The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-03-24

coin. Duties on imports must \.
com. and interest on the public ds Sa 10
the absence Of other express n,o uso! IN
AUST be paid in coin; and IL ha..'n.'ocs.
quires argument to prove that tb;s re-
requirement cannot be fulfilled n cp pos't'vs
between individuals TO paw coin TT,nIfacts
be satisfied by offers to nav tbe; so'urs eau
equivalent In note dollars. Tho aom'nal
VINO IS 70 pay duties in coin must con. .s0t
" 'os the com which he requires. The h.sa
wnlcn received the coin on depos;, oaak
lracts 10 pay the coin on demand en-
messenger who is sent to the banr :. ihs
custonl-house contracts to nav =, S'. Tie
the coin according to his instruct; %eilsef
these are all contracts. either exnrsssus
implied, to pay coin. Is it not Mai" !. o.
duties cannot be paid in coin If tbsss mat
tracts cannot be enforced. An ;nstson Con-
illustration may be derived FINN sss
provision Of the same acts. II !. a aoIaes
~ provided that all dues to the rovs. aptesa-
except Tor duties on imports, NAV b ~
in United States notes. " paid
II then, the government. need;,.
coin than can be collected from %ofs
contracts with some bandk or ;na; Ssaee
Tor the needed amount, to be pa;d ~
tain day. can this contract for co;. - Ger.
formed by the tender of an equal amonIp:
note dollars Undoubtedly It NAV J i - n
note dollars are legal-tender to tIe ,o,. Tue
ment for ali dues except duties on i S,o.I
and yet construction which Womb ~"
port such transaction would defeat . sP-
important intent of the act. Anotbe, ~
tration no less instructive, may be fonnd;r
the contracts of the government With y "a
positors of bullion at the mint 10 nav ,h W
the ascertained value of their depos;, sae !;
coin. These are demands against tba -. u
eminent other than for interest on the eus
nc debt. and the letter of the act cert.;ni.
makes United States notes PAYABLE r.. ~
demands against the government. eycsn.
such interest. But can any such constr
ion OF the act be maintained can ind;.;.,
'anctlon De given to a proposition that tls
government may discharge its Obligation tn
ne dePosltors of bullion by rendering them
number OF note dollars equal to the num.
'er OF coined dollars which it has contr,c.
60 by law to pay? But we need not nursa
ne SUBJECT further. Nseems to as cLeor
eyond controversy, that Ae act must ~.
eace fhe reasonable construction. ,,ok onE.
'drranted 6uf required, BIZ The couDo,iso,,
ITS provisions nth The provisions ~
tier acts, and aoiM each other, and tb1,
pom such reasonable construction II ,n,s.s
Aeld TO sustain the proposition Mm -.
Iess cos4,dcss pay to coin dollars can onj,
sattsNed 3y The payment of coin doncrs
:, ne ~ are not debts which may be satisfied
the tender Of United States notes. Il
Flows that the for1or ~ ct
ayment Of the bond under cousiderat;on
as not warranted in law. and the dec,ss
rectlng satisfaction Of the mortgage VS.
In view OF the passages which we haya
stinguished BY a different type, the idea
lat the decision does not apply to all cnn-
acts to pay gold, past, present and fatum
'st greenback as well as pre- greenback-
not merely preposterous, but ridicu.
us'-t baltimore Weekly Sun.