Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-12-19
THE SILVER DOLLAR.

THE SILVER DOhLAh
Closely connected with this general
subject ot tbc resumption Of specie pay
menis il one OF subordinate, but still
OF grave Importance. | mean the re-
adjustment of our coinage system by
the renewal OF the silver dollar as an
element in our specie currency, en-
dowed by legislation with the quality
OF legal tender to II greater or less ex
tent. AS there is no doubt Of the power
Of Congress under tho Constitution 10
coin money aud regulate the value
thereof, and AS this power covers the
whole range Of authority applicable to
the metal, the rated value and the
legal tender quality which shall be
adopted Tor the coinage, the consIdera-
tons which should induce or discour-
agc particular measure connected
with the coinage belonging clearly to
the province OF the legislative discrc-
ton and Of public expcdiency. With
out intruding upon the province of ley.
islatlon in the least, have yet thought
the subject ofsuch crilical Importance in
the actual condition Of our affairs rs to
present an occasion for the exercise OF
the duty imposed by the Constitution
on the President, of recommending To
the consideration Of Congress such
measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedient. Holding the opinion,
as do, that neither the interests OF
the Government nor the people Of the
United States would BE- promoted by
disparaging silver a. one of the two
precious metals which furnish the coin.
age Of the world, and that legislation
which looks To maintaining the volume
of intrinsic money to us full measure
Of both metals us their relative com
merciaI values will permit, would bc
neither unjust nor incxpcdient.
must ask yonr indulgence to briel
aud definite statement OF certain essen
tiul features in any such legislative
measure, which | feel II my duty TO
recommend. do not propose TO enter
the debate represented on both sides
by such able di-putants in Congress.
and before the people and in the press
as to the extent to which the lrgi-la-
lion Of any ono nation can control this
question, even within its own borders,
against the nnwriltcn laws Of trade, or
the positive laws oi other governments.
The wisdom Of Congress in shaping
any particular law that may be pre-
=entcd for my approval may wholly
-upcrccde the necessity of my entering
inio these considerations, and willing
" avoid either vague or intricate in
qliirics. II Is only certain plain aud
practical traits Of such legislation that
desire to recommend u your atten-
lion. In any legislation providing for
silver coinage, regulating its value
and imparting to il the quality of legal
tender, IL seems TO me Of great impnr
ance that Congress should not loss sight
OF its action as operating in two-fold
capacity and in two distinct directions.
II the United States Government were
tree from public debt, its Legislative
dealing with the question OF silver corn.
ago wonld be purely sovereign and
Cover nmental, under no restraints but
those OF Constitutional power and the
public good as affected by the proposed
legislation. But IN the actual circum'
stances of the nation, with vast pub
lie debt distributed very widely among