Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-21

ell listen with respect, informs us that Ar.
Webster, In his celebrated speech upon the
''specie circular" takes the ground that II
is contrary 10 the Constitution for Con-
gress 10 make any thing but gold and silver
8 legal tender. Mr.. Webster did indeed ex.
press that opinion; but even be, great as
he was, did not always speak with the calm
deliberatioR Of Judge upon the bench
he sometimes spoke as q politician rather
than as G great constitutional lawyer. Il
is unWise to infer, because he advanced
certain opinion In heated partisan debate
with Mr.. Benton in 1885, that he would
now, II living, free from all party bias,
looking only at the welfare Of the country,
with the grave TeSpO 1sibilites Of this hour
resting upon him, advocate the same Opin-
ion.
Mr.. Webster was great, but he Was falli-
BILE. The Senator from Perry would not
any more than myself, accept his author
ity upon ell constitutional questions. Mr..
| Webster declared in his we'll known speech
Of the 7th Of March, 1885, that he had al
ways been of the opinion, that Congress
had no power to legislate for the rendition
Of fugitiVes from service. The Senator
from Perry will hardly agree with Mr..
Websters views upon this point. MrWeb.
ster alWsys held, that q United states
Bank Is constitution. What do our
friends who oppose these resolutions say
to this. ..
think that but little can be done towards
settling any constitutional question, by
quoting the opinion Of our more modern
public men. They differed greatly among
themselves upon all the exciting topics Of
the day, and the record of each is not al
wsys consistent with itself Passages can
doubtless be found in their speeches iavoring
both sides of all the constitutional questions
which have been before the country for the
last 6fty years. In discussions like the pres
ent we naturally quote with great commen-
dation such of their opinions as accord with
our own, and reject with little ceremony such
as do not. II Webster had expressed the
opinion that such bill as that now before
Congress is constitutional, it is doubtful
whether our opponents would have discover.
ed whether he ever said anything upon the
subject feel justified, therefore, in turn
ing from concentrates upon the constitution
to the constitution itself. In this time ofgreat
national peril, it is well for us to clear away
the rubbish which politicians have heaped
upon the rock of the constitution, and plant
our feet upon the solid granite which the
strong-handed Fathers laid.
But l ask, in the next place, do the sue
cess Of our armies and the prosperity of our
country require the passage OF the bill maxi
, ing Treasury Notes legal tender2 Every
where the great majority of those who are
best informed answer this question in the
affirmative. The best business men and the
most intelligent and influential presses favor
{ the bill. Those who are at the head Of af-
fairs in the government, and who have the
best means Of knowing what the public in
terest demands, are nearly unanimous for the
measure. 1t is said that the President of the
United States has expressed his approval oi
it The Attorney General has pronounced
1t to be constitutional and necessary. A large
! majority of the House Of Representatives
have voted fer it. The Secretary of the
! Treasury, whose ability, experience, patri-
otism and knowledge of the condition of the
Treasury and the wants of the country, give
to bis opinion more weight probably, than
the opinion of any other man in the nation
is entitled to, in temperate, but unmistakable
language evinces his deep feeling of the ne
cessity for the measure now under considera-
ton in Congress- measure which none ef
its advocates regard as desirable in itself, but
which they all believe to be much the less Of
the evils which threaten Us. In q recent
communication to the Committee Of Ways
and Means, Mr.. Chase says:
1.-THE provision making the United States
notes legal tender has doubtless been well
considered by the committee, and their con-
cluslons need no support from any Observa-
ton of mine. think it my duty, however,
to say that, in respect to this provision, my
reflections have conducted me TO the same
conclusions they have reached. tbs not I'M
known to them that have felt, nor do wish
I to conceal that now feel,a great aversion to
making anything but coin legal tender in
payment of debts. It has been my anxious
wish to avoid the necessity of such legisla-
ton. 1t is, however, at present impossible,
in consequence of the large expenditures en-
tailed by the war, and the suspension of the
banks, to procure sufficient coin for the dis
bursements; and it has, therefore, become
indispensably necessary that weahould resort
to the issue Of United States notes. The
making them legal tender might however,
sill be svolded if the willingness manifested
by the people generally, by railroa compan-
les, and by many of the banking institutions,
to receive and pay them as money in all
transactions, were absolutely or practically
universal; but, unfortunately, there are some
persons and some institutions which refuse to
receive and pay them, and whose action
tends not merely to the unnecessary depreci-
alton of the notes, but to establish discrimi-
nations in business against those who in this
matter give cordial support to the Govern.
ment, and in favor of those who do not
Such Determinations should, if possible, be
prevented; and the provision making the
notes legal tender, in great measure al
least, prevents it, by putting all citizens in
this respect on the same level, both of rights
and dulies."
cannot be Indifferent to this call for aid.
1t comes from one who bas been placed al
the helm of the ship of state tossed upon
stormy cas-. With patriotic heart and q
stout hand, he is guiding the staunch old
craft to port of safety. As he struggles
with the helm, and feels the strain of the
tempest on his arm, be calls to his fellow
passengers to put forth all their strength to
aid him in saving the ship. God forbid that
We should fail to hear the call, or hearing,
should fail to respond.
Much has been said in the course of this
discussion about jackson and Webster.
could wish that they were both in the Con-
gress of the country to-day. Frequently IS
they differed while living, believe, that
could their great souls be permitted to re-
visit the scenes which their presence once
honored, they would unite in urging the
passage of the bill now under discussion in
the National Legislature. They would dis
miss party pIejudices from their hearts
They would cast behind them the pride Of q
seeming, but false consistency. The voice
of Webster would once more be heard re.
sounding through those halls, saying, eIn
the name of constitutional liberty, let it be
doneP And the Hero of New Orleans, who
| never hesitat. d to take the responsibility