The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-01

| than that recognized as money by the
civilized world. He did not believe in
whipping the devil around the post. If
| they could advance the greenback to the
par value OF gold, then, and not till then,
| he would be in favor of paying the national
debt in such currency. The convention
would make great mistake ii they shrank
from adopting the financial plank in the
majority report. lAppiause.J
The
HON. MR.. MORRISON, OF MoRRoE,
begged leave to say word on the question
before the house. He did not believe that
they could resume specie payments that
day, or the next, or the day after. What
they meant to say was that they believed in
a specie basis for their currency, and they
should tell the people surely and honestly
that they meant to start upon the rosd to
specie payments, and would never turn
back. [Applause.l He wanted to know if
| the American people could repudiate with
| honor debt which an individual would
feel bound to pay? Let them be honest,
and say what they mean. If they want
| to pay in greenbacks, let them say so;
if they were in favor of paying in gold, let
them say so but in either case let them
| speak out and have no Sinking. Loud
cheering.1 The people would not stand any
more lodging. Judge Atom, of Jackson
| county, claimed the floor to DENY that he was
y
Congress of the United States during the last
| twelve wears. At the same time he WAS not
a repudiationist, nor did he wish to be IN
derstoOd as such but he was heartily in favor
of the financial resolution of the minority
report, which he hoped would prevail. Mr..
III. b. Miller, of Cock, was sorry to observe
| that there was some little discord in the con-
vention. BE begged leave TO add the follow
ing amendment to the minority report:
| BY resisting any further imitation of the
currency, and paying the obligations of the
government in money recognized by the
world.
On motion of gentleman from Adams
county, Mr.. Miller's amendment was tabled
| by small majority.
Senator Keboe, OF Cook, said that ne was
unqualiiedly ia favor of the minority report.
| Loud cheers IL seemed 10 him that those
| who spoke in favor of the majority report
were more the friends of the bondholders
than of the people. [Cheers.l He had no
bondholder in his district, therefore he was
opposed to the majority report. If gen.
tieman came there to support the majority
resolution, he believed they did not repre-
sent the toiling masses. He believed in pay
| ing the debt, but the law in the statute-book
was enough without an express declaration
there. He hoped that the convention would
adopt the minority report, and so prove
themselves the friends of the people, and not
OF the bopdholders. Applause and some con-
| fusion.l There were
| LOUD CALLS FOR HESING,
and that gentleman mounted chair to adj
dress the convention, which appeared to be
greatly excited. He said that when the
country was struggling for its existence, the
nationality from which he sprung bad
bought the bonds of the United States gov
eminent to pay its army and navy for the
maintenance of the Union. When England
France, and other great powers of Europe
had conspired to ruin and disrupt this
country, the German people bought the
bonds and paid their gold for them. How
gold ought to be repaid in the same metal,
or its equivalent. (Cheers.] How would
the poor people in Germany, who had
bought these bonds, feel when the news
reached them that the great State OF Illinois,
where so many of their friends lived, had
adopted reputation platform? Indeed, it
might be said that some of their statesmen
knew all about this matter, and were pre-
pared to give instruction to the nation.
There, for instance, was John a. Logan, a
senator. 1t took him only two weeks to
study up political economy. Laughter and
cheers. The debt of the Mexican war was
paid in gold and silver. Were they to be
llesshon than the men ofthat day? No
they should spurn all halfway doctrines
and be frank with the people. This alone
would insure responsibility, if not success
l[Applause.
Mr.. Hansen, of Adams, said that he had
observed the progress of the debate with
some degree of interest. He could see very
little difference between the two platforms
He begged leave to add the following as an
amendment to the resolution of the minori-
ty report:
And that we favor the payment of the
government bonds according to the letter Of
the contract, as laid down in the act of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Hesing-As understand, the act says
1.-THE debt shall be paid i'll gold.
| Mr.. Hansen-Yes.
Mr.. Hesing-Then why not say so? There
is no harm in being honest, is there?
Col. Morrison, of st. Clair county, was
rather surprised at the turn which the de-
bate had taken. If the government debt
was not to be paid in gold and silver, what
Mr.. Morrison continued his remarks, We.
hemently denouncing all con promise in
the financial question. He wanted the Chi
cago platform. He hoped the majority re-
port would prevail. He hoped the minority
wonld not stand.
| DIR. Roberts, of TaZewell county, sustained
the minority report, and denied that it sane
toned reputation principles. He hoped the
amendment would be voted down.
Judge w. III. Green, of Alexander county,
desired to make one more effort to har-
, monte the convention. Therefore, be
offered an amendment or substitute for the
minority report, as follows:
The restoration of gold and silver as the
basis of currency, the resumption OF specie
payments as soon as possible without disas-
ter to the business interests of the country
, by steadily opposing imitation, and by the
payment of the national Indebtedness in the
money of the civilized world.
GOV. PALMER
called Mr.. Oberly to the chair, as he desired
to say a word on the subject before the
house. The platform or call adopted at Chi
cago had challenged the admiration of the
country. The advance to specie payment
should be an object which all of them should