Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-11
An OLD STORY.

While the currency and free banking bill
was under discussion in the house of repre-
sentatives last Wednesday, Mr.. Hawley of
Connecticut had remarked that there was
great doubt of the constitutionality Of green
backs even under the pressure of war, but he
cision of the Supreme Court. Mr.. Eldredge
of Wisconsin, who had been for some time
trying to entrap him in some inconsistency,
interrupted him by saying: cit was well
before the appointment of the new judges,
had come to the decision that greenbacks
were unconstitutional as legal tender. Gen.
eral Grant, for the purpose of reversing that
decision, or having them declared valid, re-
organized the Supreme Court, when a new
decision was made. Yet the gentleman from
Connecticut supported with all his power and
influence General Grant for the presidency
after the occurrence of these events" The
following conversation then ensued:-
Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut could 90 on
for some considerable time to explain that
reorganization Of the Supreme Court, but l
do not know that could commit the question
to better hands than to the gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. f. r. Hoar, to whom |
yield the floor.
Mr.. Z. r. Hoar-The fact is not as the gen.
tleman from Wisconsin states it.
Mr.. Eldredge-I have put the question to
the gentleman from Connecticut and | want
him to answer.
Mr.. Z. r. Hoar-That SANDER has been re-
peated from the stump until it has once or
twice been put squarely down. published a
letter, under my own hand, giving the dates,
which contradict it perfectly, and the gentle
man 10 utterly mistaken about it.
Mr.. Eldredge-I do not wish the gentleman
from Connecticut to appear by counsel. l
wish him to answer it himself.
Mr.. 4. II. Hoar-I am stating fact. 1t is
not a matter Of ability; it is a matter of truth ;
and say the gentlemen who were put upon
the bench of the Supreme Court were nomi-
mated before the first legal tender decision
was given. Their nomination was sent into
the senate on the morning of the very day on
which that decision was given, and reached
the Senate before the decision was given in
the Supreme Court, and when it was reported
in Washington that the decision of the court
was going TO be the other way. There was
no more reason to believe those two gentle
tucu WOuiu give u ulucfeUt OpiulUl Ou the It.
gsl-tender question from that which the court
first gave than there was that Chief Justice
Chase would give a different opinion-nor
half so much at the time they were nominal
ed
Mr.. Eldredge-The gentleman from Massa-
chusetts knows and the country knows very
well the decision would have been one way if
there had not been added two other judges,
and he knows very well the decision was fin
ally q different way with these two other
judges.
Mr.. e. Il. Hoar Bat the gentleman said
that these gentlemen were put there to re-
verse the decision.
Mr.. Eldredge-I did not say any such
thing.
Mr.. Z. r. Hoar-I understood the gentle.
man to say so. He said General Grant reor.
ganized the court 'for that purpose
Mr.. Eldredge-I stated that it was very
well known to the country that the decision
was against the validity of the greenbacks as
q legal tender, and that after that two judges
we're added 10 the bench, and then there was
different decision.
Mr.. 4. X. Hoar--They were not; and
there is where differ from the gentleman
say that their nomination was sent in be-
fore that decision was given.
Mr.. Eldredge-They took no part in the
decision, but If the decision had been given
before il would have been different from what
It was, and the gentleman knows It.
Mr.. x. X. Hoar-They were appointed be-
fore the decision was made.
Mr.. Eidredge--That makes no difference.
That does not alter the case. The Supreme
Court had considered the question, and two
judges were added afterwa ards, and different
conclusion was come to.
Mr.. Z. r.. Hoar-But they were appointed
before.-[ Bosfon advertiser.