The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-28
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES GARLAND,

SPEECH OF HON. JAMES GARLAND,
OF VIRGINIA,
Against the financial policy Of the Administra-
tion and in uindication Of the Conservative
Republicans. Delivered in the House Of
Representatives, Feb. %, 1889.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN
extremely regret the necessity which, at this ad-
vanced period Of the session. compes to address the
committee. would gladly have forborne, but for the
unceasng torrent of denunciaon and abuse which has
been SO lavishly and mercessy poured out upon the
heads OF small band here, called Conservatives with
which stand associated for their perseverng resistance
to the financial schemes Of the administration They
have been stigmatized traitors dsseriers renegades
and dposfdtes not only by The press sustaining the Ad
minstration but by members this floor.
II these denunciaons and epthets had been confined
to the llcentious and degraded press Of the day they
had extended no further than this Hail. should have
been willing to have passed them by, UNDECIDED and
noticed. But, sir it has been pronounced by the homo
rabe member from Ohio, (Mr. Duncan,) in speech
which is now spreading in every direction through the
country, that in the estimation of this administration
Conservatism IS sunk deeper IN base iniquy, foul
corruption and black hypocrisy than modern tchig
gerry itself" having charged upon the Wing party,
liberal portion Of inquy, corruption and hypocrisy 1t
is my purpose upon the present occasion, to contrast
the opinions held by the Conservatives with those
formerly and pery remotely held by the late and pre-
sent administrations with view TO determine whether
the called, Conservatives have departed from any Of
their former principles, held in common with the admi-
nistation and are justly obnoxious to the charges Of
reachey, desertion, corruption and apostacy, which
has been made against them.
Before entering into the discussion of the questions
of difference between the administration and myself,
deem proper to remark that shall follow the gen.
temen, who in this debate, have ranged through the
whole history Of the late administration and discuss
pics which have been discussed and again,
until they have become stale and ksome but shall
fine myself to those topics which bear directly upon the
great questions which agtate the public mind and
excite the deep and pervadng interest and attention of
the American people, and in which the destnies Of the
nation are so deeply involved ] was friend Of Gen.
Jacksons administration and although upon ques-
tons differed with him. yet, in the main, cordially
approved and ardenty supported the measures OF his
administration For that support have nothing to re-
gret, nor any apology to make. entertain now pre-
cisey the opinions which entertained then, hav
ing sufficient cause to change them cordially
united with, and heartily sustained him in his terrible
conflict with the late Bank of the United States, and
glored in that triumph which, for the honor and safety
Of the country he achieved formidable adver
sary That institution PROSTATE, and nothing but
that ndiscreton which sometimes turns victory into de-
feat can reanmate and again rally it TO the charge.
re,ract nothing said done in support OF that adm-
nistration
respectfully solicit the kind indulgence Of the Chair
and the Committee, while attempt TO rcpe charge
which has been made against me, growing out OF the
proceedings OF the last session of Congress IN reference
10 the public deposites, and then will proceed to per.
form the duty for which have risen On the night Of
the I'd Of July last, just FIVE days before the close Of
the session, bill from the Senate providing Tor the re-
cepton in the payment of the public revenues Of the
notes Of all speciepaying banks, which, after liked
period, should discontinue the issue and use OF notes
under five dollars notwithstanding the prohibition OF the
act OF June, 1882. up for consideration To this
bill various amendments offered calculated, in my
opinion, only to embarrass and defeat it,
Among the many amendments offered, was the fol-
lowing, by an honorable member sm Maine (Mr, Par
ris) to amendment which had been offered by an ho-
norabe gentleman from N. Y. (Mr Curtis)
+" Propided horeper That no bank shall be deposit
tory Of the moneys Of the government which shall not
keep in its vaults dollar in specie to every FIVE OF
its liabilities"
Before the question taken this amendment,
an honorable member from S Carolina, (Mr. CampbeU)
submitted motion "tha the said bill be committed to
the Committee Of Ways and Means, with instructions
SO to amend it, as TO provide, that the Government de-