New-York tribune., 1868-12-28
opyGyy or "LEGAL TEyDER'

A cOrTcspOndcnt5 recent aYcrment lhll IHdu-
deus Stevens, and not l.. O. SpauldinS, was
the real author of the Legal-Tender act has
evoked the following counter-statement (Which
doubtless has Mr.. Spaulding's indorsement
from The Buffalo Express. The writer quotes
our correspondents paragraph, and says:
Itis hardly worth while. perhaps, 70 contradict the
statements made by anonymous writer yet those
contained In the above garngy fasIiy the facts OF
history that We are not willing 10 let them 50 uDchai
lenged reference TO the records OF Congress at the
period of the adoption OF the legal tender measure WI"
satisfy any person the bin In question could not nave
originated with Mr. stevens in the manner represented
and that Mir spauldng was unqaestionaby us author ~
well MS us chief advocate Mr. stevens was Chairman OF
Tho Committee OF Ways aud Means OF which Mr spauld
ing WAS member If he had originated tho BILL he GER
auIy would never passed over 70 another OF MS
own committee Introduce. champion and take charge
Of Thaddeus Stevens Of al men IN the world never ud
things in that way.
"The Tender note bill was prepared and intro
duced by Mr. spaudlng in the House. on his own notion
Dec sO s6l-the day following the suspension OF specie
payments by the banks IL was read twice. referred
TO the Committee OF Ways and Means, and ordered
printed. House Bill No is2.
uOn the 7th OF January Mr. spaulding reported the
hill from the Committee OF Ways aud Means. through
which II WAS understood at the time to have been carried
with difficulty BY majority OF only one HOUSE bHi
80. 1871
"on IL ?2d Of January Mr. spauldns again reported
t,o hin from m, Committee with additions, in the nature
OF a substitute IL Wa. ordered printed ana mace '-o
special order for January "a lHouse Bill 10 2!o
"on the 2sh of January the being then the special
order Mr.. spaulding opened the deL"o uPon 1t, ~ AZ
eaborately prepared and exhaustive speeS" which io!
presented the by which tho las always
since been maintained whenever It's constitutionaLty
has been estedthe argument OF is necessity as war
measure
on the ith OF February Mr. Stevens submitted as an
amendment to tic bill II substitute, his amendment being
to strike out all after the enactng clause. aad insert
new bill, partly similar and partly differing very materi
ally from Mr. spaudngs measure. Tbs fact alone shows
concuslyey that Mr Stevens not the author OF the
original bin Two days after. closing the debate, he
mado his arst speech upon the measure
"rn fact there Is not shadowIOf plausbilty even in
the statements made by the writer in THE TRIBUNE The
cotemporary es OF all tho Newlork papers abundauiy
testify that the LegaTender act was known to be the
work OF Mr. Spauldng. in It's inception aud in the carry
ing OF the through Congress As one example,
We may quote the following fron.e Washington corre-
spondenee OF THE Times dated Feb 49, 1892, the bill
having passed the House Feb G. by vote OF 20 TO 6s
Now that the bill has passed 1t 10 but lust that due
credit should be awarded 10 me author OF o
scheme. the Hon f. g. spauldinS, member OF Congress
from Buffalo. IL MIR spauldnG who originated tle
Sv meknS legal tender His practical kaovi
edge and experience as banker ana nhahcer ery aus
whelming majOres III each House or Congress and the
country, wit. that no other scheme could possibly pro
vide for the wants Of the Government In time 10 save II
from absolute financial ruin. lie gave the subject nne'
mittng study and attention, devotng TO II entire ho
day season. and maturing finally measure which mas re-
ceyed tho indorscneut Of tho Adminstration and of
Congress and wihsOod the combined assaults OF solhs
and honest opponents alike lie has reason 20 he proud
the triumph he has achieved and the country VIII not
soon forget his services
''The writer above quoted ID unfortunate IN all MS
statements Ho says that the egaltender measure was
Carried through Congress against tho most active efforts
OF Mr. Chief Justice Chase when Secretary OF the
Treasury Mr. Chase opposed 10 the bill at frat,
but In the course OF the debate upon we and that Mt
spaudng all TO tho House letter that he had received
from the Secretary OF the Treasury IN which MT chase
acknowledged that his opinion OF tho measure had
changed that he had become convinced OF ts necessity
and desired It's passage.
"An the facts connected with measure OF such great
historical importance tho egltender enactmept are
interesting and will become so as we advance DO
yond the extraordinary epoch 10 which 1t belonss we
Think would DO we'll II Mr. Spaldng who eau do oes
would write the history OF the measure"