Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-07-19

4mixed State currency.
"a ----------------
& Mr.. Gillaspy's Defence.
81 The gentleman whose name stands al
1.-THE head Of this article, attempts, in a
lengthy article in the Republic of last
week, to justify the course of himself
land associates, in issuing $4,000 oil
8Shin Plasters. He also attempts to ex-
aplain some of the operations of the Board
lin the management of the Improvement
since he has been member Of it. The
#public have right TO hold Mr.. G. main
lily responsible for this issue: as he sta
ted in a speech at this place that he was
the individual on the Board who suggest
led resor, TO this course, But we will
notice the reasons assigned by Mr.. G.
for this issue. And we give his first one
as follows, in his own language:
1.-The State owed an homes, and hasd
T. EARNED debt to the Contractors of $780,
loco which they were unable for the time
being to pay, and common honesty re-
quired at our hands that we should ac-
knowledge that Indebtedness and devote
the entire receipts of the Office TO its pay
|ment."
If the object was as above stated, to
: "acknowledge that Indebtedness" TO the
3coniractors, and TO give 10 them an "evi-
Z dence of the amount which the State
owed them,' why was it not done in the
aggregate amounts due each contractor!
i Why split it up into small sums? This
Shows conclnsively that it was intended
#ior general circulation. If it had been
lin one aggregate sum, instead of passing
Jas circulating medium, the contractors
could have pledged them for money and
9paid of their hands, al a small Interest
Non the money. But does any one ask
Hwhat right have You TO ask the contrac.
tors to pay interest on money! We ask
what right the contractors have to make
leach laborer on the work lose a discount
fof 90 cents on each dollar he receives.
And what right have the Board to put
these small Shin Plasters in their hands,
to enable the contractors to pay i, to the
hands! Is it so great hardship for a
: few wealthy contractors. who make their
wealth easily by speculation. TO pay a
smal] amount Of interest; and is il moth.
ling TO make the poor, Industrious, hard.
working labourer Use 20 cents on every
dollar he earns!
Mr.. @. is very tenacious about doing
Justice to these rich contractors. Oh, i
wouldn't do for them to lose cent! Blu
he is quite willing TO see the labourei
paid off in rags And he now has ihs
boldness 10 ask working men--men who
he has helped to deprive Of a part o.
their wages, and their brother laborers,
10 vote for him once more, and place
him in position TO do them sill more
Injury. Will they do it! We shall see
But we are told that il is only Tho
+ Wings that are crying down this issue
thatit is good lawful stuff and the Con
1siitution allows its issue. Well, if so
why don't Mr.. Gillaspy take his $500
salary in this kind Of currency. The
Hoard have but little TO do, and until We
Try recently have had clerk TO do tina
little. Is i.ac.ing fairly for him to tax.
his salary in gold ant silver, and pay
these laborers in deprecated rags. w,
think not. Those who bear the hea
and burden of the work, ought TO receiv.
at least as good money as the members
of the Board.
But is it true that this cry that is beinl
made comes alone from Wings. II,
Drove that it comes from portion a
least Of the Democratic party, we Civ
below two resolutions recently passed a
Ia District Democratic Convention of Til
counties of Mahaska, Keokuk and Pow
keshiek. And as they came from a res
ponsible and respectable portion Of tn
Democracy Of the Valley, would it b
asking too much Of the Republic to re
quest them to publish these resolutions
and let all parts Of the party be heard
Here are the resolutions:
9th. ResoiUed, That the system re
cently adopted by the Board Of Publ
Works, of issuing scrip or certificates o
Indebtedness to circulate as money, i
injudicious. unconstitutional, without
sanction Of law, ia violation Of the 40
makinga grant, in opposition to Demo