The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-09-19
Col T. T. Gantts Speech at the Ratifica-
tion Meeting.

The following communication from the |
pen of our esteemed friend, Mr.. John |
Magwire, recently appeared in the columns
Of the St Louis Times
Col. 7. T. CAN'T, chairman Of the ratifi-
cation meeting held at the court house on
the evening Of Sept. IL, stated
look into the Democratic party.
so-called; | find nothing but one vague gen
crafty. But look further and find there
Is another They are for the perpetuation
~ paper money rags and adverse to
bringing back our specie. Cheers Now,
II there is any one tenet dear to the Demo
cratic heart, distinctive of the Democracy
~ Jackson. Jefferson, Sias Wright and
Thomas ii. Benton, 1t Is the preference for
the Constitutional currency, not the trash
called lawful money, bat constitutional
gold aud SILVER com the preference Of
this over hlthy rags and 1t is &c doctrine
Of strict construction that the eminent men
/ have named referred g. for the constitu-
uunSl doctrine. that coined money -bul-
| lion, and nothing else was constitutional
currency.
Il must Toe inferred from Col CAN'T
statement that he ignores the idea thai
| constitutional money tlS the term heusesl,
I can be made by using amy other substance
/ than gold ur SILVER u, Say> hulhon IS
money.
/ This Is strange language coming from a
minister W the law Mr. CAN'T ,or every
/ other pracucIng lawyer has taken an oath
v to support the constitution III tie nItvd
/ States and the state % Missouri. sup
port the constitution ~ the uted states.
\ How support o. According e. the decis-
ION and Interpretation III that lntalItlv
/ tribunal, the Supreme Court II the mted
States Nov. hen CDl CAN'T undertook
70 interpret the constitution according to
his individual upiniuu. ar whlm. anna APP
/ peal to aIIAvd crowd Ter applause. he
must have forgotten one ur tNu things.
namely, his oath to support the constltu-
ton, or the fact that the Supreme Court
Of the United state has three times deli
berately and unanlnou sly decided that the
/ Congress has power IN the constitution 70
make paper dollars, and that where there
/ exists an obligation to pay money, a ten
der IF paper dollars issued by authority VI
/ a law Of Congress is as valid IN fulf .lmcnt
I Of the obligation as a tender Of specie dul-
lars. Ii must be inferred that Col Can't
] lbs Ai't AtttA All TIE law tsfOhS. tlSt ilt
would not sneeringly call rags that
which the court has decided to be valid,
/ legal, constitutional money.
I Col. CAN'T says ~ am an old-fashion-
ed man i am not young and he refers
| To his recoilectIons Of men who are long
since dead-Jackson, Silas Wright and
/ Benton
We can inform Cul. CAN'T that we do
not, III the present state 81 things. expect
\ Z" derive any aid from old men or those
| who are dead
The questions nuw before the American
| people for their serious consideration
never arose ia the time ot Jackson Sllas
/ Wright or Benton
/ IL come {" the point The government
owes an enormous debt. and the people
are being heavily taXet ~ pay the inter
est In the time II Jackson and Silas
I Wright the public debt Was paid of
The government had no need II money
\ a. pay interest The revenue was sufficient
/ e. pay the expenses 81 the government
there was nu occasinu, "a" apology, for
making more money Jackson. Wright
and Benton contended that money. IL be
valid, must be made ny the government.
The qut stIun As u the material tn be- used
was not discussed
Nov, the question before the people is
SIMPLY tins The interest On the public
debt Expresses the prod iciI.g classes
II the debt Is paid II the people will be
IN the condition they we're IL the days Of
Jackson and Silas Wright
Now, is 1t expedI, nj t. pay the debt
that is the question
u Is as proper and legitimate FIR the
suverel In people, the producing classes. o.
decide, ami IN coming 10 conclusion they
will pay no heed o. odd men : reference To-
the pure Democrat II men a hu are MT
alive VT Z" such windy hlatherskitrs a. Carl
Nchurz. who tWaddle about a return to a
specie basis. Is specie basis anything
more or less than a valid legal money
That We have in paper money and IN metal
money What viii We return t.
Col. Can't SAYS Coined money.
bullion, and nothing else, is constitutional
currency. ! suppose he meals money by
using the word currency This shows that
Col. Can't has not read all the law books
The supreme Court. IN the legal tender
case, remarks that uncoined bullion Is no
more money than lumber or wheat, nor
are eagles, If coined without authority
from Congress. ! VI