Middletown transcript., 1875-10-16
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[Coatiased from first pdge.]
Do YOU not remembe: how paper
money was created and made legal
tender by the Republican party against
the votes Of every Democrat in Con
gress. How they stifed the voice OF
complaint of the people, and denounced
as disloyal every plea that was urged
against their great crime in morals and
plunder in finance? l we'll remember
an estimable citizen Of my native town
in Delaware who was taken from his
bed at midnight and incarcerated in a
fort because be demurred to the recep-
ton of greenbacks, and spoke disre-
spectfully Of them and their authors.
Well do I remember the impatience and
anger Of the Republican leaders in Con-
gress when the Supreme Court of the
United States deliberately by vote of
five to three Of the Judges decided
that Congress had not constitutional
power to issue paper money, and make
it legal tender for the payment of debts,
and how Grants Attorney General
made hot haste to bring forward this
decision at the same time term at which
it had been rendered in order to have
it reviewed and reversed by newly
appointed majority Of the Court. But
even the last decision was simply in
effect that necessity knew no law"
and that the Government of the United
States when in the emergency Of des-,
perate war. could justly exercise powers
not lawful in a time of peace, and
could, during struggle, issue paper
money if such issue was considered by
Congress essential for success. but do
YOU not remember that Secretary Bout
we'll, who is now instructiDg the people
Of Ohio in all the evils of imitation, in
a time of profound peace, in 1872,
without warrant Of law, issued IS, ,000,-
600 Of Treasury demand notes and in
the fall Of 1873. his successor (Rich-
ardson) issued $28, 900, 900 more. all
Of which had, under law, been retired
and cancelled under the administration
Of Andrew johnson, in the avowed
policy of contracting the volume Of
currency, to enable the Treasury to re-
sumo specie payment. No, gentlemen,
the Republican party have invented,
fostered and forced our currency into
its present unwholesome condition, and
it will be madness and folly for the
American people to expect any relief
at such hands. One other cause Of
present stagnation and financial depres-
sion is the hostility and injustice Of
General Grant toward the Southern
States. He has BY his treatment Of
those people rendered all business en-
terprise and all property in that section
insecure. The planter cannot prepare
his crops with any certainty that be-
will not be interfered with by insubor-
dinate negroes or military force In
his Arkansas message. in February
last, he proposed to Congress the inva-
sion and overthrow of the government
Of that State, then ia the hands of men
whom be had expressly recognized BY
proclamation issued within one year as
the lawful government Of the State
His overthrow of Louisiana is we'll
known to the country. a |
His personal application to- Congress
for the passage Of the ''Force bill'' ex-
hibited unmistakably his intention to
seize and control all the State govern
ments South /; and now / say to you
that until the time, comes when any
President proposing or executing such
measure against States ofothe Union
shall be liable to, impeachment and re-
moval from Office. this Government is
not safe. That which was the fate of
Louisiana last year may be the fate Of
Maryland or Delaware next year.
Therefore I say to you we have no
right to allow ourselves to be separated
by minor differences SO long as our civil
and religious liberties are SO assailed,
Let no man believe that civil liberty
can be preserved when religious liberty
IS stricken down. They are two flow
ers ingrafted upon the same stem. |
Both have their roots in public justice, |
and are nurtured by the dews of heaven |
itself Let US as Americans guard and
protect both. Let us abhor parties and |
men who would assail either. and SO
Wishing you God speed in your can
Vass, and thanking you for the earnest
ind respectful attention you have given
ne, bid you goodnight.