Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-16
MAMMOTH MEETING
OF BUSINESS MEN OF ST. PAUL
TO 1DOFT MEALS OF
Protection Against Wildcat Currency!

VI oO04NEo0 ACN We "a. fAU1
70 ADOPT MEALS OF
Protection Against Wildcat Currency!
Pursuant to the call published in the city
papers, signed by all the principal Business
Men, Capitalists, Taxpayers and Merchants
of the city, a large crowd assembled at the
Court House on Saturday evening the 9th inst.
to adopt speedy and effective means for the
protection of the People of Minnesota from
the issue and circulation of WILDCAT
RAILROAD CURRENCY" as the call term.
ed it.
The meeting was organised by the election
of Mayor D. A. Robertson as Chairman, and
j. Jay Knox Esq, as Secretary.
The Chairman on taking his seat made an
address in his usual pungent and spicy style
referring to the troubles that have been afflict
ing us for so long, and the necessity for
some speedy and proper means of getting
remedy for them pitching into the Forty
Thieves of Wisconsin" who he said, are still
plotting to our destruction, and now want to
get our fall crop, our last resource, into their
grasp, &C., which was applauded frequently.
James E. Palmer Esq, being loudly called
on, said it is the duty of every man to be
able to give reason "for the faith that is in
him." The object of our assembly is one
important-very important--to our future des-
tiny as State and Mercantile People. Ithad
been the history of every State to be cursed
in its early days with swindlers of all des-
criptions, who had corrupted legislation and
plundered the people. But however bad 9TH
ers may have been, poor and worthless cir
culating medium reaches home to every ones
pocket, and the question even sometimes be-
comes, twill this lot of money (?) have
buy me a meal Of .tood?" When troubles like
these afflict people, no wonder they rise
interested in them, for all feel as now, that
'promises held to the ear, are broken to the
hope"
1t was such promises as these-promises
of redemption deceived us into receiv-
ing the money at first We knew what ought
to be the requisites of good currency, its safe
guards, its protection-but we gave this stuff
its existence ny taking it, and now will see its
funeral 1t is to devise means and plans for
our safety that we had met
Mr. VIM L. Banning, by request, addressed
the meeting in lengthy speech, which was
warmly applauded. He said he should speak
3 candidly and fearlessly, and appeal to the
Q sense and sober thought of his hearers. He
, had differed from other citizens in regard to
questions once agitated, but now he buried
the Ratchet, and we would all confer together
! how we shall be relieved from our present
straits. In regard to the present meeting he
t had had nothing to do-had not even signed
= the call. But he still held to his form
er positions on certain questions, and asked
justice of the newspapers which had misrep-
Y resented him.
i He said the reason why we have not good
4 currency now Is on account of the amend
, ment to the bank bill fraudulently got through
7 on the eve Of the last session, so that the
t railroad managers could make money out Of
j. their unsaleable bonds Step by step he
had followed the Forty Thieves through thei,
Vaccinations, and knew that the bill unde,
y which the bastard currency is issued was
II passed by bribery, and the results will etfec
n us for years:
: He said if the people would elect to the mex
70 Legislature incorruptible men who will inves
" tigatc the frauds he mentioned, he would un
IS horse these swindlers.
Currency must have some basis 1t mus
e either be prompt redemption in gold or ex
10 change, or the securities must be such, a.
when solo, will redeem it dollar for dollar
= The circulation Of the railroad money keep
Re out good currency. If issued, too on stock
of no market value, and if sold, what is tn
currency WORTHY The price of the bonds
- But then the bonds are worth nothing-that'
the reason the money won't go. He respecte,
IS official position and dignity, but if the Gov
le ernor steps dozen from his station, he would
urge him to spare us the evils of the STEP
. Why do they permit these things to 90 on
10 He would not say they were interested, bu
n they owe it to u.s. seeing the condition thing
i'll arein, to stop grinding out the depreciate,
currency.
The swindIers-the,Forty Thieves he ha,
r. mentioned, had bought up the Wisconsin
That is the history of our State too. Tn
le State bonds honestly voted by you to bull,
to roads, &C., lad leen used to PAY corruptio,
Or debts-to buy Legislators Bot We must no
~ repudiate them-we must pay honestly con
tracted debts, but STOP THE FARTHER Issin
T. FROM THE STATE. About million and hal
re had been honestly expended. Make thi
of amount good, and we will have that much SAT
n basis for currency. But the issue on tn
present bonds must be stopped. We hav
- learned lesson now, but dear one
We see the evils, and cannot be again de
ne ceived. But another litter is coming on =
&c While redeemed it will be taken, and It woult
# pay these men to sink two or three hundred
thousand dollars in gold to redeem, provided
IL they could get out million of the currcnc,
OF and then let it fall lifeless on the people, HI
of said they were still connecting their schemes
IN while we are complaining and grumblng they
!. are at work to draw the coils still tighte
n' around US. They cannot sell their bonds
We they must get them out in currency. Wha
e. shall be done to protect ourselves against thi
.;r calamity is the question before US.
a l.. II. Eddy, Esq, in response to calls, sal
~ he agreed, too, that we all understood tn
re evils, but the remedy-that was the question
a D. w. Ingersoll, Esq, was called for, bu
vn said he had come out to learn what plan coul
70 be proposed, and declined presenting his view
:. at length.
n. DR.. Day was called for, and replied by NOV
ing the appointment of committee of five t
draft resolutions expressive of the sense
lis the meeting, which was carried.
= The Chair appointed as such Committe
" Messrs. David Day, James E. Palmer, L. H
a. Eddy, Jas. c. Racquet, and d. W. Ingersol
n. Richard Marvin, Esq, being called out sal
he differed from some of the speakers i
their views. Evil predictions had been mad
by many in the outset of these Railroad mai
tiers, and in order to have them fulfilled, ha
influenced the result to some extent. Heonc
he thought the Railroads could redeem their Gu,
pc rency, but sees now they cannot. Confdenc
r is destroyed, and the bonds would have n
- market value, which they might have had t
ne some extent if not for so much opposition t
be them. -'...
Col. G. Hewett said he knew but little abou
r. the question really, and would not urge hi
!, opinions on the meeting in preference to 9th
y ers more skilled in the subject He had So
d. Of the wild cat currency when it went up