New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-18
WASHINGTON.
i PROTEST AGAINST THE SENATE Gun
RENCY BILL

.o..,ov or NETWORK MERCHANTS URGE THE
pp,ss,DENr TO VETO THE BnL-THEY MEET
wrru A woCUIIAR RECEPTION AND CONE AWAY
,NcENsKp-GEN. BUFFERS IMPORTANCE IN TIN
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEI
WASHINGTON, April l7-An arrangement was
z..de nv telegraph Yesterday whereby Delegation
of gentleman representing the wealth ana CUISINES
~ Nav York were to have an interview WIN INC
President this morning on the supyoos
the Currency bill, which has pssseu oo'n
Houses of Congress, and is now awaiting
his signature. The committee as e "co
nv Mr.. Cyrus w. Field, represents about sooo'VVV
200 and is composed Of the following nameu gen'lo
men: Messrs. A. A. Low. John 4. johnston II, D.
M,nturn. Mr.. Vermilyea f. S. Winston, stanton
Rlake Dwight Townsend. S. b. Chittenden, u. T.
Hawley. j. NJ. Brady, Prof. Henry Draper, and John
q Green. The Committee arrived this morning
and were accompanied by number OF other prolni
pent business men from New-iork.
Their reception by the President, considering ther
inheritance aud the vast interests they represented
was at least peculiar in its surroundings Inc!
arrived at the White House in due time, but founu
that their visit had been anticipated by the enemy
Hardly had they reached the portals Of the EXecu-
tive Mansion when they saw Gen. b. r.
Butler Glowing his way in In an ex-
cited manner He evidently intended 10 see
the President first. for he lodged through Gen. DAD
cocks office and appeared at the door of the EXecu
tive office inst as Mr. Field was greeting the Presi-
dent. But Mr. Butler is of more consequence than
all the business men of New-York, and he knows it,
and So instead Of waiting until the interview with
the delegation was over, very unceremoniousIy led
the President aside and held with him a private
consultation while the gentlemen from New-Iork
twirled their hats with amazenent and waited.
After the President was released the gentlemen
from New-York were introduced, and the inter-
change Of views took place; but the good seed soWn
In the Presidents mind was not TO be allowed 10
take root. While the speeches were proceeding
Messrs. Logan, Ferry of Michigan, and Carpenter
came in and made themselves comfortable with
their cigars until the interview was over.
Mr.. Field addressed the President first and said
he had the honor of presenting to him petition
signed by over $500 bankers, capitalists, and mer-
chants without regard to their political opinions
urging him to veto the Senate Finance bill, or any
other bill that may be passed by Congress tending
to initiate the national currency
The President having received the petition, Mr.
A. A. Low addressed him as follows:
AI. President: The Committee for whom / have the
TO speak been appointed to visit Washing
ten for the purpose Of placing in yonr hands letter
which signed by $500 and more OF their fellow
your veto in order TO avert what they re-
gard as a most disastrous blow to the credit
of the country. By memorial and by petition; by
public meetings and by all the means in their power
they have endeayored 10 impress upon Senators
aud Representatives, the importance of sacrediy re-
lpectng the promises and pledges which have been
before the Of the whole civilized world; but
ali their efforts in vain; and last act
duty themselves and 10 those whom they represent
IN of the only hope that remains to them
they make their appeal to the President; and we are
permitted to say that they make this appeal with
the greater confidence, because 1t has been
encouraged by the language OF Your re-
peated messages 10 COngressL and because
~ they believe the solemn pledge TO which they would
more particularly refer the first act Of Congress
which received your signature as President OF the
United States. Your petitioners do not appear before
you as merchants 6nancers, as political economists.
but citizens Of the United States, asking only that the
honor OF the nation which was molly saved by the
armies Of the Union under your distinguished lead, may
not mpered by unwise legislation receiving
the sanctioned your high Office.
MI. S. b. Chittenden then addressed the President
ar follows:
The people we represent are reasonably alarmed for
the welfare and honor Of the country The merchants
and bankers Of New-York have never been, and can
he, parties sectional issues. They realize that
unless country prospers they cannot prosper
but mast warn the people OF the West and South,
that unless capital promptly assured OF a
gradual recovery OF the public credit, the con
traction IN those sections will be more serious than
would result FROM the withdrawal Of the entire legal
tender issue The truth becoming palmer and palmer
every day that the country is irghtfully demoralzcd
We need an example Of firm and steady fidelity from
the Executive We want something TO recall the virtue
OF Washington and Lincoln something to enforce their
teachings and warnings. The poor more than the rch
the honest Of all parties but most especially,
tha q
marty look TO you. their chief and leader,
TO save your country again. This is battle of blood
and battalions Your precautionary has not concealed
weapon device with which 10 Overwhelm you in
OF mschance Your simple words Of power frankly and
honestly spoken Will rally the people of the country
back the tide OF folly and corruption which
driving toward the abyss of reputation. The honest
intelligent people Of this country and women look
10 you; they appeal to you stand uniuchngly for
the faithful keeping OF your own and the nations prom
ises No civ ruler this world as been called to
confront and beat back such Of vicious and i'm
becle financial legislation you are called TO meet to
day. The welfare OF your country depends upon the
measure Of your courage in this supreme exgency.
Mr. Field then presented by request, letter of
Edward S. Jaffray of New-York, addressed to the
President on the financial subject.
The President, in reply, said he had watched the
progress ofths bill through Congress with more inter
est than he had any other before that body
since he had been President. He had at all times
been entirely free in the expression of his views and
was always opposed TO expansion without redemp-
ton and in faver of free banking accompanied with
such legislation as would carry'out the pledges
Of Congress and the party in the direction
of resumption of specie payments. But he had to
look at this matter little differently from the
views Of this Committee. They show very well
what they want. aud may imagine, as he might
were he a citizen of York that the whole coun-