The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-01

elaboration. he thought the eminent b.r,.
| ers whose names were attached to the cali hod
signed 1t hastily, but doubtless with the hest
intentions He did not suppose they really in.
tended to cripple the government and :ssist
the enemies of the country. The bin was
passed to break up the operations of gold spec.
ulators, and not to throw obstacles in the wav
of legitimate business. The speaker referraS
to instances of spectators running aronnd
town on Tuesday. and inquiring of parties if
they had any gold to sell. He believed this
was done for the express purpose of running
gagged in it were agents ofJefferson Davis He
then moved committee of five (of which Mr..
James Brown should be charman) be appoint
ed to consider the whole subject and make an
appeal to Congress for such modification of
the law as reflection and experience might
show to be necessary; and he also moved that
every person present pledge himself to comply
with the provisions of the law until it was
amended. He believed by taking this course,
the meeting would gain its point.
Mr.. Marcuse briefly and calmly replied to
Mr.. Chittenden. He could conscientiOusly say
that he was loyal supporter of the govern.
ment; and that his only object in appearing at
the meeting was to protect the commercial in
ter tsrests Of the city which was stagnating under
the demand for gold on Tuesday, Mr.. Marcuse
had taken pains to inform himself on the sub
ject, and believed that it was a strictly legiti-
mate demand. He did not believe that 7se-
cession" sympathizers had the least part or par
Gel in it,
Mr.. James M. Brown (of Brown Brothers &
Coz called renewed attention to the injuries
which the gold bill inflicted on trade, and said
that it eftectually prevented the transaction of
the foreign exchange business by their firm.
II greenbacks had to be always paid out for
exchange, there was not bank in the city that
could stand the draft on it for one day.
Mr.. Chittenden maintained that the bill could
not to any serious extent, block the regular
trade of the city, though it would crush out the
gold Spectators.
Mr.. Richard Bell sustained MIR. Chittendens
position.
Mr.. John Tho mpson, of the First National
Bank, defended the law, and believed that this
agitation against it would cause it to be
amended with,more stringent provisions; and
that another law would be passed applying the
principles of the gold bill to all stock opera
tion-requiring the payment of greenbacks,
&c. Mr.. Thompson, in most impressive
voice, and, with great earnestness of manner,
then solemnly worned the meeting that there
was power in the land greater than the mon
etary power of Wall street, and that it is not
to te trifled with. A little applause and con-
siderable halfsuppressed laughter.
Mr.. Marcuse received Mr.. Chittendens mo-
ton for the appointment of a committee of
live (the chairman to be one
The motion was adopted with an amendment
that the chair have time to select the other
four members of the committee.
MIR. Chittenden's motion that gentlemen
present pledge themselves to comply with the
provisions of the bill, &c, was not acted on
On motion of James NJ. Brown the meeting
adjourned.