The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-28
The Silver Question.

The National Board Oh lraue, as TO -
cent meeting at Milwaukee, adopted reso.
buttons, which have already been published
in the Dispatch, fayoring the formation o!
an international monetary convention
" for the purpose OF estabIish'ng' II poss'
i" BILE. n pcrmanent relative valuation De-
"tween gold and silver, and tnelr. .h =.
!" ,stricted coinage and use as money Oh Ga, "a
ucs,anre.,, The debate on the oecas'oh
brnneht out on argument against Tue pto.
position at this time as tending ~ ~.
n,,blic attention and confuse tue unane'"'
views 80 as to affect 'unfavorapiy thc pitolo
s;,;on for the resumption OF specie-pa!-
ments. sa:t ,or,,
Mr.. WISsoE, Of Philadelphia, said' very
,ry,v that such convention would be a
bindrance to a return to specie-payments IN
this country. A convention could not ne
appointed in two years, and prooaoiy IL
would take years afterwards to come TO any
conclusion in the matter. AT SUCH q time
the United States should not enter upon an
expedient that would seriously affect her
own interior policy and prospects.
II there be truth in the proposition that
the introduction OF silver as part OF the
basis OF paper circulation would increase
the reliability~-and force OF the paper me-
dunn so that it would add to the enterprise
and energy OF the country, silver ought 10
he remonctized ut once. II we consider 1t
with reference to our domestic economy
alone. its' demonstration is very desirable.
But silver enters into the coinage OF many
countries at the present time, and Is there
fore entitled to respect in its relation to the
commerce of nations.
The United States can safely regulate Inc
relative value OF gold and silver for Itself,
and trust TO conference with other nations
at some future period. She cannot err Sc
riousIy in the estimate she may arrive at
The relative production Of the two metals
from the beginning OF their use In the
worlds economy has been kept well-Soy-
erned. no doubt. by the relative quantity IN
which nature has created them, and this re-
lation the operations OF the mines are likely
b maintain in future with no material va
ration. ..... 49,.
We cannot see why, in this enterprising
commercial age, people should deprive them
selves OF the great assistance silver ahoros
in the exchanges for carrying on the trade
OF the world. Coin is becoming more and
more the stationary-cngine OF commerce.
Gold in the vault is represented by the
gold-certi1icate, and serves as the security
for millions without changing its place.
Silver is capable OF performing the same
service. Let them combined support the
paper medium Of the land. The energy
and faith OF trade will be strengthened and
improved, specie-payments will be easily
resumed, and the country be restored to
condition OF. entire peace and activity. En-
ployment will be equal to the supply OF
labor, and the land will recover its thrift
and contentment. :. 't-,.
In the matter Of the conference amongst
nations on the subject of the coinage, that Is
something that should be in no wise blended
with the financial question, Immediately in
teresting to this country. Indeed, we are
and always have been inclined to favor
SDlTlC Oh Independents INV -AhSAhS'~A 49,
ton in the pursuit of its public policy. The
wants Of the country are peculiar, and the
spirit and energy of young nation should
not be shackled By the plodding policy and
inveterate preiudices of old Kingdoms.
Young energies and the youthful genius OF
a>powerful people .enriching the world by
developments Of a continent must be free
and untrammeIled. When the world wants to
confer and to harmonic for the common vel,
fare OF nations, why let the "world move"
on that point. 1t does not behoove this
young nation to be forward in such mat
tiers; and rely upon it there will be much
sooner a necessity for others to ask for con-
sultation about common interests than it
will for the United States to call for conren-.
lions. We have the national complacency
to think that our interests have good deal
OF independence about them, and We are
anxious that the American nation should
maintain that proud spirit Of independence
which our ancestors stamped upon it. ..,