Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-07-13
POLIIICAL.

! The s-'icle which follows, EXHIBITS in for
chile light the absurdity Of much that We hear
on the subject Of a Constitutional Curren-
ey-" Men prate about tie Constitution. who
have never even read u, orheard il read and
the parasites OF power whohaye Upheld eve
~ sncroaehmeni upon the nlainest provisions
Of that Instrument, nov aIect 60 have deep
reverence for lis acquisitions. [R,eh Hljg
The "COastiIuilOHaI Carrrncy.,
A great deal has been said in this
country, since the war against the cur
rency has been carrying on, about the
establishment Of constitutional cur
rency," and about returning TO a con
slitutional currency We should es-
TEEN it particular favor il some one
Of The learned gentlemen who talk thus
wisely on this suhiecl, would inform
the public what Is a constitutional
currency" Ii there ia any such thing
under our system Of government. II
must be found somewhere IN the Con-
sthutlon. n there is nothing there
which warrants the use Of such Lam
guage, !; Il nonseBso 10 attempt 10 I'M
pose such an idea upon the communi.
~, who have trouble enough on their
hands just at this time. without being
hoaxed and gulled By those who have
Brought these troubles upon them.
Having examined the Constitution
VITA some care, Ne have not been able
10 find any provision IN IL which esia-
blishes such a currency, or indeed any
currency at Oh. The Sih section Of the
lst article says-"Congress shall have
power to coin moHeg, regulate the w.
lue thereof, and Of foreign coin" The
10th section Of the same article saws !:
mo state shall coin money. emit bills
OF credit, oE make any thing bat gold
and silver q tender in payment Of
debts" II there is any other provis-
sion on The general subject Of coin or
currency, We have not been fortunate
enough 20 end IT,
II this is ell there is in the case. with
what propriety are we told Of a con-
stitulional currency; Congress arc
empowered 10 coin their own money.
and lhe individual Sisles are prohibited
from dong il. suppose Congress
should omit tic exercise of this author.
iiy, what would The country do for mo-
ney, u there Is no currency sxcept The
one established by TIE national govern.
menti The States are prohibited from
making any thing but gold end silver
tender. This will prevent one man
from forcing upon another depreoiat-
ed currency 10 payment Of a debt
bot e does not prevent any nlzn from
taking bank notes. or any thing else
IN payment u debt. that b. may think
proper 70 receive whcn offered bin.
n is true, Tie constitution declares
that the states SHALL NOT RMtr Bills
or CREDIT What vas meant by bills
Of credit we have never secn saiisfac.
iofily explained. Many persons SUD-
posed az FIRST. that bank nolss came
within that description 81 paper. Bot
a. some of the Sisles bad banks ON
hand when the consGiuiion was formed /
and others shortly alter established Z
them Che practice soon became general. /
and formed the settled policy Of ihe
country. The matter was then given
~, public opinion having resolved that
ne night 81 forming baaka existed in
he States. And u has 90 long been
exercised cad To such 81 eKtentl
the Ini0n. ihai 4 cannot