The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-05-22

the country But how have our expectations
been realized? What have we done! Let us see
whether we have not again been subsequently
echoing the will Of the Executive!
| Our first act to pass bill for the postpone
ment of the payment Of the fourth instalment to
the States TO withhold from them the sum ofup-
wards of nine millions of dollars, which by the
act of Odd Of June, 1886, we had contracted TO
put in their possession. BY that law 1t s provi-
ded "that all the money in the Treasury OF the
United States on the first of January 1887, reserv-
ing the sum of five millions of dollars should be
deposited with the States in proportion to their
respective representation IN the Senate ana
House of Representatives OF the United
States" Under this law it became The duty OF
the Secretary of the Treasury, to reserve five
millions out of it for the of the government
and appropriate the balance, whatever i; might
be; to the States as already mentioned. The
Secretary of The Treasury performed this duty
and found that there were upwards OF iorty-two
millions of-dollars III the Treasury. He reserved
the five millions and then announced 10 the Diff
ferent states Of the Union, that there was in the
| Treasury specifically set apart for them the sum
of thirty seven millions Of dollars, TO be paid to
them in four instruments. The States agreed TO
receive the money. Three instalments of the
money they did receive. The fourth and last in
stalment of between nine and ten millions of dol
lars YVES TO have been paid TO them on the first
| of October. This is a plain uuvarnished state
ment of the case. Thus we see that on the first
day of Janaury 1887, there in the Treasury
thirty seven millions of money specifically set IA
part by the law for the states. There it
The Secretary of the Treasury counted it and
declared it to he there. Now why has not this
money been all paid to the States? Was it be-
cause this House passed bill for the postpone
ment of ,he last payment No, sir, but be-
cause THIS administration had previously used Has
money. for their o,cn purposes. They, Martin Van
Buren and his administration, betrayed the trust
reposed in them, squandered this money-and
when the Representatives of the people assemble
| here i'll special session, we are informed by the
President and his Secretary OF the Treasury that
the money that was in the Treasury for the
States is gone, has evaporated and that we shall
! have 10 postpone the payment of one fourth OF it,
| Thus we see that the money was used by the ad-
mnstration. The President and his policy have
postponed the payment of the fourth instalment
Congress has had nothing to do with it, The
money there for the States OH the first Of
January 1887. When we met here eight months
afterwards, it not there. Suppose the Bill
for postponing It's payment had not been passed.
could the states have got The money? No. Why?
Because the administration had previously used
the money that was specifically set apart for Them
Thus you perceive that the executive postponed
the payment OF it, And after doing this he very
moGeSty calls upon Congress to pass law TO ITO
,ohat he hal previously done! Well, and what
did Congress do? Why again they echo the
will of the President, pass law postponing what
had already been postponed, and declaring a SOL
ensn tdlsehOod to the country; that zoe, yes, that ace
! had withheld from the people of the States nine
millions and half of money when it had been
done months before by the executive rulers OF
! our country!
This is the first exhibition of the independence
of this body! live continue thus to comply with
the behests Of power and to deIude and betray
the people, l ask, in the name OF Heaven, what
is to become of our country and its free institu-
tions9
The second great measure which the admins
tration commanded yon TO pass, and which you
did pass, was the bill for the manufacture of ten
millions of Treasury notes. Yes, ten millions OF
paper money---ten millions not of Bank rags,
but Government rags-ten millions Of old con |
tinentia paper-ten millions of shin plasters |
And is it possible that these the fruits of those
long years of exciting, convusing dis,racting ex-
periments, which our Rulers promised us should |
produce such safe and convenient currency,
and food the whole land with gold? Aye, gold, |
gold, was the cry and now we hare gold with IA
vengence The banner of our Rulers has had
for its motto, not our country, nor liberty, nor
patriotism, nor union, nor any other ennobling
or inspiring sentiment ); no, sir, but that miser-
able and nercenary promise 'for gold gold, gold"
For years have our people been deluded with
the empty promise of gold. And now, at the
very moment when they reach forth their ex
pecting hands to possess it, like the gold which
is said to reward Il bargain with the Prince Of
darkness il turns in their grasp into dust and
ashes The Government have been raking it TO-
gether from all quarters of the earth. They have
wrung it with an iron and unrelenting grasp from
the possession of the people. They have forced
it out ofcircualiion. 1t is money 10 longer 1t
is now merchandise. 1t is bought and sold, as
you would buy your bread or any other necessary
or convenience oflife The people are forced to
buy it in order to pay their debts to the govern
ment. And what does the government do with
it -? pay it back to the people? No, sir, no, hut
magnanmously gives it TO the office holders!-
The office holders then sell it to the people at
profit of from seven to twelve per cent. The
people again pay it to the government from
which, before, it Immediately passes to the
office holders, who again sell it to the people at
a large profit. Thus it moves round and round
in one continued and contracted circle, cursng
the people, and taking at every turn from their
hard earnings the amount ofpremiun paid for 1t
and enriching the pampered Office holders, just