Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-20
The Democratic Party the Enemy Of Greenbacks.

The advocates of more greenbacks in the
place Of national bank notes are the enemie
of the greenbacks, as.they have ever beens
They are utterly opposed to a national cur
rency in every form. When the greenback
currency was first proposed, in 1862, and
was indispensable to the suppression of the
Rebellion and the preservation of the Union,
tle Democratic leaders everywhere de-
noEnced it as unconstitutional, did every
thing in their power to make it worthless,
and to bring it into dishonor This war
fare against the constitutionality of green
backs has never been relinquished to this
hour. When Chief-Justice Chase, with the
majority of the Supreme Court, decided that
the issue of greenbacks during the war, un-
der military necessity to preserve the life
ot the Nation, was unconstitutional, the de-
cision was heralded everywhere By the Demo-
cratic party as the grandest triumph of the
constitutional principles known in our his
tory, and when, atterward, during the ad-
ministration of General Grant, the member
ship of that court having somewhat changed,
the court decided by Il majority of one. that
the issue OF greenbacks during the war,
under pressure of national military necessity,
was constitutional, the Democratic party,
with one accord throughout the United
States, declared that the decision was cor
rupt, and that the court had been packed by
President Grant for that purpose. And you
will remember that, during the canvass of
1872, the charge of having packed the Su-
preme Court TO procure decision sustain
ing greenbacks, in fragrant violation of the
Constitution, was the most persistent and
clamorlus made against General Grant and
the Republican party. Democratic leaders
have not changed their opinions upon that
subject. Only the other day, at Gallipolis,
Mr.. PendletUl asserted in the strongest
terms that, a member of Congress, he had
opposed the issue OF the greenbacks IN 1862,
because they were unconstitutional that he
had never changed his opinion, and believed
that Congress had no such power. Mr.
Thurman, Mr.. Bdyard, and | believe every
Democratic member Of the Senate. have
from time to time denied the power of Com
greSs to make greenbacks legal tender, and
Ondl ECU thdl tuc Su PitHic NouIt bl WHICH
the decision was made was packed, although
the decision went no further than holding
that Congress had the power to pass such a
law in time Of war If the Democratic
Leaders now believe that greenbacks are un-
how can we sufficiently con-
denim the hypocrisy Of the demand for a new
issue Of hundreds Of millions 10 take the |
place of national bank notes? If they be-
lleye them - be constitutional, no condem- |
nation can be severe enough for their con-
duct during the war. when they denied their |
constitutionality and did all in their power
to di>houor them, at time when they were |
necessary to preserve the life of the nation.
The question as to whether treasury |
note can be made a legal tender in payment
of debts i purely question Of law, TO be
decided finally By the Supreme Court Of the |
uited States and there Is not respect
able Democratic lawyer now in the State Of
Ohio who does not believe that new law
creating a further issue of greenblcks as a |
substitute for national bank notes, OF for /
any other purpose, would be declared by |
that court unconstitutional and void
'9r N,r'Dl's irlapa Speech.