Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-01-08
The Demands OF Trade

Now that the presidential Elrciion which
Jiighis business in our counfr, every four
wears. is over. business men are looking
with anxiety 10 those mai CT ial interest, on
which the prosperity of oar land depends.
The hrs, question OF Importance. with
is already agialing tho public mind. is that
OF the carrUHry- how TO return TO speeIe
payment. aud lchen Members oil Congress,
f. csh froal the people. are busv initiating
plans, showing that they feel The popular
breeze. and realise that some action in this
direction 10 demanded Mr. Sumner has
bill providing Tor resnnp ION Of specie
payment by the 4,h Of July. 1869 but tins
time IS ,iought BY man, 10 be premature
TIE author Of the legal tender act. Mr.
Spaulding OF Buffalo, has paJli,hed letter
addressed 10 Mr. McCuIloch. in which he
SAYS, alter an aIiusion 20 thu tryin. cirrum.
stances under which II as passed that lie
offered Il a. a war measure. as a measure OF
temporary relief 70 the Treasury. cpncsdins
that it was forced lcan, and could only be
justified on the ground Of public ne -rssity
As a war measure he continues, "and
so long a. the EFFICIENCY Ia ted believe it
was necessary and proper to successfully
carry on the war. and was iheiriorc con
sli'utionai iap rqnaliy clear that As
peace measure 70 i unconstitutional No
one would tLiuk OF passing l,cal.tcuder
act making tie promises Of the government
Ga merr form OF credi') a legal tender in
pAvmert ol all debts public snd private
Such law passed while the rovrrnmcn, 10
ou peace footing could not be suuained
Tor one momcni. think now. lka, il !,
unfortunate that We did not have iucorpora
ted into tire 1rigina tgsl tender set. atihc
time Of -, PASSAGE, provision ,sat the
legal lender clause should ,eAsc To- bc
operative ~ one year after the clos, % the
war. In thst case al parties would have
shaped their business accordingly. and th,
law would have served ~ purpose asa var
assure. and would not have been con-
tuaed l.s think unuccsssafi',) so long
-i;,T iAs close OF ihc var
Il sec that The cons,.tutiouai.tv Of the
law h4s taIi'y come Up Tor decision before
,he supreme Conr, q thc United States at
Wasbing'on ,bs court bal b en- Gale.
upon o. decide the question Turing the war.
or 40 is close 'hey would most likely hsvc
lceidsI that ,hs law vas valid. inasm.ch as
Congros. had decided hat it Va = necessary
and proper me... 90 D., used in crushing
iLs rebellion bot the law la, been coz.
tnued go force 80 long after 'hs close OF
the war without Asy real necessity f5r n.
hat ] should not De- such surprised Il ;hr
court should nov declare 70 ln-onsfi,uGonai
Three gr,at measures Nsrg adopted D.,
'he government Which iu rny ilemcut were
necessary to crush tie rebellion. aoI main
tain the national unity. VIZ
81 Tie legal tender act hy wh,h the
credit Of ihc government vas brought into
immediate action IN ihe most Available form.
% Emancipation, ~ which 1000. 600
slaycs bs. anne intensely iuic-,. ,sd ~ tbe
Usioa cause
"3 The draft by Which f- army vas
speedily reinforced aiihs turning point Of
the rebellion
THESE three measures. backed b. tie
pee pie. and enforced iy tho army and navy.
finally gave us aation4i triumph lt
Congress will not 7ct promptly .o d,us.rg
some PLAZA Tor bringing tae .egal tender
grGenDaek currency on q par With gold,
rather tLan conuuoe Cos decentralization
incident 20 posiPouemtat OF spocic ray
ments. Il vii perhaps he a. vel Tor tie
country IN long run q tie oourt on due
deiiberaiion, should decide the legsl tender
clause TO be unconstitutional This would