Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-12-12


advanced to full equal citizenship; the
immediate repression and sure punish
ment by the national and local authori-
ties within their respective Jurisdictions,
of every instance of lawlessness and
violence toward them is required for
the security alike Of both races, and is
Justly demanded by the public opinion
of the country and the age In this
way, restoration, harmony and good
will and the security of every citizen
in the full enjoyment Of every consti-
tutional right will surely be attained.
Whatever authority rests with me to
this end / shall not hesitate to put forth.
Whatever belongs to the power OF con-
gross and the jurisdiction Of the courts
Of the Union, they may confidently be
relied upon to provide and perform and
to the legislatures, the courts and ey-
ecutive authorities Of the several states,
| earnestly appeal to secure by ade-
quate. appropriate and reasonable
means within their borders, these com
mon uniform rights Of united people
who love liberty, abhor lawlessness and
revere justice. These objects are very
dear to my heart | shall continue
most earnestly to secure for their attain
ment, the cordial cooperation of all
classes, Of all sections Of the country
and of both races as required for this
purpose, and with these blessings as
sured and not otherwise, we may safely
hope to hand down our free institution
of government, unimpaired to the gen
erations that will succeed us.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
Among the other subjects of great
and general importance to the people
of this country, | cannot be mistaken, |
think, in regarding as pre-eminent, the
policy and measures which are
designed to secure the restoration
Of the currency to that normal and
hcalthful condition in which, by the re-
sumption of specie payments, our in
ternaI trade and foreign commerce may
be brought into harmony with the sys-
TEN of exchanges which is based
upon the precious metals rs the intrin-
sic money Of tho world. In the public
judgment that this end should be sought
and accomplished as speedily and as
securely as the resources Of the people
and the wisdom of their government
can accomplish, there is a much greater
degree Of unanimity than is found to
occur in the specific measures which
will bring the country to this desired
end or the rapidity of the steps by
which it can be safely reached. Upon
most anxious aud deliberate exam-
nation which have felt it my duty to
give to the subject, | am but the more
confirmed i'll the opinion which | ex-
pressed in accepting the nomination
for the presidency and again upon my
Inauguration, that the policy of re-
sumption should be pursued by every
suitable means, and that no legislation
would be wise that should disparage the
importance or retard the attainment of
that result. have no disposition, and
certainly no right to question the sim
ccrity or integrity Of opposing opinions
and would neither conceal nor under
value the considerable ditiiulties and
even occasional distresses which may
attend the progress of the return to-
wards this primary condition to its gen
eral and permanent prosperity, but |
must, however, adhere to my most
earnest conviction that any wavering in
purpose or unsteadiness in methods so
far from avoiding or reducing the in
convenience, inseparable from the tram
sltion from an irrcdeemable to re-
dcemable paper currency, would only
tend to increase and prolong disturb
ancc in values, and unless relieved,
must end III ruinous disorder, dishonor.
and disaster, i'll the financial affairs of
the government and of the people. The
mischlefs which | apprchend and ur-
gently deprecatG are confined to no
class Of the people indeed, but seem to
me IN ost certainly TO threaten the in
dustrious masses whether their occu-
pations are of skilled or common labor.
TO them, ii seems to me, it is of prime
importance that their labor should be
compensated in money, which is in
Itself fixed in cXchangcablc value; by
being irreyocably measured 10y the
labor necessary TO its production. This
permanent quality of the money of the
people is sought for and can only be
gained 10y the resumption of specie pay
mcnt. The rich, the speculative, the
operating, the money dealing class,
may not always feel the mischief, or
may find casual profit in variable cur
rcncy, but the mi>fortuues of such n cur
rency TO those who are paid salaries or
wages are unavoidable and remedies.
Closely connected with this general
subject of the resumption of specie
payments, is one of subordinate, bat
still of great, importance. | mean the
readiustment Of our coinage system, 10y
the renewal of the silver dollar as an
element in our specie currency, en-
dowed by legislation with the quality of
legal tender, to a greater or less ex-