The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-29

is the position of Judge Holman, who is also
prominently mentioned for Senator. He
never lost democratic district, but carried
one which contained large republican ma
jority. and aided the state and legislative
tickets to the extent of thousands OF votes.
But his duties keep him in the House of
Representatives. He is always on duty and
never loses a vote, aud therefore can not be
in the state to take any part in this sort OF a
struggle. He and his friends must trust to
his established position with the democracy.
Mr.. Mcdonald became candidate when
the chances of success were very doubtful
But he fought with the party. For months
he abandoned professional business to at
tend to the duties of the chairman of the
state central committee. TO whicd post he
was chosen contrary to his desire. Wherever
the people called he went, and in every
proper way labored diligently to carry the
state and the legislature. Do the democrats
feel proud of the canvass that is now made
against him? Since the election he has
steadily attended to professional duties
necessarily postponed by his labors in the
field. He trusts to the sentiment OF fair
play in the party. ~ -
1t is held as an offense that Judge Melon
aid in his Greencastle speech declared that
he had never been able TO believe in the
constitutionslity of the legal tender act. He
said:
Ihave never been able TO bring myself to be-
lieve in the legality OF the legal tender clause of
the law, authorizing the issue of treasury notes,
Notwithstanding IL has been SO held by the
supreme Court can not believe tha' congrss IS
possesses the power 10 coin money out OF paper;
yet believe In the fullest manner In the right
OF the government to use her credit in the form
o. treasury notes to sny extent that er creditors
them among themselves as circulating me-
dunn, and while The government is carrying so
large debt. see no reason why she should not.
burthen of the debt as 10 interest, by the Tree
use Of treasu notes, and thus tighten the bur-
furnish safe circulating med um for the peO-
pie.
1t has not been and is not now a question
that the United States may issue bonds or
notes payable at a fixed time, or at its
pleasure; but it has been disputed all the
time that congress can make anything but
gold and silver legal tender, and compel
persons to take it in payment of previously
contracted debts; that was the general
opinion of the democrats. 1t was the
opinion of Mr.. voorhees,. He held that
greenbscks were unconstitutional because
of the legal tender clause, and so voted. The
only opposition made in the House OF Rep
resentatives, to the issue of the frs
one hundred and fifty millions of the treast,
ury notes, was because the legal tender, or
forced loan provision, was unconstitutional.
The great argument on the subject in the
House was made by Mr.. Pendleton. 1t was
NOT auSwarad and m tho eth dou OF ITabr,,
airy, 1862, on the passage of the bill, MIR.
VOORHEES, voted no. tGlobe 2, Sess. 81 Con-
gress-part l, page $685. If he did not think
the bill unconstitutional, why did he vote
no? The greenbacBs were needed then
more than now. They were needed in trade
and commerce more; and also to feed ard
clothe the soldiers In the field. The ma
tional bank notes are not legal tenders
They pass as currency, simply because the
people choose to take them. If treasury
notes without the legal tender law were
Substituted for the bank notes it would be
just the same currency with the additional
quality of direct promise by the
United States to pay instead of promise
through the banks.
Mr.. voorhees, attempts to make political
capital of Mr.. McDonald's position on the
bond resolution OF 1869. The former knows
that the bonds will be paid in gold, that
they are rapidly being converted into gold
bonds. But how does he become the
champion of their payment in greenbacks?
The whole trouble is, that the act declared
that they should be paid in coin, and
pledged "the faith of the United States to
their payment in coin." That resolution of
the House of Representatives was passed on
Friday, the 18th day of March, 1869. When
our faith and honor were thus pledged Mr.
VOORHEES, was silent. He neither spoke nor
voted against it. Three times the yeas and
nays were called, and three times he failed
to answer. Kerr, and Holman, and Niblack
were there, and voted each time against it.
Then and there was the time and place to
strike the blow which he now FORCES for his
opponent After it was over, and
the pledge of the nation had been
given, Mr.. VOORHEES, did not re.
gard it of sufficient Importance to protest
nor to explain why he did not vote. At the
meeting OF the House, Immediately proceed
ing, he was present and nominated candi-
date for chaplain. Nor did the question
sake the House or the members by surprise
It was brought forward in the Senate on the
very day before, and Governor
Morton theoretically, opposed it,.
Three days afterwards in the
Senate this House bill was substituted for
the Senate bill, was passed and became a
law. 1t is the custom, if upon the passage
OF an important bill a member is sick or
uDavoidably absent, to announce the fact
and to place it upon the record. The
democracy ofthe Wabash district was not
represented that day. Silent then, silent
since. 1t was then the peoples question.