The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1864-11-26
A Specific Contrack Act for Idaho.

The first two States have upon their statute
: books laws termed Speci6; Contract Acts
and, the. principal reason urged in Nevada
why State Government should be adopted
was that by doing SO similar statute might
4 be enacted for that State-Governor Nye
having vetoed the bill passed by the Terrific
rial Legislature as contrary to the policy OF
the General Government. Several Republi-
cans, including the Idaho Statesman, are now
calling for. similar statute for Idaho Terri
TORY.
These Specific Contract Acts provide for
the enforcement of a written promise to pay
in gold or silver, through the agency Of the
State or Territorial practically sus-
pending the operation of the Congressional
Legal Tender Act within the boundaries of
that State or Territory. Is tia coincidence
merely that all of the States that have adop-
ted these Notification acts, are Republican
in politics The Legal Tender act was pass
ed by Congress, and signed by Mr.. Lincoln,
under the pressure of "military necessity"
The act of Congress declares the notes legal
tender for all debts, public and private, with
two exceptions Upon the back of each Of
the bills the following words are printed
"This note is legal tender for all debts,
"public and private, except duties on imports
g and interest on the public debit
Here the State Legislature steps in and as
emphatically declare those notes legal ten
der for NO debt, and proceeds to invest the
courts with power to so declare them OF no
value whatever as a tender, where there has,
been any agreement to pay in gold or silver.
These Specific Contract acts are as clearly
acts Of Notification as human language can
make them. They array the State or Terrific
~ in belligerent attitude against the Fed
eral overnnent-repealing or suSpending
the law of Congress within their limits In
principle, they pass far beyond anything ever
claimed by the most, extreme State Rights
party. Calhoun claimed the right in State
to nullify law Of Congress only when that
State believed the law Unconstitutional, and
only as a final and desperate remedy against
the perpetuation of an evil that could not be
successfully overcome in any other manner
But these Republicans, claiming that the act
of Congress is Constitutional, at the same
claim right and power in State, and
even in a Territory, to nullify that Congress
sonal statute. If the Legal Tender act is,
constitutional, the Specific Contract acts, as
far as the national currency is concerned,
virtually put the State or Territory.out of the
Union. If the Legislatures possess the pow
er to exclude the national currency, they pos
sess the power to pass an ordinance of Sc
cession.
While the matter was pending in the Cali
fornia Legislature last Winter, Chase, Secre-
tary of the Treasury, telegraphed to the
friends of the Administration, demanding the /
repeal of the Specific Contract act, declaring
it greater injury to 'tthe Government than
the rebels could infict.. Even the Baltimore
Convention which nominated Lincoln made
the maintenance of the Legal Tender. act the
test, of "loyalty." What, then becomes of
the "loyalty" and the, patriotism y of the
of this coast?.s If every State
and Territory should pass similar enactments,
what wouldi of the. National Gurren-
Cyl. How. lpuch, would "greenbacks" be
worth 2 What sort of, /" support" are these
lending. to- the Government
they haye.-told us until. the sonnd has be-
come very, familiar, that depreeiating the
lational currency, is alending aidaand COM
'ort to the rebellion" On, charges of this
crime. many in the.East haves baen arrested
and imprisoned under directs orders from
The Republicans who favor
he measure are convicted as guilty Of the
if the offense, on their own indictment.
There is no.escape from the web of incon~.
,istencies in which trey are entangled. They
ire consistent in only one thing. The Repub
leans were the original nullifeTsin the Union
md they still adhere to the policy when it
suits their interests. They commenced by
the Fugitive Slave Act, and, they |,
end by repudiatipg the National Currency.
They are faithful only to one Injunction
= Put money in thy purse" Their political