The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-28
NOW AND TEEN.

Years ago certain men claimed HAT
there was a law governing human affairs.
higher than mere constitutions or state
law, These men were mole or less
secuted, their sentiment, held in drrisi ~.
and the advocates declared unworthy Of
public cunfi1cncr. Daniel Webster, not
quite prepared to take either extreme. bel.
tered himself behind the declaration that It
was idle 10 rc-cnac the laws of Cod Al
thi, waa IN reference 10 The extension or
non.cxtcnsiOn of slavery. The discussion
grew apacc. the brcech became wider and
wider, and finally the rebellion came with
il. incnlculahlc daily expenditure Of treas
IRE. Then it was discovered that there
was II h9hsr law than human constitutions
OF statute laws. 1t was not however.
this time, the law Of God. It wa, para
doN OF law. Although j, had hpcn said
time out of mind. that necessity knows no
law, vet it Was discovered that necessity
was law unto itself. An expenditure of
one III two million OF dollars u day re-
qured money, and this very necessity fur
nshcd the rcqu red law. Scli-dcfcn~c is
the first law OF nature, and acting upon this
law and the higher law of necessity money
WAS created III will Asa necessity for
,cii-prcscrvation. ~ war measure. il was
generally acquicsced in but not ~ all.
Then it was ar-thc life or death Of the
nation Now il is a time ofpcacc when no
such question presents itself Congress,
however, in the exercise of power which
could only have been used in the de. pera,c
emergency of the life OF death OF the na-
ton, has seen fit during the present week
to add foIty-four millions OF dollars 10 our
irredeemablc currency. In view of ihis
tact, OF this action ina time Of peace, we
desire 10 present, without comment. the
views OF two distinguished Vermont slaios-
mcn-onc living, the other dead-a- nrc
sented TO Congress when the first PROPOSE
lion was made to issue one hundred and |
fifty millions of dollars Of lcgal-tcndcr |
treasury notes, to be used in lieu Of money. |
1t will be borne in mind that, at this time,
the treasury was well nigh bankrupt, and |
that many patriot could see no safety for |
the cause of the union except in the cxcr-
else of doubtful powers of this kind. This |
was their only excuse, and they pretended |
to no other.
Money was nocded. Money must be had |
and, as all revenue bills must originate in |
the House, the committee on WAYS and |
means turned their careful attention 10 tie |
subject, and by a bare majority vote re-
ported the bill referred TO- In the course
OF the discussion, Justin :. Morrill,. then n
member of the House and of the commit
tee on ways and means, said Il have not
had time to prepare an elaborate speech
but the subject of issuing $4,000, 900 of
paper currency, and making it Il legal tn
der by the government, at single bound
the precursor, as fear, of prolific
brood OF promises. no one of which is TO
be redeemed in the constitutional standard
ut the country--could not hut arrest NV
attention, and having strong convictions Of
inc mpolicy OF the measure. should feel
That utterly failed to discharge my duty
i did not attempt 10 find u stronger prop
l"r my country 10 lean III on than Til, bill
measure not blessed by one sound nrr.
'"d"nt, and damned hy all. His
m experiment TO eject, by government
I"rcc pump, into the arteries f commerce
h"w currency when the arteries are al
Ia, L..