The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-24

COMMENTS ON THE FOREGOING BY THE
NEW YORK TIMES.
Governor Seymour and tho PnbIic
Mr.. Seymour is the candidate of a
party pledged to pay in greenbacks the
Five-twenty bonds, which, by the let
ter and spirit of the law under which
they were issued, and the solemn
promises of the officers of the Govern
made payable in gold. He has expllc-
lily accepted the terms of a platform
which commits him to policy of re-
pudidiation.
The effects of this policy Mr.. Sey-
mour himself portrayed when, as Gov
posal to pay in currency the interest on
its debt. The views at that time ex-
pressed by him differ so widely from
those of which he is now the cham
pion, and form so strong q condemna-
tion of the policy he now sustains, that
they may be usefuIly reproduced. They
will be found in another page, en-
Legislature, and in circular subse-
quently addressed to the Capitalists
and merchants OF the State.
In those days, Mr.. Seymour profess
ed extremesolicitudef for the fair tinRu-
cial fame of New York. He saw in the
substitution OF "Iawful money" for
gold, in the settlement with State Cred
when we sought the markets of the
world with our securities," he wrote,
1--WE pledged ourselves to redeem them
in the currency of the world" To pay
in aught else was to incur "shame and
dishOnor" in the face of the world" 1t
was, moreover, inexpedient. I'VE de-
prive New York of an element of
strength which heretofore has been
wisely used, and which its people have
found profita ble-to wit, it's unques-
toned credit" He commended that
principle and expediency both dictated
a different course.
mot only our future profit but our imme-
dlRte gain will be served by adhering now TO
the strictest letter OF our contracts. The
saving proposed by not paying in coin Is
small and temporary, while the dishonor Is
upon This dishonor Will b in the end enor-
nous"
Why2 Because, as he then thought,
Il scTupulous fulfilment of obligations
sis the only way In which the State
can keep itself in position to go into
The market hereafter, decently, as Il
borrower.
To obtain a nomination for the Pro
sidency, Mr.. Seymour has thrown these
considerations 10 the winds. The deep
aversion to "shame and dishonor" no
longer encounters him. The pledge to
redeem The national bonds Tin the cur
rency of the world" has ceased to com
mand his respect. He has no qualm OF
conscience to keep HIM from violating
1.-THE stTictest letter of our contracts"
now that the Democratic Party has de-
clared war against the public faith.
And yet there is not one OF Mr.. Sey-
mour'S fine phrases written in April,
1864, which does not with augmented
force apply TO the policy, which mt this
moment he represents. Ii II was bad
faith TO pay the interests OF the State
bonds in greenbRcks rather than gold,
because the latter only is "the currency
of the world" 1t Is certainly not less
than bad faith so to pay the principal of
National bonds, issued with a distinct
understanding that they are payable in
coin. All the censure which in 1864 Mr..
Seymour applied to others, Is applica-
BILE to himself. And his case is aggra-
waited by the fact that he accepts pol
icy of Reputation with his eyes open
to its infamy. and for the sole purpose
of gratifying his ambition.
The effect of the Democratic policy
would also realize his predictions. If
the State, after an act of bad faith,
could not hope to go into the market
hereafter, "decently as q borrower"
how much better could the National
Government expect TO fare? The un-
questioned credit which is essential to
the financial strength OF one is equally
necessary to the strength of the other.
Mr.. Seymour and his party desire to
destroy the credit of both. They tell the
world that the American people care
nothing for plighted faith, and that
their Government shall be conducted
with entire indifference to the letter and
epirit of Its obligations. Such would
be the lesson taught by the elevation of
Mr.. Seymour to the Presidency.