The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-31
TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES,
~ 81 rL.TaA- lnc nG lsGS

TREASURY OF TIE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 1858. !
DEAR SIE-There are so many good things and true
in your letter OF the oath instant just now received
that should perhaps let pass what do not approve,
and thus end our friendly controversy, as for the
want OF time to continue IL, had intended to have
done, when last wrote you, but cannot refrain
from saying Just one word more.
You say that you "have never been able to see
how we could ask that contracts made with dollars
worth only seventy-fve cents or less should be paid
with those worth one hundred, any more than all
should that those made with the dollar at one
hundred should be pad WIN those worth only
gross wrong. the difference being that when you
take half from the creditor you still leave
half, and do not ruin him. while II you add onethird
TO the obligations Of the debtor you break him down,
because upon an average this is more in addition to
To this my answer is, though trlte tits true "two
wrongs can never make right.n
Because class OF creditors had an injustice done
them some years since by class OF debtors Is not
good reason why Class OF debtors should now do
another act OF injustice to class OF creditors. This
proposition, as general rule, would seem PLAIN
AZ scarce to require another word. But when 1t Is
that the very persons that Suffered by the first
proposed To put new injustice, the wrong becomes
more clearly apparent 10 all. The creditor OF that
day may have, ny The very wrong action that you
complain Of become the debtor OF to-day, and cc5
regsd.
ANY two given men. having business relations
then aud now may have reversed their several con-
dons OF debtor ana eseditor since. The injured
party then may. II your theory be carried out be-
come the Injured part. again now; and the other
TX,
be again benefited.
| sity some years since IL mighty bad reason why
| another wrong should how be perpetrated from
| mere wantolness,
There IS single other consideration to which
desire TO invite your attention. In your close scru-
tiny OF the mere financial view OF the question you
| seem 10 extent 10 hav overlooked the morality
that is involved and TO hive entirely lost sight OF
the political hearing that tn manner OF settling this
question VIII have upon the uiure of the country.
The money that IL now represented by the national
! debt was loaned 10 the government n q time when
IT YVES IN great peril. But for the timely ad thus
ceiycd our government would have gone out OF ex-
scnce. Most OF the loans wee made to the govern
men from patriotic motives; nany put their all into
them TO save the life Of the natnn. Others, perhaps
| not patriotic saw the STRAIT tae government was
| ia. They saw the nations dagger and their own.
! They took the risks. Had tle government failed
their whole investment wOuo have been total loss.
Now, that their money thus saved 1t, is It right in
that government thus saved 10 turn ITS sayiours
and say, Your GAINS are TO, great; We will COM
| pound the debt ~
DO thls and let the governments needs or dangers
be ever great in the future no one viii be found
! who Will then lend IL single collar either from pa
triotic motives or az any rateo interest whatever
| Everybody would say the government tailed To keep
its faith IN the past what assn ance there for the
present or the futures And not few would probably
! say government that does no keep faith with It's
own citizens Is worth savins. II the government
IL faithlcss what hope IL there or the peoplef The
! morality OF government may be assumed 10 DC
about the average morality Of tie people that arc
governed by II. Lower the standard VI the one and
the other sinks with 1t. Althoug, asree with you
IN many oil yonf NleHsIt " que tOcauuOT anu lGdnk
| ness that shuud say to you tina dissent in toto
FROM all you say IN regard to Class or sectional inter
csts. These should be thrown entreyout OF the dis
cussiOn Of the finance question.
Il was hoped thai the signal faillre that attended
the efforts OF one OF the candidates in ile late pohca
campaign 10 array the West against tie East on th:
very question: and the verdict then rndered by tht
West on the issue then made and desided had set
tied IL, at least to the satisfaction the East Tor
ever. Right Is right and wrong b wrong, whethe
done by the creditor the debtor, and 10 natter
not whether the one or the other ns,pens to fav'
his home either AT the East or IN the peat West.
The whole country has one destin. All should
be jealous OF it, good name at nom and abroad
Therefore LET M be just and keep fat with all win
out regard to localities. In haste, resectuly yours
r. :. SPINNER.
| DAVID WILDER, Esq, Boston, Mass