The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-02-27
from the Speech Of Hon G.. L,
Yallandigham, on, the HUnited States
Note" Bill ITS ~

-
The House being in the Committee of the
the Treasury note bill
Mr.. VALLANDIGHM said: It
has been my habit, Mr.. Chairman,
to premeditate, whenever premedi-
tation was possible, whatever J.
have had to say in this House for
no man has Il right, in my judy
ment, to obtrude his immature and
undigcsted thoughts and opinions
upon a deliberative assembly,
From the laboratory of his mind
and the storehouse Of his memory,
it is his duty to bring forth, at all
times, as the occasion may permit,
whatever is most valuable and
there is no such thing as inspira-
ton IN matters of either law or
legislation, and least of all, certain
", upon questions of finance. And
Just at this moment especially, the
country and the Government de-
mand sound philosophy and stern
facts /; notvain theories, or what is
worse still, delus.ve and hazardous
experiments and contrivances. En-
~perimentum in UN cOrpore; and
never was the maxim more appli-
cable. ~
Nor am I to be deferred from a
faithful discharge of my duty by
the consciousness that my voice
may not be hardened to here or in
the country, because of the contin-
ued, persistent, but most causeiess
and malignant assaults G.;rd misrep.
RESERVATIONS to Which, for months
past, l have been subjected. Sir,
[ am here to reply to them to-day.
Neither am | to be driven from the
line of duty by them. "Strike--
but hear" Whatever a silencod
or a mendacious press, outside of
this House, may choose to with
hold or tossay, no man who is lit
to he. a member Of this House, will
allow his speech or his votes or his
publicconduct here to be controlled
by his personal hates or prejudiceS.
Sir, | recant nothing and would
expunge nothing from the record
Of the past, so far as l am concern
ed. But my path Of duty now. as
a Representative, is as clear as the
sun at broad noon. The SHIP OF
STATE IS UPON TIE ROCKS. | was
not the heImsman who drove her
there nor had / part or lot in di-
recting her course. But now, when
the sole question is, how shall she
be rescued? l will not any longer.
or at least not just now, inquire
who has done tie mischief. Sc
long as they who held control IN
sisted that she was upon her true
course and in no danger, but pros.
perously upon her voyage though
in the midst of the storm, l had
right to resist, and | did resist and
denounce the madness which wa;
driving her headlong to destruc'
ton. Brtnow, that the shipwrecl
stands confessed, | recognize, ant
here declare, it to be as much my
duty to labor for her preservation
as it is theirs who stranded he.
upon the beach. 3 4
In this spirit it is, sir, that [ ap
proach this great question; and
thank the House kindly for tn,
attention which they seem incIinet
to accord to me, and assure then
that it shall not be abused.
In the first place, sir, it precedc
wherei it ought to follow. ltassunle
sumes that the promise to,taX vii
give before IL dollar of tax has beef
laid much less collected, On tn
; faith of this credit, it expects tn.
t free circulation of $5O,OOO,O 900 al
ready issued, and the 500, 100000
proposed to be issued under it
own provisions. But, as if fearful
and most justly, too-that tn
G promise may not be received 70
performance, and that, at last, 1t
adequate tax may be assessed, OF
s If assessed, collected, it proceeds t.
declare these notes to be money
actual, substantial, tangible, AM
il veritabIe MONEY.
+, The Government is truly apps
tolic in its poverty. Silver an
+. gold it has none. Therefore on
Treasury note is a full, authorized
. compulsory discharge Of anothc
= Treasury note. Peter is to be rob
bed to pay. Paul; and Paul in turl
. is to pay Peter for Il nebt of hi
own out of the fruits Of the rob
berry. In plain English, and with
t. out metaphor, one promise to pa.
; is to be made a legal tender in sat
isfaction of another promise to pay
-, and the promise Of the Government
E to pay in paper, is to discharge tn
obligation Of the contract OF til
; individual debtor 10 pay his credi
tor in gold and silver.
+
But yet again, this bill stylesth
paper which it authorizes to b
y issued, "Upsted States notes
Well, Sir, words r things, an
th;s ohourn of name is for som