The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-06

/ greSS.
Mr.. Morgan. Will the gentleman
yield to me for one moment?
Mr.. Fitch. No;I cannot yield fdr-
ther.
Mr.. Morgan. Will the gentleman
yield to me for thirty seconds?
Mr.. Fitch. Yes, sir; but for no
longer.
Mr.. Morgan. Then, sir, in that
thirty seconds I will conclusively
prove that the Republican party of the
United States stands irreyocably
pledged to the doctrine ofrepudiation.
In the very midst of the late war, du-
ring period when the Republican
party had control of the legislation of
every State adhcring to the Union,
by solemn Legislative enactment every
adhering State repudiated one half of
/ the interest on their State debts; for
which they are bound to pay in gold,
they paid it in greenbacks, when, in
consequence of their mal-admiRistra-
ton of our public affairs, greenbaeks
were only worth fifty cents on the
dollar.
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio. Massachu-
setts did not. She paid her interest
in gold.
Mr.. Morgan. Yes, she was the sin
gle exception; but Ohio, our own
State, by the action of its Republican
Legislature did repudiate by paying
only one half of the interest due on
her debt. ~
Mr.. Garfield, ofOhio. Yes; unhap-
PLY, Ohio did.
Mr.. Cox New York did not re-
pudiate the interest ON her debt.
Mr.. Morgan. Yes, sir, New York
did; and that, too, by the action of
her Republican Legislature.
Mr.. Brooks, of New York. The
Democratic party of New York did
not repudiate.
Mr.. Cox. In New York the Demo-
cratic party, with Seymour as gov
ernor, paid the. interest in gold; but
the Republican Legislature arterward
paid it in paper. aa
Mr.. Morgan. 1 spoke of the State
and the action of its Republican Leg
islature, and not of the Democratic
party. Then, sir, let it not be denied
that the Republican party in every
State of the Union stands committed
to the doctrine Of reputation
Mr.. Woodward. Mr.. Chairman,
this seems to be day of general con-
fession. (Laughter.) I ask that the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Fitch)
will give me time enough to make my
confession. sd u s.t ss.o#,
Mr.. Fitch. / will yield five min
utes to the gentleman from Pennsyl-
bania, (Mr. Woodward.) I suppose
that will be time enough for his pur-
pose, u ui#igs
Mr.. Woodward. 1t happened to
me to be member of the supreme
court of Pennsylvania when the coun-
ty of Allegheny and the Republican
city of Pittsburgh repudiated their
most honest and most righteous debt.
Mr. Woodward Yes, sir; they
4 were kept in Jail for one whole year
4 before they would surrender to our
authority. It was a fierce struggle
between the judicial authorities of the
State and the Republican party. And
the judicial authorities of the State
finally triomphed over the -repudia-
ton OF the Republican party in that
instance. Well, sir, on the 25th OF
February, 1862, q aRepublican Congress
passed an act declaring that green.
backs, worth then about sixty cents
on the dollar. should be legal tender
!! in payment of debt in direct and pal.
: pable violation of a provision of the
Constitution of the United States, and
to the utter Reputation of one third
of the whole Indebtedness of this wide
4 country. Against that instance of re.
pudiation my soul and all that was
within me rebelled. And improved
the earliest opportunity when I be-
came member of this House to offel
resolution instructing the Commit
tee on the Judiciary of this House tc
bring in bill to repeal that law as 6
disgrace to the country and to the age
and am obliged to say that that com.
mittee has never yet reported on my
resolution. "ss<
Mr.. Myers. And I hope it never
will a9as 4f ,a '
Mr.. Woodward. It was Republi
: can Congress in WhlchI offered thai
; resolution; it was Republican com
mittee to whom the resolution was
referred, and it is Republican who
9 says that he hopes the committee new
j er will report on that resolution
That resolution contemplates grad
ual repeal of the legal tender act, il
order to let down the country gradu
ally. H ]
There was another instance of re
pudiation.' A Republican Congress
and Mr.. Johnson signalized themselves
by requiring every southern State be
fore it could be admitted into the
Union to repudiate her debt, teaching
them repudiation according to the
Republican code of morals. And
know men in the South who will tel
you that there never has been in theil
personal experience so disgusting an6
3 disgraceful necessity as that which
compelled them to repudiate theil
debts. 41 '
Mr.. Dawes. Does the gentleman re
fer to the confederate debt?
Mr.. Woodward. Yes to their owl
debt.
Mr.. Dawes. Well, that must hav,
been painful to them.