The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-20
,ILvEN SPEECH BY THURMAN.

sILVEN SPEECH BY THURMAN.
Senator Thurman's speech is silver
these days for the people, although his
silence would be golden to the money
changers. In sustaining Senator Mat
tbew's concurrent resolution, last
Monday week, that it is legal and
proper to pay government bonds in
silver coin, as well as gold, Senator
Thurman made the following remarks
first, in reply to ConkliDg, who want
ed to make Matthew's resolution, SO
as to send it to Hayes for his consid-
Grafton and probable veto, and second
in coloquy with Edmunds, who OPP
posed the resolution s.f
Mr.. Thurman argued that it was per-
fectly competent for either branch of
Congress to declare its opinion as to
what was the law of the land. 1t was
perfectly competent for the twoHouses
Of Congress to do 90 by concurrent
resolution, and if Congress entertain
ed an opinion as to the existing state
of the law, that opinion should not be
nullified by the veto of the President.
He wanted everybody to understand
the opinion of ConRr ress, and then the
President might act as he saw fit here
after, but he did not ask the President
for his opinion now. The resolution
submitted by his colleague Mstthewsl
raised a simple question of law. There
was nosnccessity, of referring it, TO.
committee. There was nothing upon
the subject but one or two statutes,
and no report any. committee could
make, would lessen the debate of the
Senate one hour. He was marvellous
Iy curious to know by what course Of
reasoning any lawyer could arrive at
any other conclusion than that ex-
pressed in the resolution of his col
league. -a4.,.. .,...,..s ....
Mr.. Edmunds said the question with
him at the present moment was, what
would be the effect Of the passage OF
this resolution upon the public credit.
1t proposed 10 declare the opinion OF
the two Houses of Congress not as
law, and what effect would, that haye
on the actual condition of things!
Would it not be more candid if Con-
gress was to say anything affecting the
public credit, that it should be done
by law in q manner that would be
binding hereafter. Such q resolution
as this one would do nothing in effect.
1t would not injure the rich bondhold-
er. The bloated bondholder was gen.
orally able to take care of himself, but
it would injure the widow, the orphan
the laboring classes Who had invested
money in government bonds, and en-
able spectators and gamblers to gam
BILE out the public credit. He favored
the amendment of the gentlemen from
New York.
Mr.. Thurman said he had been nine
years in the Senate, and if there had
been any financial legislation for the
benefit of the widow, and orphan. or
the laboriDg classes, he had failed to |
see 1t. The Senator from Vermont
warned the Senate this resolution
would endanger the public credit.
Since the Senator spoke he Thurman
had opened his New York paper.
Mr.. Edmunds-What is the name of
the paper? /
I
Mr.. Thurman-It is the New York |
World, which know the Senator from
Vermont reads daily with intense ad-
miration. [Laughter,]
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Thur
man said The Senate last week made
the silver bill the special order for to-
and he saw when he opened
his paper that gold was one-sixteenth
lower for the week. He then turned
TO Government stocks and found that
every bond of the United States had
risen in value since that bill was made
! special order a r-s t.a .-
Mr.. MOrrill-IOw much has silver
allen since the Bland bill passed?
Mr.. Thurman replied-You have
silver. 1t is not quoted.
The Senator assumed that gold was
N unreasonable standard value, with
which everything else must be COM
'ared. There never has beeh in his
tumble judgment, of all the humbngs
lie ever knew of, more of hnmbug
han about this silver bill, tsa ~ 4
Mr.. Edmunds - think SO too.
Laughter. j. oa ra Tsi a7tarAj
Mr.. Thurman, continuing, said there
vas one class of people who thought I.
fthe bill should pass all they would
ave to do would be TO hold up their
ats and silver dollars would rain into
hem, and there was another class who
bought theSpublic credit would be
uined by it. There was no reason
Or any such supposition. Any such
lea was fallaciOus. He commented
n the Re port of the Seer eiary OF the
in regard to the remoneiiza-
ON of silver. and argued that il would
OF be an injury TO the Government
at a great benefit to the whole people
houid the silver bill be paseed to-day
very dollar of public Indebtedness :
ould be funded at four and half per
ent. |