Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-23
No RenndIatiOn.


The people of the United States have the name
of being sharp and fast 4; but they are not sharp
enough to consent to the vainy of dishonsring the
national credit They are not fast enough to be
willing that the national obligations shall be repu-
dated. They are both sharp and fast enough to
believe that honesty is the best policy and to show
that they are as much in earnest in paying the debt
increased in putting down the Shareholders rebel
lion as they we're in pushing the war to the triamph
of the national cause and the overthrow of armed,
malignant treason The Presidents message more
than hintsd at reputation as the relief for
tional finances In the Senate, on the l4th inst,
the following resolution was offered by Mr. Catteil
and referred to the Committee on Finance:
RssoEosd, That the Senate receive with profound
regret the proposition of the President in his an-
nus message to repudiate portion OF the national
obligations and regard this, and all other forms OF
reputation, as a national crime. National honor
requires the payment Of the public debt in the ct
most good faith to all creditors at home and abroad
not only according to the letter. bat the spirit of the
laws under which it was created.
In supporting the resolution, the following Ian
guage was held by the different Senators speaking
upon it
Mr.. Nye advocated the resolution. The part of
the Presidents message quoted IN the resolution
should be reprobated by every honest man. 10
propose to repudiate the national debt would be 8
crime in any person, bat for the Chief Executive
Magistrate of the nation 10 make the proposition
was doubly criminal
Mr.. Cattell replied that when the matter came up
regularly for discussion he would be prepared to an
swer but he wished that the Senate should, IN the
meantime express its disapprobation of the Presi-
dents views The people, he said, had already
passed upon the question of what is the true doc
trne in regard to the payment of the national debt
Mr. Hendricks asked him whether the people had
decided in favor of paying the debt IN gold or In
"lawful money"
Mr.. Cattell replied that they had decided that the
Chicago platform very much preferable to the
New York platform. Whenever it should become
necessary to discuss the question at length ne would
be prepared to take his grounds upon 1t as frankly
as Mr.. Hendricks.
Mr.. Wiley offered resolution, citing the same
part of the Presidents message cited by Mr.. Cat
tell and expressing the Senate's disapproval and
condemnation of il.
Mr. Sherman said That the Presidents proposition
to substitute for the payment of the national debt
an annuity for sixteen years, was such g shocking
one that he feared it would excite prejudice against
institutions all over the world, and he thought
the legislative branch of the government should
promptly repudiate it, and countersct its effects
He therefore willing to vote for either of the
resolutions offered, but he thought the best way
would be to send them to committee to consider
and report to- morrow.
The resolutions were referred TO the Committee
on Finance.
In the House of Representatives the following &C
ton was had
Mr.. Bromall of Pennsysvania, moved to suspend
the rules, to enable him to offer the following pre-
amble and resolution
Whereas, The President of the United States, in
his annual message to the Forteth Congress at its
third session, says:
There follows extract from the message in refer
ence to the liquidation of the six per cent bonds by
the payment of interest.
And whereas such sentiment if permitted to 20
to the world without immediate protest. might be
understood to be the sentiment of the people of the
United States and of their representatives in Con-
gress; therefore
ResoLDed, That all forms and degrees of repudia-
ton of national Indebtedness are odious to the
American people, and that under no circumstances,
will their representatives consent to offer the public
creditor, as full compensation, less amount OF
money than that which the Government contracted
to pay.
Mr.. Ingersoll suggested to Mr. Broomall to lei
the resolution be printed before the House should
be called on to vote upon it.
Mr. Broomall remarked that it was short and
easily understood and that it had already been
printed in the public papers.
Messrs Holman and Maynard called for the yeas
and nays on the motion to suspend the rules.
The rules were suspended-yeas, l35i nays, z9-
"a party vote)
Mr.. Broomall moved the previous question.
Mr.. Pruyn said he would like to have five min
utes to make remark and also to offer substitute.
Mr.. Broomall declined to yield.
Mr. Randall demanded division of the resolu-
tion, and moved to lay the preamble on the table.
The motion was rejected-yeas 81, nays 1872.
The question then taken on the preamble,
and the following part of the resolution, namely
RESOLVED, That all forms and degrees of repudia-
ton of National indebtedness are odious 70 the
American people
Agreed to-yeas 154, nays 6, namely:
Messrs. Adams, Archer, Grover, Jones, (Ky,)
Munger, and Trimble, (Ky)
This action has the right ring about it. The peo-
pie will sustain their representatives in thus vnd-
eating the national credit We hail this manly,
open, outspoken honesty. It proves that statesmen
are at the helm of the nations ark and it rebukes
the madness of demagogues who hope to thrive by
raseality. SENIOR EDITOR.