig, Burton Craige, Craw, ford, Curry, J. G. Davis, Reuben Davis, Dewart, DodellEustis, Faulkner, Foley, Garnett, Gartrell, GILMOR, Goode, Gregg, Hall, Hawkins, Hodges, Hopkins, Houston, Hughes Huyler, Jackson, Leidy, McQueen, McRae, Marshall, Maynard, Miles, Millson, Montgomery, Moore, Pendleton, Phelps, Powell, READY, Reagan, Ruffin, Russell, Sandidge, Scales, Scott, Searing, Seward, A. Shaw, H. M. Shaw, Shorter, Singleton, R. Smith, S. A. Smith, Stallworth, Stephens, Stewart, Taylor, TRIPPE, UNDERWOOD, Vallandigham, VANCE, Watkins, Whiteley, Winslow, WOODSON, Wortendyke, Wright, Zollicoffer-81.

The bill as amended, defeated by the Democrats.

But the bill as amended was defeated by a vote of 95 nays to 91 yeas, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Andrews, Bennett, Bingham, Blair, Bliss, Brayton, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burroughs, Cavanaugh, Chaffee, E. Clark, Jr., H. F. Clarke, Clauson, C. B. Cochrane, John Cochrane, Colfax, Comins, Covode, Cox, Cragin, Curtis, HENRY W. DAVIS, T. Davis, of Mass, T. Davis, of Iowa, Dawes, Dean, Dick, Dodd, Durfee, Edie. Farnsworth, Fenton, Foster, Giddings, Gooch, Granger, Grow, L. W. Hall, R. B. Hall, Harlan, Hatch, Hoard, Horton, Howard, Keim, Kellogg, Kelsey, Kilgore, Knapp, Leach, Leiter, Lovejoy, Matteson, Miller, Morgan, Morrill, Ed. J. Morris, I. N. Morris, F. H. Morse, O. A. Morse, Mott, Murray, Olin, Palmer. Parker, Pettit, Phelps, Pike, Potter, Purviance, Ritchie, Robbins, Royce, John Sherman, Spinner, Stanton, Stewart, Tappan, Thayer, Thompson, Tompkins, Wade, Walbridge, Waldron, Walton, C. C. Washburn, E. B. Washburne, I. Washburne, Jr., Wilson, Wood-91. NAYS-Messrs, Ahl, ANDERSON, Arnold, Atkins, Avery, Barksdale, Bocock, Bonham, Bowie, Boyce, Bryan, Burnett, Burns, Caruthers, Caskie, Chapman, J. B. Clark, Clay, Cobb, Cockerill, Corning, James Craig, Burton Craige, Crawford, J. G. Davis, Reuben Davis, Dewart, Dowdell, Edmunson, Elliott, Fiorence, Foley, Garnett, Gartrell, GILMER, Goode, Greenwood, Gregg, Groesbeck, Hawkins, Hopper, Houston, Hughes, Huyler, Jackson, Jewett, G. W. Jones, O. Jones, Leidy, McQueen, McRae, H. MARSHALL, S. S. Marshall, Mason, MAYNARD, Millson, Montgomery, Moore, Pend eton, Peyton, Phelps, Phillips, Powell, READY, Reagan, RICAUD, Ruffin, Russel!, Sandidge, Savage, Scales, Searing, A. Shaw, H. M. Shaw, Shorter, Singleton, Smith, Stallworth, Stephens, Stevenson, Stewart, Talbott, G. Taylor, M. Taylor, TRIPPE, UNDERWOOD, Vallandigham, VANCE, Watkins, White, Whiteley, Winslow, WOODSON, Wright, ZOLLICOFFER-95. The Republicans voted unanimously for the amendment, as they did for the bill as

amended. Every Southern member except two, Mr. Blair, of Missouri, and Henry Winter Davis, of Maryland, voted solidly against the bill as amended. Only eight Democrats, Northern Democrats of the Douglas school, dared to support the bill as amended, with their votes; and the character of the opposition is exposed in the indignant criticism_of Mr. Cavanaugh, of Minnesota, a Douglas Democrat. He said:

"I say it frankly-I say it in sorrow-that it was to the Republican side of this House to whom we were compelled to look for support of this just and honorable measure. Gentlemen from the South, gentlemen who have broad acres and white plantations, aided here today by their votes more to make Republican States in the North than by any vote which has been cast within the last two years. These gentlemen come here and ask us to support the South; yet they, to a man almost, vote against the free, independent labor of the North and West."

