The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-02-14
Congressional Proceedings.
NNNYIIih CONGRESS senate.
First Session.

Washington, FEB. 13-Mr. Davis, XVI pro-
scented the following series Of resolution =
TtAt tte e. Institution IL the Fundamental law of
The Government. Tina, the rights Of the peppls
are iiJed and immutablo, anil canno, be abro0atc,l
~ any other power than the Constitution. Tnat
any attempt - Abrpgate and destroy the riRhts
qua 'htsd ~ tie Constitution, would be inhu.
man, uhJuht ami an outrage upon civilization -
That there Is no power In the Constitution b. abro.
gate or desToy any right ~ the people. That any
rights and privileges suspended by the existenc e
"l war NJ tue end Of the he resumed by the
people ~ fthey hsd not been suspended. That
no state y any vote Of secession or any other act
can At rogate her rights or obligations, or the ob-
cations Of the Unite States 10 preserve her pe1ple
IN All their rights ard guarantee 70 them State
Republican Government. ThA there can be no
cohhscAhun Of any property Of the rights Of loyal
QUEENS, unless for acts declared 10 be- criminal
That . IL tie duty OF tie United States 10 suppress
the reb, Hon b. carry the sword" in Que hand
and tie solve branch" in the other, AMI
IN restore tie States as they were before the
war.
on motion Of Mr.. Powell Ky J the bill n fix the
number oi cIreseutatiyes in Tie House, was taken
up TIE bill hNes tie number at two hundred aud
thirty mine,
TIE iii was postponed until tomorrow.
The Treasury Note hill WAS taken up.
Mr. Fessenden's amendment 10 make the bonds
rcieeinane after i've years. ~ the pleasure Of the
| nitcd States, Was Withdrawn.
Mr. CQlsmer wa moved 20 strike ont that por-
ton of the bill which makes the notes illegal
tender Tor private debts"
4
m'nt, and u II WAS adopted he should vote against
the bill. lie considered th,t IL would be unjust
wieEeuy nnJust n place all this money In the
hands u tie soldiers and employees Of the Govern
ment forcing them 10 take IL, and then MOI ~ pro-
teet II sft1r 10 Was In their hands.
The people OF Massachusetts, were In favor OF tie
bill ~ u stands with great unanmity, and he be-
ieyed that no bill except bill for taxation Iwould
be received with sn much Joy "a this bill with the
legal tender. lie tWilsop1 thought the arguments
90 the senator from Maine tFessendenl aud the
IN NNr I'll Al
against the issuing Of the notes al all than against
ihe legal tender II we do not make these notes
legal tender we shall have every curb-stone broker
deIreciatng tie notes, and TIE soldiers and sailors
WIZ be compelled 20 submit N all sorts II shaves
by the brokers. We ought u show the country
that we are determined u protect the credit Of the
country, aud carry u safely through. The meT-
chants generally favor the making Of these notes a
Legal tender, sud by making them 81, the families
Of soldiers, when the little pttance comes from the
field, can set fun value for them. lie had reciyed
letter from nine merchants representing forty mil.
liz ms OF dollars OF capital, who favor making the
notes legal tender, and they say they do NOT know
a merchant in the City Of Boston who is not in
favor of II.
Mr.. CollAn.er modified his amendment ~ as n
strike out all that portion of tho bill which makes
the notes n legal ter der FOR debts OF the United
States, or any kind Of debts, including the amend
m,nt u The Committee providing thai all the inter
est be paid in coin.
Mr.. sherman Iohio) believed that there was
necessity for making these notes a legal ten Ter.
Every organ ~ financial opinion in the country
agrees that ID is Indispensable lie tShermapl con
tended that u Is perfectly constitutional ~ Issue
the notes. lie should vote for this measure as a
temporary necessity 10 carry ON the war.
Mr. Cowan tPennl reierrtd ~ the Constitution,
saying that certain powers were delegated 10 the
Government, and others reserved To the states"
Another provision in tho Constitution was, that
the states shall not emit bills u credit, coin
ney, or pass laws impairing the obligations Of con-
tracts" lie was opposed W this measure because
il impaired oontracts There was not a Judge In
the land but would declare that this measure was
not constitutional.
Mr. Doolittle twis believed /, was the intention
Of the trainers Of the Constitution not TO have any
paper money. But paper money does exist, and has
existed 30 long that we cannot now carry on tho
Government with gold and silver. lie was In favor
81 limiting this legal tender TO debts hereafter con-
uacted
Mr.. sumner MASS referred to the early history
o. lhe issue ofpaper money. IL was issued first In
this country In Massachusetts In 1902, and made a
legal tender In iTl2; in Rhode Island In l1i0; in
Connecticut in 1909; in Pennsyyania in 1882; In
Delaware in 1889; In Maryland in 1885, in Virginia
IN l7b5, where they called treasury notes, and
made legal tender for private debts; In North Ca
roina In 1Tis; in South Carolina 1903, but were
not made legal tender till afterwards. In law as
anerward, they were called bills u crodlt. lie
tended that they considered AZ bills of credit
by the trainers 81 the Constitution. He thought II
doubtful policy to issue notes al this time. He
thought II we bad authority 10 issue notes at ala we
had the right TO make them a tender.
The question on Mr.. CollAmar's amendment, TO
strike out the legal tender, &C., was disagreed To-
follows
an. FEES enden, Foot Foster, Ken edy, King, Lat
ham, Nesmith, Pearce, Powell, Salisbury, Simmons,
Thompson and Welley-lI'
NAYs-MesmH. Chandler, Clark, Davis, Dixon,
Doolitsle, Harlan, Harris, Henderson, Howard,
Howe, Lane, Nnd.l McDougall. Morrill,, Pomeroy,
Rice, sherman, sumner, Ten Eyck, Wade, Wilkin.
son; Wilson, tMasal Wilson, tMS,l-ss;, .,,0~ Al.
notes 70 be funded In two years bonds, bearing per
eni, Interest. Adopted.