The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-03
Boys Clothing
M, GUTMAN & CO.'S.
Letter from senator Morton.

New YORK, December 2.-The World
contains the following letter from SEN
ator Morton, of Indiana:
WASHINGTON, November 30.
To he Editor of the World:
Dear Sir. In the New York World of
the 26th inst. / find an article from
which quote the following: A tele-
gram to an evening paper states that
Senator Morton, soon after the opening
of the session, will introduce bill oi-
recting immediate payment In green
backs of that portion of the 5:2o oonus'
issued five years. If this report DC COT
rect the course of that Senator on thls
subject is conspicuous for vaccination.
EIGHT months ago he was an open adVo-
cafe of the se-caIled greenback theory.
Dnr;ng the Presidential canvas he pub
iicjv rscanted. If he is now about to
nronose and advocate such measure
q tpot described in the telegram, his
rornnciation must have been mere
noIitical dodge, feigned surrender OF
his principles to promote the success OF
his party.
introduce a bill directing the immediate
payment in greenbacks of that portion
of the $50 bonds issued five years,
and have never said did to Secretary
McCullech or anybody else. In the next
place, did not, during the canvass, re-
cant what said in the Senate in regard
to the payment of the 5-20s i'll green
backs. No speech by me to that effect
has been made. What l urged during
the canvass was that the first duty OF
the Government was to return to specie
payments, which, when accomplished,
would settle all questions as to the
mode of paying the bonds. l further
urged that the Government had no right
to issue new legal tender notes and
make them applicable to the payment
of bonds, arguing that such notes could
not be made to sustain the same rela'
lions to the bonds in law or equity that
was sustained by existing notes, and
that the further issue of such notes
would indefinitely postpone the return
to specie payment.
These propositions were fully stated
in my speech in the Senate last sum
mer, in which argued the legal right
of the Government to use the existing
legal tender notes ia payment of the
bonds. l also argued, at various times
during the canvass, that whatever
might be tho law on the subject the
Government could not pay tho bonds
or any considerable portion, IN coin
while the currency remained deprecia
ted, and that Improvement Of the cur
rency, by bringing it up to par, was
necessary condition precedent to pay
ment of bonds in gold; that if the Gov
eminent could not procure gold enough
to redeem three hundred and sixty-iiv'
millions of legal tender notes, it wa
folly to talk about paying bonds il
gold; that the question of the mode
!, of paying bonds will become important
only by the continuance of a depraveC
currency, without taking steps to i'm
, prove it; that to take surplus gold il
the Treasury aud apply it to the pur
chase of bonds in the market, which
will not fall due for fourteen years
would not be paying the bonds, bu
shaving them, and would be an improp
er use of means by which the paper o
the Government, over due and dishon
ored, should be redeemed. These pc
sitions are not inconsistent with any
thing [ said in the Senate.
am, very respectfully yours,
TSigned p. MORTON.