Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-23
A Sharp Colloquial Debate.

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lowing sharp sparring matchy which may
interest our readers. Mr.. Stevens came
near finding his match this time. This de-
bate, short and sweet as it is, comes nearer
being proper debate. according to Senator
Fessendcns definition, than the long prosy
speeches:
Mr.. Stevens read from the Secretary's
Report. in which he says it will not be nee
essary to retire more than one hundred, OF
at most two hundred millions of notes, in
addition to the compound interest notes,
and repeated the assertion that the Sccreta-
~ asked the right to contract the green
backs and legal-tenders bearing a gold in
terest of six per cent. Assuming tho Secre-
tary to retire two hundred millions otgrecn-
backs in this way yearly for two years, he
would, by adding twenty-four millions ln
nually to the taxes Of the country. pay in
terest on what was not now paying Il dol
lar ofinterest.
Mr.. Wcntworth-Will the gentlemen from
Pennsylvania state whether he combats the
policy OF the Secretary of the Treasury on
the ground that his OWN policy will lead to
specie payment sooner than the Secretary'S,
or whether he..or those who go with him.
are not trying to put off the return to spe-
Gle payment!
NkT. StcNelis-l dul IDT specie pay Hicilt
whenever Il can be arrived at without crush
ing the bushes of the country To death.
am for arriving at specie payment, and still
for allowing the business of the country to
20 on. The business of the country now
has not more circulation than there is requir-
ed. Whence this precipitation? We have
hardly got out of one wnr when we find
another now made upon the business otthe
country. Pass this bill. and instead of $500.
Last
year. YOU will not have $3.50 100000 next
year The people will not be able to pay
their taxes. The business of the country
will not endure it..
Mr.. Weutworth-I think have followed
my friend from Pennsylvania all through
this session closer than any other man: but
when this great Republican party was form
ed, we. who were original Democrats. took
up our cross-a great cross. Laughter.
want him to state distinctly whether, ifhe
could tomorrow. he would have specie pay
nlent restored
Mr.. Stevens do not know anybody
more able to carry tho cross than my friend
from Illinois. Laughter.
Mr.. worth-(pressing him to the
point. regardless OF the little parry
Would you have specie payment Tomorrow
Mr.. Stevens-lf could have specie pay
ment tomorrow without arrangement.
MT. wentworth AstItSiAciN - Hat II
what they said in the time OF the United
States Bank Laughter
Mr.. Stcvens-(in conciiatory tone)-lf
it were to dcrange the business ofthe coun-
try, would postpone it. II could have
it without that arrangement, would have
it tomorrow.
Mr.. Wentworth-(with a gesture of I'M
patience)-lfow long will it be before you
will have specie payments: Laughter
Will You compromise on enc year: Shouts
of laughter.
Mr.. Stevens-No Sir.nor two years. Eng
land. after her great wars with Napoleon,
ending in 1915, did not return to specie pay
ment till the latter part of 1922.
Mr.. Garfield stated that he thought the
law there was to have gone into operation
on the LIST of January, 1923. They had
practically returned to specie payment Ill
the Spring Of lS2l.
Mr.. Stevens-Ycs. for all sums. Do
gentlemen expect that when Great Britain,
with all the commerce of the world, was
unable to resume specie payment for eight
Years after the conclusion of that war. and
then did it by such gradual legislation that
there should be no shock we are to put it
into the pnwer of one man to resume spe-
sie payment here in single day But
pass this law, and the day OF specie payment
is far distant indeed.
Mr. Wentworth (rcturning to the CHARGE
The gentlemen and are acting together
now.
Mr. Stcyens-Nota bit oft. Laughter.
Mr. Wentworth-I think he is honest
Laughter ! mean to he.
Mr. Stevens will indorsc You as we'll
as myself Hrrriment.
Mr. Wcntworth-Thc question is. how
far We can travel together with one anoth-
or while We are together! When we can
no longer act together honestly we Will part
What want my friend from Pennsylvania
TO state is this
(lIere Mr. Stevens looks at his watch
with the air ola patient martyr,) -lle wants
to close me off. (LaughteI.
The Spcaker-fhe gentleman from Penn
sylvapia has only five minutes OF his time
left.
Mr.. Wentworth Undressing Mr.. Stcvensl
You know more than all OF us put togeth-
or. Laughter just state to this House
fairly and canddly whether if We follow
You, you can lead us to specie payment
(shouts of laughter. and whether yon would
if You could Now. play fair.
Mr.. Stcyens-My friend need not appeal
to me as Republican. know no party
on this question.
Mr. Wentworth follow You because |
supposed yon were a Republican. (Con-
tnucd meriment.
Mr.. Stevens-Seriously all | can say is
that if believed we could resume specie
payment within month without breaking
down manufactures and expressing the peo
pie, would, if had the power, order that
every bank in the country and the Govern
mcnt itself should resume specie payment.
Mr.. Wentworth-But suppose Mr.. Me
Culloch can do it
Mr.. Stevens-If he can, will give him
great credit.
Mr.. Wentworth-I believe he can, there
fore shall vote for the bill.
Mr.. Stevens-My friend from Illinois is
honest. and has faith like two grains of
mustard seed. tLaughter.)
Mr. Wentworth have followed You on
the "nigger" question. Shouts of laugh
ter.
". Stevens-Apl shall be glad to fol-
low my friend from Illinois.
Mr. Wentworth don't want yon to
follow me, want dollar for dollar. VIII
YOU give us specie payment
Mr.. Stevens-I have said that would
if could.
Mr.. Wcntworth-We Mr.. McCulloch
will do it.