Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-20

Stevens and Wentw0rfh
The followingis the full report of the
extraordinary running debate between
Stevens and Wentworth on the loan bill,
which occurred on Friday last:
Mr.. WENTWORTH-Will the gen
tleman 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 seener
than the Secretary's, or whether he, and
those who go with him, are not trying to
put off the return to specie payment?
Mr.. STEVENS am for specie pay
ment whenever it can be arrived at with
out crushing the business of the country
to death. l am for arriving at specie
payment, and still for allowing the BUSH
ness of the country to go on. The busi-
ness of the country now has not more cir
c~ulation than is required. Whence this
precipitation We have hardly got out
of one war when we find another now
made upon the business of the country.
Pass this bill, and instead of $500, GOO, 900
of Internal Revenue received last year,
you will not have $3.50, 600, 900 next year.
The people will not be able to pay their
taxes. The business of the country will
not endure it.
Mr.. WENTWORTH think I have
followed my friend from Pennsylvania
all through this session closer than any
other man. but when this great Republic
can party was formed, we, who were
original Democrats, took up our cross
a great cross! Laughter, 1 want him
to state distinctly whether, if he could to-
morrow. he would have specie payment
was restored.
Mr.. STEVENSI do not know any,
body more able to carry the cross than
my friend from Illinois. Laughter.
Mr.. WENTWORTH (pressing him to
the point regardless of the little psrry(.-
Would you have specie payment to-mor-
row?
Mr.. STEVENS-IfI could have specie
payment tomorrow without arrangement.
Mr.. WENTWORTH (~derisively).-
That is what they said in the time of the
United States Bank. Laughter.
Mr.. STEVENS-(in q eonciliatory
tone)-IfH it were to derange Tie business
of the country, 1 would postpone it. If
could have it without that arrangement,
l would have it Tomorrow.
Mr.. WENTWORTH with a gesture
of impatience)-How long will it be be-
fore you will have specie payments +?
Laughter. Will you compromise on
one Year, 1ShOuts of laughter.
Mr.. STEVENS-No, sir, nor two
years. England, after her great wars
with Napoleon, ending in 1915, did not
return to specie payment till the latter
part of 1922.
Mr.. GARFIELD stated that he thought
the law there was to have gone into oper-
alton on the LIST of January, 1923. They
had practically returned to specie pay
ment in the Spring of 1921.
Mr.. S~TEVENS-Yes, for small sums.
Do gentlemen expect that when Great
Britain, with all the of the
world, was unable to resume specie pay
ment 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 power
of II man to resume specie payment
here in a single day But pass this law,
and the day of specie paymen. is far dis
tant indeed.
Mr.. WENTWORTH returning to the
charge)-The gentleman and 1 are acting
together now.
Mr.. STEvENS-Not a bit of it.
Laughter.
Mr.. WENTWORTH think he is
honest. LLaughter.] Imean to be.
MIR. STEYENS- will indorse you as
well as myself. [Merriment.l
Mr.. WENTWORTH-The question is,
how far VIC can travel together while we
are together? When we can no longer
act together honestly we will part What
l want my friend from Pennsylvania to
state is this
Here Mr.. STEVENS looks at his
watch with the air of a patient martyrl-
He wants to close me off. Laughter.)
The SPEAKER-The gentleman from
Pennsylvania has only five minutes of his
time left.
Mr.. WENTWORTH addressing Mr..
Stevens)-You know more than all of us
put together. lLnnshter Iust state to
this Hnnsa family and candidly whether, if
we follow you, you can lead us to specie
payment, Shouts of laughter and wheth-
er you would if you could Now, play
fair.
Mr.. STEVENS-My friend need not
appeal to me as a Republican. l know
no party on this question.
Mr.. WENTWORTH followed you
because l supposed you were a Republi-
can. lContinued merriment.
Mr.. STEVENS-Seriously, all l can
say is that if l believed we could resume
specie payment within q month, without
breaking down manufactures and oppress-
ing the people, l would, if 1 had the
power, order that every bank in the
country and the government itself should
resume specie payment.
Mr.. WENTWORTH-But suppose
Mr.. McCulloeh can do it?
MI. STEVENS-If he can I will give
him great credit.
Mr.. WENTWORTH believe he
can, therefore 1 shall vote for the bill.
Mr.. STEVENS-My friend from Hi
nois is honest, and has faith like two
grains of mustard seed. TLaughter.1
Mr.. WENTWORTH have followed
you on the "nigger' question. lShouts of
laughter.
Mr.. STEVENS-And 1 shall be glad
10 follow my friend from Illinois.
Mr.. WENTWORTH don't want
you to follow me. I want dollar for dol
ar. VIII you give US specie payment -?
Mr.. STEVENS-I have said that I
would if 1 could.
Mr.. WENTWoRTH-WeQ, Mr.. Nc
Julloch will do it.
Mr.. STEVENS-I will not go for Civ
ng to any man the power contained in
his bill; 1 would hardly entrust it to my
riend Wentworth himself.
Mr.. WENTWORTH-Well, I trusted
'ou on the negro question, and 1 want
ou to trust me on fnanee-play fair.
Laughter.
The scene between Messrs. Stevens and
Wentworth was greatly enjoyed by the
louise. Few members were in their seats,
were standing in the area, and in the
Isles, in the vicinity of the two principal
ctors, %applauding and encouraging them.
hour OF half-past four having arrived
lie House took a recess till half-past
wen, p. NJ.