Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-29
From the Chicago Timesl
Hon. Geo. HI. PendIetOn ON the New
York Tribune-A Question of We.
racfty. -

The Times, on yesterday, commented on
articles which appeared on the same day in
the New York Times and the Ne,o York TTi-
bune charging Hon. Geo. Il. Pendleton and
the Democracy of Ohio, in the political can
vdss which is now going on in that State,
with a purpose of repudiating the Govern
ment Indebtedness. ,-.. ....,I
Mr.Pendleton, in recent speech, said in
substance, that the five-twenty bonds is
sued by the Government were redeemable.
according to their terms, in either gold or
greenbacks," at the option of the Govern
ment.
The Tribune says that this is ga gross
mistatement of fact" and that Mr.. Pendle-
ton. in making it, did stalk like villain"
Now, it is incumbent on the Tribune to
show that the bonds of this class specify
that they shall be paid in coin. '7 no
The ten-forty bonds of the Government
do so explicitly specify. In the absence of
any such specification the five-twenties,
the natural presumption. in view of the
existence of the legal-tender act, would be
that the Government may elect whether it
will pay this class of bonds in gold or
Ire easury notes.
Tne statement of Mr.. Pendleton was, that
the interest on the five-twenties should be
paid in coin, but that the Government did
not contract to pay the eprincipal.
The act of June 30, 1864, authorizing the
issue of $190000,000 of five-twenties, does
say that the interest shall be paid in coin,
+ but it does not say that the principal shall
be so paid.
The acts of February 25, 1862 and of
March 8, 1864, under which $5l4,OoO, 600 Of
tive-twenties were issued, do not say that
either the principal or the interest shall be
paid in coin. riseF ,El
The act of March 8, 1865, under which
$l03,542,500 of five-twenties were issued,
does not say that either the principal or the
interest shall be paid in coin.
There are about $1,100.000,000 of five
twenties outstanding. Will the Tribune tell
by what act or action of the Secretary of
the Treasury, in the discretionary power
| given him, the Government is obligated or
has contracted to pay them IN coin? A
somewhat careful look into the various
laws authorizing the issue of five-twenties
has convinced US that the Tribune has been
more Jealous than discreet in charging Mr..
Pendleton with being liar, and with hav-
ing INDUCED in speech like villain."-
The point is simple one. Let us know
how the Government has contracted to pay
the tive-twenties in gold. Either the I'ri-
6une or Mr.. Pendleton has lied. Fl. q. will
not lie, save when the fortunes of the party
engaged in the interests of God and hu-
manity'" may be advanced by falsehoo6.-
Mr.. Pendleton will not lie under any cir
cumstances.
H. G. has bailed JEFF. Davis, because he
believed that man accused of crime should
be granted trial within a reasonable
length of time. This was Democratic-we
use the word not in its lexicographical, but
party sense. He has declared for impartial
suffrage. This, also, is Democratic. He
has also given the Union League Club and
the G. A. RS severe castigation. In this
he acted in harmony with Democratic
ideas. ...-.-
Does his frankness, his independence of
spirit, his truthfulness and just concep-
tions, in relation to certain public issues,
give him an immunity to lie on other ques-
| tions? .........
This matter of paying the Government
indebtedness in coin or currency must be
met with something else than lies or vitu-
peration. 1t is not a subject which can be
'squelched" by such agencies. George H.
Pendleton, in demanding that the Govern
ment shall pay its debts according to the
term of its contracts, does not ''talk like a
william"
Party interests may be subserved by de-
nouncing him as one, and by ''gross mis-
statements of facts;" but such tactics can
only be temporarily successful. 1t is not
pleasant to charge wilful and deliberate
lying on one of the most prominent news
papers in the country; but we submit to
our readers the facts, with the injunction
to inquire whether this charge, under the
circumstances, has transgressed the pro-
prieties ofjournalism.