The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-30
SILVER AND RESUMPTION.
Caucus of Members of the House Of
Representatives.
some Pretty Plain Talk.


newed in a secret caucus. called irrespective
of party, which assembled in the house
judiciary room Immediately after adjourn
ment. There were 100 members present,
mostly from the south and west, with sew
eral from Pennsylvania, and one General
Butler) from New England. The two par
ties we're very nearly equally represented.
Buckner, OF Missouri, chairman OF the bank
ing and currency committee, presided. He
stated that the caucus had been called for
the purpose OF organizing a movement in
both houses of congress to accomplish three
objects-irst, the repeal of the resumption
act second, the reconciliation of silver;
and third, the substitution of greenbacks
entirely for the national bank currency.
Upon the last point there immediately arose
AN ANIMATED DEBATE,
which continued for an hour and half.
The principal speakers were General Benja-
min F. Butler, Macmahon of Ohio, Town
send, Carter. Harrison, Fort of Illinois,
Hooker of Mississippi. Bouck of Wisconsin,
Tom Ewing and Bragg. The result was the
defeat OF the proposition respecting national
banks, and the unanimous adoption of the
following resolution, presented by Fort of
Illinois:
Resolved, That the purpose of the organiza-
ton now about TO be made shall be confined to
the reconciliation of the silver dollar and
the repeal OF the resumption act.
1t was discovered in the course Of the de-
bate that
THE NATIONAL BANK ISSUE
was one which majority of those among
republicans. at least, desired for the present
to avoid. One of the speakers said that the
lesson OF 4ESOp's table was true one, that q
bundle of sticks could best be broken by
breaking each one separately. Mcmahon, of
Ohio, though that the whole subject might
as well be entered on and direct issue
made, now as at any time. He was very
earnest, and particularly bitter in his de-
nunciation of the national banking system.
Townsend, of Illinois, likewise denounced
the national banks, and declared that there
was not national banker in his district who
was not opposed to the silver movement.
Bragg. Of Wisconsin, took similar grounds.
General Tom Ewing, who has been very
pronounced in his opposition to the national
banking system, and who sought first to
commit the house to that theory, seems
since his recent experience in Ohio, to have
undergone
CHANGE OF HEART,
and very earnestly opposed bringing the
national bank question into the present con-
troversy. Fort, of Illinois, whose resolution
finally prevailed, was of the same opinion
AS an original proposition, he would not be
for national banSs but they are established,
and good many things could be said in
their favor, especially they helped keep
bonds at home, and, in any event, silver and
resumption issues ought not be complicated
by the introduction of the national bank
question. The principal speeches of a few
minutes each were rather in the nature of a
running conference than set speeches. The
proposition that was made was rather an in
dire CT assault upon the national banks than
direct one, as it was TO provide that the
government should assume TO issue all
proper money, and to control it.
GENERAL BEN BUTLER
made the speech of the caucus. 1t was
twenty five minutes in length, received
universal attention, and contained the most
radicl suggestions. The temper manifested
towards the administration is said to have
been personally very friendly, but its tone
was extremely determined. General Butler
suggested a measure which a considerable
number of the persons present at the caucus
considered as
VERY PRACTICABLE ONE,
in the event of the veto of the silver bill by
the president. He stated in substance that
If the silver bill should pass both houses by
a respectable majority-by two thirds in
fact, as it now seems likely to do-and the
president should veto 1t, that it would be
expedient, and would probably be the duty
Of the lower house, to attach proviso To ali
appropriation bills that q certain amount of
money appropriated should be in silver, and
certain amount in gold. Butler main
tanned that this was as much
WITHIN THE PROVINCE or THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvEs
as i. is OF the house of commons in England
He said that he could not vote for the bill
that was defeated in the house In the after
noon, as he considered that the government
was bound to maintain its obligation to pay
-. ~. IL = - 4
stated that only $95, 000, 900 annually are re-
quisite for this purpose, while the total
amount OF customs revenue is about $780,
600, 600. He would therefore provide that a
certain portion-45 per cent-of customs
dues should be receivable in gold, and the
rest in silver of legal tenders. He would
also provide that of the appropriations GER
Ill silver and certain amount In gold, and
t at provision should be made for uniting
silver.
THE ORGANIZATION
formed to-day meets subject to the call of
the chairman of the organization. Buckner,
OF Missouri, was elected president; Phillips,
of Kansas, secretary and treasurer, and Rice.
of Ohio, secretary. These officers were di-
rected to appoint a committee of five on
finances and u committee OF five on distribu-
ton.
CARTER HARRISON
gave notice that he should offer an amend
ment 10 every appropriation bill. incorDo-
rating the silver bill in it. Harrison's
amendment directs that the appropriations
shall be paid in legal tender notes or coins
OF standard value on the 14th of July, 1870,
at the option OF the secretary of the treasury,
and in order thai the secretary of the treas
ury may have the means at his disposal to
execute his option he is authorized and di-
rected to purchase silver bullion and cause
the same TO be coined in silver dollars in