Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-12-17
THE SPECIFIC CONTRACT LAW.
ADDRESS OF J. QUINN THORNTON TO THE
PEOPLE OF OREGON.

l CannOe
sent, in brief manner circumstances will permit,
my views upon the subject Of the Specific Contract Law
recently passed by the Legislative Assembly, together
with the reasons which influenced me then to oppose
its passage, and which prompt me now to speak of it
as dsloya in its principle, pcrncious i'll its tendency,
and dangerous as a precedent.
When California passed the law from which the one
ir question mainly copied, we we're all shocked,
because felt that it was cruel and ungracous blow
upon the Government, while engaged in mortal strug
gle with tho most gigantic rebellion that ever desoated
a country carried mourning into families But time,
and the views take of the interests of the peo-
pie of Oregon disconnected with those of our fellow
citizens east Of the Rocky Mountains, have wrought a
very remarkable change in the feelings and opinions Of
many this side. We have passed a bill atFbrding
abundant proof that capable OF degree of in
gratitude and selishncss equal to any which ever ever
might well imagine that when this almost treasona-
bic act about to take its place upon statute
book, he bchcld the genius of our country mournuly
and sOrrowuly gathering her robes about her and eX-
claiming, And you too BrutusV
While am not prepared to say that the gentlemen
who voted for the bill disloyal in the in
which we speak Of jeff. Davis being disloyal, l am
sure that their ideas of loyalty in possible sense
like mine. For the sake of promoting, according to
datc the 10th resolution Of the Baltimore Platform,
and thus do all they can to depreciate the National
Currency and to bring it into dsreputS would not do
the language of that 10th resolution:
10. Resoired, The. the National Faith, pledged for
the redemption of the public debt, must be kept nvio.
c.
and rigid responsibility in the public expendi-
lures, and vigorous and just system Of taxation
THAT IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY LOYAL
STATE TO SUSTAIN THE CREDIT AND PRO-
KENCY."
hesitate not to say that the is insincere and
mscad, who Processes to doubt that the lcgi-
and inevitable effect of the law in question IS
destroy the credit of the National Currency and to drive
it Out of circulation medium Of commercial ex-
changes.
But this measure is only disoyal and reasonable
ending ultimately in the disruption and defeat of the
Union party, but it is unwise n financial measure,
since will bring disaster and distress upon the State.
Wall Street capitalists nothing for God the
country except they in these paying per cent.
upon their investments But the dealing in money has
tendency sharpen mems perceptions of profit, just
as necessity, becomes the mother of invention. As
long Oregon and California retain purely metallic
currency, under circumstances standing in connection
with specific contract law making gold worth 263,
Eastern capitalists will prefer to close their Golfers
rather than embark in any enterprise and pay premium
on gold which forbids Investments in California and
Nevada Stocks in aLy scheme in Oregon which looks
to the development Of internal We
have railroad up the valley locks around the falls
to give impetus to every artery of trade and industry
Government currency and refuse by all the means in
our power to sustain its credit and promote its
medium of exchanges, in accordance with the letter
and spirit of the 10th resolution of the Baltimore Plat
form. And the man who votes for specific law and
yet processes to stand that PLATFORM deceves nobody
put himself since is apparent to any one that while
other he r'scly hrusts from him the mother that
shed him upon her bosom, saying, Your bond is not
good, and will not receiveit. want the gold instead,
and will have it," Such man may profess to be a
dntiful and loving son, but hesitate not say that
with all his fair possessions there those who may
believe that he
us like villain with smiling check;
goodly apple, with rotten heart"
Men constituted that their supposed interests
very often blunt their sensbiities, pervert their udg
ment and ovcrturn their principles, to extent that
may well excite alarm and feeling not unlike that Of
Uagot, who u male to excain,
.And that's the wayering commons; for their love
l.ies IN their purses; and whose cmpties them,
BY 70 mach dils their hearts with deadly hate"
Il h Ooly thus that account for the very re-
maskable change observable in the opinions Of gentle
men in various portions Of the State, compared with
those they expressed even few months ago
TIE Spee6c Contracs Law, it passed both Houses
9" ,se ssss ssaa . n ssss
Sisea bs the u0st rampant secesSonist planting him.
.eh spua sssis ngAss .sd ignoring the authority ol
that great Fundamental Law which declares that this
Conssuson ana the ia~s and treaties made in pursu.
anes thrsrof. shall be the supreme iaw of the lanA
- vert neeseeas<. oos being without lis signi
nrae~ she fses that every zaa in hasa branches o!
Lexsasaurr sse = szpPs~ca 10 BE- IN synpsshy sih
an ~Ar -skiax "a distract The ssvefnneu, In its
eSrss - erssa sh< rss~il.n sss the h IN esn-
PAY .Hs s-ssses: n.a.s<r ealiIaS themselves s.p
S~<a<ss q tnr 1~sssnmgnf the nnasxre- Tls
Sn-s1 e sseA es~Eenxs esAs krsax Ila~srssssa tbs
ss II rszrsr eF~ e~is and rss-ie>1zkes al szrrsssnx
an<ffs n2H.. m sss< szRs Antrs- ! uus that
.ssA ~ es~swa ~ Y~s~~srs~~. ss~S~rsH. I'D ny
ts~eSs % sn~izae ss ena-sx- usA xAssw n~r~ IA
TSge=f SnA gs~erns.sEs sr~AAg ~ A<6~sd tAr fzf<
"a @-@4s& -S~sxs ih< p<rss<sEss As.<sars e r~S-
n<zs<d r~2ssnrs wa~< sszfs are staiE<x ~<h erixss
H-~x pr--a1rs d o. ~.rsasr q sA~ .sss .ss.u.
i~ - s'n<e kss~ r.xzArl = - As~sn<y u
".-1sss s-ssas4. IN ssss~s snRs<sf - n~a<m sss<~
& s.~~<w Il t~r ~. - - ss-zs. runandrs ow~x.-s
r~sslwss 4srsxis< Il Sxsr rsxxss IN .n n. n.s-r
~ersss@sk surzss xzx srsN<s - s<ssr !. xrrrs sa
rns3 skA - s-x~~a e..~<~u<xr surs 4 rrsrrs-
- s~oaks sax lss q C1owr~
4e&&s $50 - -. sAsf t>s~4 uIzs s~-zs< hsus
s~GAt II ~x~rsa-aax - a-ax~-o.s /. .-~rux.rs.. -
Nb~1<~@s 1A1 sas&k zs1<rrss- -4A~x a. h~w- n,
~srr@ sa.ssss .~rz<pusssA~ ws<k ~ ~xsa~~-~ =
ssss.n<Aa - s>ss p~r- s< ~ u~nusn.-
la - ~@scA kssr sss-sr~z J. ...uh.~u.~s -. :.
'PSn. - 1ssassss's~' -stA ~ Fr.esars ayuu -As-s