The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-27
LETTER FROM KENTUCKY.
dissection or the Financial ResOlu-
ton of the Democratic National
Platform. F.a Of.

LIlALOAS ~
Can the Pendleton Democracy of
the West consistently with principle,
with honor, and with s~elf-respect sup
port the nominees of the New York
Convention? i2
twill readily be conceded that the
Western Pendleton Democracy are
and were with rem arkable unanimity
in favor of the payment of the nation
al debt in green backs" In fact,
this was the distinguishing character
istic of that wing of the party. s
The Convention met, and the dele
gates representing the Pendleton or
Western Democracy, influenced by q
generous, noble, and patriotic desire
to preserve the unity of the party,
and through it the great fundamental
principles of American liberty, were
willing in order to secure these great
objects to meet the Eastern or specie
payment wing of the party upon the
Just and equitable principles enunci-
ated in the Chicago Platform, That
the national debt ought to be paid in
good faith, according to the letter
and spirit of the law under which it
WIS COuLIlCICOs - udL HuGu Ll6
contract required payment in specie
it should be so paid; but when such
intention did. not appear, payment
ought of right to be made in green
backs" This was no inconsiderable
concession on the part of the Pendle-
ton wing; but it was prompted by a
commendable desire, made in good
faith, and should have been so ac-
cepted, if accepted at all. But the
willy Wall Street brokers, and bloated,
selfish bondholders who controlled
the Convention, have deceived and
betrayed the Democracy Of the West
into the acceptance of q PROPOSE
ton as embodied in their plat
form, the ingenious verbiage of
which is we'll calculated to de-
oeive the unwary; but which, upon
close scrutiny, will be found to
go very far beyond the concessions
which the West were willing to make,
and which they. doubtless, thought
they were making in accepting the
financial resolution in the platform.
1t would be difficult TO convince the
honest, unsophisticated Pendleton
Democrats of the West, that that
glorious : New -York-Fourth-of July
Democratic platform means payment
of the National debt In gold and sill
yer, although the stipulations of the
contract may not require such pay
ment.
The financial resolution declares
that WHEN the obligations of the
Government do not expressly state
upon their face, or the law under
| mh1oh Ahau ro~n sn-,n1 H. -
provide, that they shall be paid
in coin, they. ought in right and
in justice to be paid in the laa0fuL
ntoney Of the United States"
Why use the phrase, 1.-THE lawful
money of the United States2" What
is and was the lawful money of the
United States? While greenbacks is
aud was the lawful money of the
United States, geld, and silver is and
vas no less SO. Why not have met
the Pendleton Democrats In the same
open, manly spirit which they mani
Tested throughout the deliberations of
the Convention? Would it not have
been just as easy instead of the phrase
"The lawful money of the United
States, to have said greenbacks, legal
tenders, or the lawful paper
currency of the United States?
The western farmer and
mechanic. the men who pay the mo-
ney, could without difficulty have
understood such language. But
herein consists the objection to it
the language is intended to deceive.
Now, let us lock a little below the
surface, and the fraud praetieed, or
attempted to be praeticed, upon the
West q don't believe they will be de-
ceived by it), as also the true mean
ing and intent of the resolution supra,
will stand out in bold relief.
Mr.. Pendleton's plan was to con-
tlnue greenbacks as lawful money of
the United States, and to increase the
volume of circulation to the utmost
requirements of the commercial de-
mands of the country; but at the
same time by prudent and skillful
regulation of the volume In cireula-
ton avoid unnecessary imitation and
consequent depreciation; and with
this lawful money of the United
States discharge the national indebt-
edness. a1a4I
Mr.. Seymour's plan, as presented
and advocated by him ever since the
financial question became one of i'm
portance to the country, and which
he reiterated but a few weeks since,
in his speech In New York, is the
rapid withdrawal of greenbacks from
circulation, and the early re-
sumption. by the Government,
of specie payments, thus making
gold and silver, the ~onlylawfrl money
of the United States-extending
necessarily the payment of the ma
tional debt over a long period, and
its ultimate discharge in this lawful
money of the United States"-hence
the S of the phrase. Under Mr..
Pendleton's plan it means green
backs" and the carly and easy pay
ment of the national debt in this
currency.
According to Gov. Seymour's plan
it means gold and silver and the ulti-
mate payment of the national debt
in this currency, necessarily extend
ing payment over a long period.
Thus enabling his particular friends.
the bondholders and the accursed
vampires of Wall Street, to suck and
gloat over, and feast upon the very
life's blood of the nation.
AN enthusiastic" Democrat in
Indiana has publicly announced that
he will support Frank Blair. not
wlthstandlng he had said he would