The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-09-23
Garfield Wants to Pay the BondhoId-
ers in Gold.

The following is an extract from
Garheld's speech in Congress on pay
ing the bonds in gold:
Thus, Mr.. Speaker, have shown
that, when the original five-twenty
bond bill passed the House in 1862,
ALL who referred to the subject stated
that the principal OF those bonds was
payable in gold; that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Stevens so
stated fivedistinct times and no MEM
ber suggested anything to the contra
ry; that when in 1868 that gentleman
raised a doubt on the subject he was
promptly met by the statement of q
leading member OF the Committee of
Ways and Means that he never before
heard Of such a suggestion and nobody
on the Committee of Ways and
Means dreamed of the possibility of
paying them in anything but coin.
Old Thad Stevens pronounced it an
absolute falsehood and stated that at
the proper time he would take occa-
sion to show the gentleman up IN his
proper light. Old Thad is in his
grave and the Tribune takes occasion
to (aud Garfield will, no doubt, 90 the
same SANDER the old mans memory
by putting words in his mouth that
he never used. If there is any one
political subject on which Mr.. Ste rcns
WAS honest and sincere, ii was upon
the policy Of paying the 8 20 bonds in
greeubacks. Last winter he wrote 3
letter 10 Il friend in Lancaster an this
subject, in which he said:
1t is Just, also, to the Democratic
party to say that when the question
has been discussed in the House no
lawyer among them has set up such q
foolish pretensiOn; and when the bill
was on its final passage the question
was expressly asked Of the chairman
Of the Committee Of Ways and Means,
and as expressly answered by him
that only the interest was payable in
coin. But every instrument speaks
f. r itself; when II is silent upon the
subject OF the currency it is always
made payable in money, which means
the legal tender OF the country. ]
fear, however, ] am celebrating this
! point dd fluIESeInll, unless q newspaper
1 editor or Il country broker can enact
| laws and afterwards enforce them.
| There is nothing short of the sheerest
! folly in this argument and it will not
be persevered in by those who have
sufficient strength tO carry them gen
/ teelly over the " asses bridge" Nay,
/ more: / fear that what am going to
! state may set New York editors and
! brokers upon dangerous rampage
amid the flowery fields and golden
! images OF Chiriqui and GOlfonto, and
J yet ] shall venture to say that if the
| United States chose to be faithles;
enough she would tender and pay not
only the principal but the interest in
legal tenders, although the latter is
| expressly contracted to be paid In
coin. The law Of legal tender mean:
| this, or il means nothing. Let nOt
this alarm any one, for no nation shOr
OF the basest Asiatics would ever think
| OF such an act, however capitalist
might ask trustees, guardians and ad-
ministrators to violate the law anC
their sworn oaths to double the reve
nue. which the public debtor is to pay
them. ..
This language OF Mr.. Stevens is no
to be mistaken. he was the chairman
OF the. Committee on Ways and Mean
who prepared and reported the lega
tender bill and explained its provi
sions to the House and his word wa
taken that it provided for the pay
ment OF interest OnIyin coin.
The proposition announced by MI
Stevens that the government could,
1t thought proper. pay not only tn
principal, but the interest in green
backs, is original with him and ha
never been put forth by any othe
public man. Yet GARFIELD, in hi
PainesviIle speech, had the meannes
to charge it upon Mr.. Pendleton.
this proposition should ever be force
into the political Issues Of the day, a
we can say is, " Goodbye, Mr.. Bond
hOtderO