Mr. Cavanaugh declared that he had "inherited his Democracy;" that he had been a Democrat from his boyhood;" that he "believed in the great truths as enunciated by the fathers of the faith,' " and 66 cherished them religiously." He added:

"But, sir, when I see Southern gentlemen come up as they did to-day, and refuse by their votes to aid my constituents-refuse to place the actual tiller of the soil, the honest, industrious laborer beyond the grasp and avarice of the speculator, I tell you, sir, I falter I hesitate !"

PART II.

The Republicans Demand “Free Homesteads for Actual Settlers on the Public Domain"-The Vote by which they Carried it— Wm. II. English's Vote.

On the 1st of February, 1859, H. R. 72, "to secure homesteads to actual settlers," which had been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and reported from that Committee January 26, 1859, by Mr. Kelsey, came up for action. The Democracy attempted to defeat it, even to prohibit all discussion of its merits, by parliamentary strategy. A motion to lay on the table was lost by a vote of nays 113, to years 71, and the House was forced to a direct vote. The bill was then passed-yeas 120, nays 76, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Abbott, Adrian, Andrews, Barr, Billing. hurst, Bingham, Bishop, Bliss. Brayton, BuffintonBurlingame, Buns, Burroughs, Case, Cavanaugh, Chaf fee, E. Clark, Cawson, C. B. Cocinane, John Coch ane, Cockerili, Colfax. Comins, Corning, Covode, Cox, Cragin, James Craig, Curtis, John G. Davis, T. Davis, of Mass, T. Davis, of Iowa, Dawes, Dean, Dick, Dodd, Durfee, Farnsworth, Teuton, Florence, Foley, Foster, Giddings, Gilman, Gooch, Goodwin, Granger, Gregg, Groesbeck, Grow, L. W. Hall, R. B. Hall, Harlan, Haskin, Hatch, Hickman, Hoard, Hodges, Horton, Howard, Jewett, G.W. Jones, Keim, Kellogg, Kelsey, Kilgore, Knapp, hunkell, Lawrence, Leach, Leiter, Lovejoy, Maclay, Mckibben, Matteson, Miller, Morgan, Morrill, Ed. J Morris, I. N. Morris, F. H. Morse, O. A. Morse, Murray, Olin, Palmer, Parker, Pendleton, Pettit. Phelps, Philips, Pike, Potter, Pottle, Purviance, Reilly, Robbins, Roberts, Royce, Russell, Scott, John Sherman, Smith, Spinner, Stanton, William Stewart, Tappan, Taylor, Thayer, Walton, Ward, C. C. Washburn, E. B. Washburne, I. Tompkins, Vallundigham, Wade, Walbridge, Waldron, Washburn, Wilson, Wortendyke-120.

NAYS-Messrs. ANDERSON, Atkins, Avery, Barksdale, Bocock, Bonham, Bowie, Boyce, Branch, Burnett, Caskie, J. B. Clark, Cobb, Burton Craige, Crawford, Curry, DAVIS, Dowdell, Edmunson, William H. English, EUSTIS, Faulkner, Garnett, Gartrell, GILMER, Goode, Greenwood, HARRIS, HILL, Hopkins, Houston, Hughes, Jackson, Jenkins, Keitt, Kunkel, Lamar, Leidy, Letcher, McQueen, McRae, H. MARSHALL, S. S. Marshall, Mason, MAYNARD, Miles, Millson, Moore, Niblack, Nichols, Peyton, READY, Reagan, RICAUD, Ruffin, Scales, Seward, A. Shaw, H. M. Saaw, Shorter, Singleton, S. A. Smith, W. Smith, Stallworth, Stephens, Jas. A. Stewart, TRIPPE, UNDERWOOD, VANCE, Watkins, Whiteley, Winslow, WOODSON, A. R. Wright, J. V. Wright, ZOLLICOFFER-76.

The Republicans, every man of them but one, voted solidly for the bill-voted to guarantee the public lands to actual settlers-to donate land to the landless. The great body of the Democracy-60 out of 98-all the South Americans - the whole Southern landed aristocracy -vod solidly against the bill. Only three South ern members-Jones of Tenn., Jewett of Ky., and Craig of Mo.,-voted with the Republicans to secure the public lands to actual settlers, while WILLIAM H. ENGLISH, of Ind., voted nay with the Slave-holding Democracy.

