The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-02-25
From tho Cincinnati Commercial, Radical
Washington Letter.
The ARLINGTON, Feb. 8, 1870.
THE LEGAL-TENDER ACT


ccsslml contradiction, that said mind Il
AL tore up The Supreme Cour. ycstcr-
day. without preamble or warning, sud-
denly decided that our great war mca-
sure. the lcga-icrticr Act, was uncon-
stiuiional. II came as some clever icl-
How remarked, with eminent originality.
Hike clap of thunder in Il clear sky
Not content with deciding the case be-
fore the Court, the four Judges volun-
ltcer an opinion, in saying that ilic Gov
crnmcnt's duty is 10 Withdraw its notes
from circulation, rapidly as possible. =
Rather unpleasant this for our lcgisla-
tive Sions who, inspired by the sense
less clamor OF more currency from the
West. We're contemplating an increase of
the volume, rather tlan Il retiring Of amy
sort OF tic same.
The decision is rendered by four
Judges Of the Court.thrcc dissenting.and
we arc promised Il reversal when the
1.-TWO new Judges take thcir seats. and the
luuestion il revived for argument before
Il full Court. This is well enough but
| the other proposition. boldly announced
Ibv the Chronicle this morning, is not
lwcl! enough: OH the contrary, i full OF
lgrave consequences and danger. The
Chronicle says:
/ 1T il 10 be regretted that this impor-
liant decision was not reserved until the
lease could lie argued before the full
I Court. or nj least until tic new Judges
Nominated BY the President Yesterday
lcotlld have counseled with their associ-
Iatcs. Happily the remedy against rep
Ietition Of these insidiouS assaults upon
I,hc great measures Which saved the
',couniry during tie rebellion of which
lthis i, only one OF series is found not
lalonc ia tho new material directly rep
'lrescnting the loyal sentiment Of the
Icoun.ry, but in thc ability of Congress
and the people 50 to worganizc that high
'ltribuna "a to prevent II from being
Iiadc ihc citadel in which The schemes
Of the enemies Of the Republic are con-
Istanily latchcd.
/ Now. whatever criticism We may III.
ldulge in on the Chronicle. there is one
'l.act have learned to recognize. and that
lis that outside of measures looking iii
lrcc.ly 10 The benefit of certain selfish
J moncyed interests in Pennsylvania. Mr.
Foricy. in his paper. carefully follows
land reflects the prevailing sentiment oI
In certaiis governing class in Washington
land in This connection I have been al
lsome pains 10 ascertain Tie feeling and
Iop;n;un among our leaders IN Congress
They arc precisely what Mr.. Forncy en
lhnaies III his mi-clicyOu article. Act
: Iiile under the war power. IS II II called
I've have come 10 consider Ill obstacles
: Unconstitutional or otherwise, as under tlit
lcontrol OF the be-ii-cnactcd Of Congress
And if any organization, constitutions
= ,aliv enacted come in The way OF our 50
tcallcd nrogress.Wc Z need only a little hill
: lpnshcd through 10 law, 10 wipe it out
The Lcgal-tcnaer Act may have beei
! ncce ssarv during the late war, 10 save
1.-The Government, then SO gravciy impcr
lied and We can base our excuse for th'
/, violence 10 the Constitution on this he
Iccssity a man to save his family from
starvation may find it necessary Il
KNOCK his father-in-law i'm the head. Bu
= he should not shrink from the consc
lIuucncc, and having saved his family. h
fought 10 submit TO the hangin. grace
iIfuliy The necessity OF the Lcgal-tendc
y Act did not survive the war. The at
.ltcmpt to continue in times OF peace tn
J measures that grew out Of the deadl.
:. Iconfict. il 10 do to ourselves ali that th
{ tIContedcuites threatened. Had Mr.. Lin
and his advisors been wise, coura
Igcous statesmen. these war measure
| would have been few. and the beautiful
d spectacle presented the world of n irc
: -lGuycrnmcnt struggling for its own cxis
j itcnce. aud yet giving to its citizens al
xIihe rights. privileges and freedom TO
siwhich i. was created. But that admin
-Iistration seemed to rcvcl in and lust TO
y the despotism Of irresponsible power
: From Secretary Seward, with his littl
+ bell, down to the meancst subordinate q
) the War Department, there was Il wan
o ton delight in violation Of constitu
a tional guarantees. Thieves plnnderct
il and enjoyed their plumber openly. Will
0 brainlcss officials rode over and tramp
sled on oil that made our Govcrnmen
c cdiiicrcnt from Others the world over.
= To return to our former condition t
81 force back our agents to their legilmnt
IS sphere Of duty to restore our currenc
g TO what the Constitution rccogizcs. al
e leave trade free and traders responsible
Il independent citizens, make task SLOW
}. painful. and at times dishcaricning. Th
Il Supreme Court, SO far. has shown itse
o worthy the high position assigned il b
" tho fathers. and remains secure upon il
Is foundation. while all else seems shak.
5, moving and uncertain. OF course,
|c will be aSsailed, and those hot gospclc,
/ i'm their blind zeal, will seek 10 cripple j
1t usefulness, ii not destroy its powers 4
n, .,nt. xnn In