The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-19
GENERAL NEWS.
Tho Silver Question in the Senate
Debate on Matthews Resolution
Continued.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January 1s.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, January IS.
BrLH INTRODUCED.
The bills introduced and referred are
as follows:
BY Mr.. White: To repeal Section 9, OH
OF the Revised Statutes, fixing the stand.
ard for vinegar. Referred TO the Com
mittee on Finance.
BY Mr.. VOORHEES,, by request: Revising
and continuing the Court Of Commits
sioners Of the Alabama claims, and for
the distribution Of the unappropriated
moneys Of the Geneva award. Referred
TO the Committee on judiciary.
The Vice President laid before the Sem
ate a communication from the Secretary
Of War, enclosing the report OF Major g..
w. Weitzell OF the corps OF engineers in
regard to the management Of the Louis
vile & Portland canal. Referred.
The petitions from Ohio, PennEyl-
vania and Delaware against any rednc-
ton OF the duties on imports and remon-
strating against the restoration ot the
duty on tea and coffee, were referred.
Mr.. Wallace presented petition Of the
officers Of tue national banks Of Muncie,
Pa, in favor Of the demonstration Of
silver. Referred.
A communication was read from the
Attorney General, giving the number Of
civil prosecutions in the United States
Courts in South Carolina for offences
against civil rights. Referred.
Mr.. Terry presented memorial from
the Michigan State Grange, in favor OF
the construction Of ship canal across
the lower peninsula Of that State. Re.
ferred.
Mr.. Cameron, OF Wisconsin. presented
a resolution OF the Wisconsin Legislature,
in favor Of the improvement OF the st.
Clair river. Referred.
Mr.. IChristiancy, from the Committee
on Judicisry, reported adversely on the
Senate bill TO enlarge the Jurisdiction Of
the Court OF Claims, and 1t was indefinite.
ly postponed.
MIR. Conkling presented several petit
tions Of the citizens OF Albany remon:
stra,iDg against the passage OF the Bland
silver bill. Laid on the table, the bill
having been reported to the Senate.
In presenting the memorials he said they
were signed by men who not only repre-
aented money and property, but enter.
prise also and they expressed the opinion
that the passage Of the bill would be pre-.
judicial 10 the honor and credit Of the
Government. lie also presented memo
rial Of tue Albany Board OF Trade
against the passage OF that bill. Laid
on the table.
At the expiration OF the-mnrning hour
the Senate resumed the consideration Of
unfinished business, being the resolution
Of Mr.. Matthews declaring the right OF
the Government to pay the interest and
principal Of the bonds In silver.
Mr. Merrimon said the subject was
worthy Of much serious consideration,
and trusted that free and frank expires.
sion Of views would lead the Senate to
wise and wholesome conclusion. He
would never consent that the honor and
good faith OF the Government should be
impaired in the slightest degree. The
naked question before the Senate was
whether the Government could lawfully
pay It's creditors in silver Of the standard
Of value Of July IA, 1870. He reviewed
financial Legislation since '62, and quoted
from various acts TO show that all the
bonds issued were payable in legal.tender
coin Of the United States. When these
acts were passed there were bnt two
species Of coin established by law, gold
and silver, and us the contract stood be.
tween the Government and its creditors,
the Government could pay its debts in
both or either. The law at that time
provided for the coinage Of the silver dol.
lar as we'll as the gold dollar, and had 1t
been intended to exclude the silver dollar
when the bonds were issued, why was not
a provision inserted for that purpose !?
That the Government had right to pay
its bonds in silver Ia clear, and he could
not see how any such action could be
looked on as Reputation. He spoke OF
the business prostration and suffering
throughout the country, and argued that
II was the effect Of unwise legislation.
The financial legislation since tue war
had been calculated to enhance the value
OF the Government bonds In the hands
oil creditors. The volume Of paper cur.
renoy In circulation has been regulated
by the government, and not by the re-
quirements OF business. Since the panic
Of 1873 nothing had aourished save gov.
ernuent bonds.
Mr.. Maxey reviewed the arguments
against the reconciliation OF silver, and
said that the Constitution itself recog.
nized the double standard, He argued
that the act demonetizing silver was not
understood when passed. He quoted
from the speeches Of Secretary Sherman
in the Senate to the effect that Congress
had the right TO restore the silver dollar
whenever It might think proper, and in
his (Maxey's) opinion the time had now
come when II should be restored to the
coinage Of the country. He would vote
for the pending resolution cheertully, be.
cause be believed the welfare OF the peo.
pie imperatiyely demanded il.
Pending the discussion the Vice Presi.
dent laid before the Senate a message
from the President, enclosing report
from the Attorney General 10 answer TO
the resolution OF Mr.. ChAfiee, calling on
the President to inform the Senate what
legal impedimenis, IL any, exist that pre-.
vent him from executing the laws in ac'
co.dance with the obligations accepted
and agreements made by
THE U. P. R. R. co.
and its branches with the United States,
the Attorney General says he has heard
the arguments by the parties interested,
and tue subject has been discussed in 4
suit in the U. S. Court for Nebraska, and
Is now awaiting decision. He says: do
not End any specific authority vested in
the President which enables him in his
executive capacity 10 oblige the Union
Pacific Rraiiroad 10 desist from an un.
lawful use OF Its road, II such exists; nor
IL he empowered 10 ascertainif the law
IL being violated. These questions are
for the courts TO determine. Whether
additional legislation should be had so
that remedy, other than Judicial, can be
applied in such cases, Is question
for Congress 10 determine. Should legal
proceedings in behalf Of the public seem
necessary 10 determine the question in.
yolyed, Il seems desirable that legislation
should be had which would preclude all
questions rs TO the power Of the Attorney