PART III.

Homesteads in the Democratic Senate The Democracy determined to oppose even the consideration of the bill granting them.

On the 17th of February, in the Senate, Ben. Wade, of Ohio, moved to postpone all prior orders, and take up the homestead bill, which had thus passed the House. A characteristic debate ensued. The slave-holding aristocracy, the Southern landed Democracy, antagonized the homestead with the appropriation bills. Said R. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia: "I hope there will be no effort to press this homestead bill so as to displace the appropriation bills." Only a few weeks of the session remained, and an "extended debate" and the loss of the appropriation bills were threatened if the homestead bill was passed. Ben. Wade rejoined that the friends of the bill-the Republicans-wanted no debate. The measure for years had been before the country, had been discussed in all its bearings, and there was no measure in which the people were more deeply interested. But a vote was what the Southern landed Democracy manœuvred to avoid or defeat. Said Mr. Hunter: "I do not conceal the fact that I am much opposed to it," that is, to giving "land to the landless;' and his colleague, Mr Mason declared that he intended to go into it pretty largely, because he had not yet known a bill so fraught with mischief, and mischief of the most demoralizing Mr. Wade's motion was carried by a vote of yeas 25, nays 23, as follows.

king."

YEAS-Messrs. Bright, Broderick, Chandler, Clark, Collamar, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Guin, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, Johnson, of Tenn., King, Pugh, Rice, Seward, Shields, Simmons, Smith, Stuart, Trumbull, Wade, and Wilson-25.

NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Benjamin, Bigler, Brown, Chestnut, Clay, Clingman, Davis, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Green, Hammond, Hunter, Iverson, Lane, Mallary, Mason, Pearce, Reid, Slidell, Toombs, and Ward -23.

The Republicans voted unanimously to take up the homestead bill, but every Southern Democrat-a "solid South," with the exception of Mr. Johnson of Tenn., voted against the motion. Instantly upon the announcement of this vote, which brought the homestead bill before the Senate, Mr. Hunter again moved to lay it aside and take up An opposition so puerile another bill. child's play." During was fittingly called the debate which followed the morning hour expired, and Vice President Breckenridge decided that the bill for the purchase of Cuba in the interest of the slave-holding oligarchy was the subject pending before the Senate. Whereupon Mr. Wade moved to postpone the Cuba and continue the consideration of the homestead bill. That motion was also carried -yeas 27, nays 26; all the Republicans voting for it; all the Southern Democrats, except Senators Bell and Johnson, of Tennessee, voting against it. Again the homestead was before the Senate; again Mr. Hunter moved to lay it aside. Senators Wade and Seward, in energetic terms, exhorted the friends of the bill to stand firm, but Hunter's motion prevailed-yeas 28, nays 28, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Bates, Bayard, Benjamin, Bigler, Brown, Clay, Clingman, Davis, Fitch, Fitzpatrick,

Green, Gwinn, Hammond, Hunter, Iverson, Johnson, of Ark., Kennedy, Lane, Mallory, Mason, Pearce, Reid, Sebastian, Slidell, Toombs, Ward, and Yulee-28, **

NAYS-Messrs. Bell, Bright, Broderick, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Dixon, Doolittle, Douglas, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, Houston, Johnson, of Tenn., King, Pugh, Rice, Seward, Simmons, Smith, Stuart, Trumbull, Wade, and Wilson-28.

The Senate being equally divided, Vice President Breckinridge gave the casting vote against the homestead. Every vote for Hunter's motion to postpone is Democratic, and all but five are from the South. Only three of the twenty-eighth votes against Hunter's motion, and in favor of considering the homestead, are from the South,-Bell and Johnson, of Tenn., and Houston, of Texas.

PART IV.

"The Great Question of the Day and the Age" - Shall we give "Lands and Homes to the Landless Freemen, or Slaves to the Slave-holders?”—“Niggers to the Niggerless, or Land to the Landless?"

ward, Senator Wade again moved to set aside On the 19th of February, two days afterall prior orders and take up the homestead bill. The motion was defeated. Yeas (all Republicans but seven) 24, nays (all Democrats) 31. On the 25th of February the motion to take up the homestead bill was again antagonized by the Cuba bill. The Cuba bill prevailed. Yeas (all Democrats) 35, nays