The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-09-04
TIE o...tioa Admiras,y STATED.

Among the many fluctuations Of the princi-
pie upon which IL is the duty Of the government
to pay its obligations in gold, We have seen
nothing better than the following from the
Norwich Bulletin:
The following conversation took place in the
counting-room Of one ofour friends few days
since. A prominent democrat, man Of strict
honesty In his pravsto life, had just put the fol-
lowing question, some discussion having pro-
cecded it,
swell, Mr.. A., let US drop all political antas-
onism and argue this question on its merits.
Upon what ground can you maintain that one
hundred gold dollars shall be paid upon bond
for which the government received only ffty,
unless the exact letter Of the law demands such
PAYMENT"
Mr.. A-"That questson is easily answered,
and will give you . case In point. You
know old Ms. C., or neighbor. whose husband
died in 1869, and for whom am trustee. Her
husband Left her the house she occupies and
about $4,000 in money, the income Of which
l. all she has for the support Of herself and sick
daughter, who Is now dying Of consumption.
As soon as could collect the sums due her
husband invested the whole In O mortgage OF
seven per cent. interest, due In ave years. The
mos. became due In 1864, when the price of
gold was 100, AMI was forced to take my pay
in legal-tender notes. and again had to look
round for an investment. The interest on the
mortgage having been paid in currency, the old
lldy had been very much straitened for the
past year, and concluded that in order to
meet her expenses she must have her interest in
gpld. and that even then she would lose, IS
had lent her money before the war at seven per
In n. -
the tive-twenty bonds, bat took them.
"Yes," said the Democrat, "but you took
them at less than sixty In gold value,
Mr.. A,-"0n the contrary. Mr.. d., the gov
ernment borrowed old Mrs C.'s ten thousand
gold dollars by force. when il forced me to take
It's demand notes in settlement Of the mortgage
ON which had lent the gold. and these demand
notes bearing no interest. and although due on
demand, being nothing more or less than the
original capital, and when ask the government
to pay me ten thousand dollars in gold, l AJAX
no more than the payment of what had In
1869. IL you nov ask me to take greenbaeks,
which are worth only 20 cents in gold, for my
bonds, shall get 81 900 and the government
viii have condscatci $4,000 Of old Mrs. C.'s
property.''
"well," said the Democrat, al am not re-
sponsible Tor, the legsl-tender act; your Republic
can Congress made the law and forced Mrs. C.,
and me TO take the notes.
Mr.. A.-"Yes, and your party are RESPONSE
BILE; you refused 10 subscribe for the bonds, you
imp~led the government, you rendered aid and
comfort TO the rebels in every way that you
knew how TO, without risking your nccks-your
mob-lesder Seymour. brags that he never sub.
scribed dollar 10 loan and never owned q
bond-and 30 You made IL necessary for the
government 10 collect forced loan CT 10 give Us
to the rebels"
"wsll," said the Democrat. attempting 70
dodge, "Mrs. C.'s case Is only q solitary one;
most ofthe bonds were subscribed for by men
who made their money In the rise in prices
shoddy men and such"
"Mr. A.-"Indeed are the active business
men among your acquaintance large owners oil
bonds, or were they subscribersr You know
better. You know that your savings banks
hold alarge amount, you know that your insu'-
ance Once has its funds in bonds, and you know
that the men In active business, the shoddy men
least Of al, could not spare their money from
Their cuisines, except few like our neighbor
IL. Co, Who made u point Of honor 10 sub
scribe for every loan"
and take upvoar crssnSseis; your fliled paper.
NJ. A.-"Tha. ID vhs. We mean to do, v,
know thatthe grcenbaeks are the psopl,s' money,
and when No have elected Grant. We mean Il
make them - good - gold. and We intend 70 dc
that BY burying your rebel rrpudiator and mol
leaders out Of sight and hearing"
Hsrs ths oonvsrsation ended.