, 1868-01-31

Important COE,respOndenc
Henry Clay Dean Of Iowa not long since
addressed the following letter to Horace
Greeley. The letter explains itself:
Sir In recent issue of the Tribune,
observe the following epithets applied to
those who favor the liquidation by the pay
meut of the public debt in greenbacks, the
cancellation Of the bonds which are devourS
ing us with interest, and the obliteration of
the National banking system which is en-
rloyed in the interest of monopoly to crush
out the liberties of the people and hoard the
necessaries Of life and starve and freeze the
poor to enrich illegitimate speculation. You
say that "such a proposition would shame
any swindler that ever uttered counterfeit
money or passed of bogus checks. No one
will countenanee any Of these devices for
loading debts instead of paying them, who
is not in heart and soul villain. Any res
publican or democrat who lends them a
shadow of countenance proves himself an in
crate, a villain and fool. We are quite
willing to see the Copperhsads place them
selves upon a platform Of Reputation, for it
is higS time that career of infamy should
be closed in death of shame"
I''confess that the above style of argument
seems indebted to Bacon locke or Whately
for its cogency and quite independent of Ad
olson, Irving or Burke for the delicate
choice of it's language, and is indeed original
and Characteristic.
In the year 1866, in a number Of speech
es delivered in the State of New Jersey, and
published in q number of newspapers in diff.
ferent parts of the United States, FIRST pro.
posed the payment of the bonds in greens
backs; as we were then, and are now, pay
ing every thing else in that kind of currens
cy, and our courts were then, and are now,
enforcing all private and public contracts
upon that basis. then did, and now do,
believe that this is the only practicable, wise,
just aud equitable method Of dsposing of
this monstrous load which you have time and
again argued must stint tie poor in their
food, raimcnt, fuel and shelter for genera
tions to come, and of course cannot affect
the rich to whom it is paid.
Notwithstanding the employment Of your
choice eipthels, 1 hereby propose to discuss
this question through the Tribune, allowing
me two columns of your paper every week,
until the whole subject has passed in review.
Or will meet you in Cincinnati, St, Louis,
Louisville, Chicago, or any of the Eastern
citi.f, aud puplicly debate the questions in-
volved in my propositions. II you will
meet me in any of the cities indicated, l will
in view of your style of arguments, give you
two hours, and will be content with one
alternately. In case you should not accept
either of these propositions, extend the in
vitatiou to Wendell Phillips, Senator Henry
Wilson, or to your glib tOugued neighbOr,
Henry Ward Beecher.
1t may not be unkind to inform you that
l am now addressing audiences Of from three
to ten thousand every day, composed of re-
publicans and democrats, all of whom hear
tily indorse the plan, and among the number
are many efficient officers of the late Federal
army including gentlemen of both political
parties. l await your early reply prelimiua-
ry to arrangements for discussion. l am
very respectfully your Obedient servant,
HENRY CLAY DEAN.