The Rock Island Argus., 1878-12-02
Whore the EssnonHibilitx Rests.


There is pretty well defined idea in
the minds of q large majority of those who
feel that times are hard that the RESPONSE
biIity for it all rests upon the financial
operations of the republican party. The
average voter, in discussing the financial
question and the complication connected
with it, generally loses sight Of the prime
cause of the existing difficulty, As a
matter Of history we would refer our
greenback friends to q memorable de )ision
of the supreme court given by Chief JUS
tice Chase 10 which he substantially held
that the legal tenders were only justidable
on the ground of great public necessity
whereinl.the safety Of the Union was in
volved; and that this necessity having
passed saway, the obligation to return to
the honest and sound money of the consti-
tuition was resumed. In discussing this
decision the New York Sun says that this
decree was resumption OF specie pay
ments by judicial process, and like fire
bell in the right it suddenly awakened
certain great corporations, with interest
aud obligations accruing which under it
would have to be paid in gold, then at a
large premium, instead of deprecated
paper currency. as they expected. This
was especially the case with the Pennsyl-
vania railroad and its connections. The
difference in the form of payment to their
creditors would have been matter of hun
dreds of thousands of dollars,
Moved by this pressing consideration
aud by a general desire to antagonize re
sumption, Col. Tom Scott and his confed
crates anu friends set to work to reserve
the judgment of the court. They ant
others like them were growing ostensIbly
rich, and expanding their operations, BY
means of the best currency the worlC
ever saw" Any check would also be dis
astrOus to the interests of large speculat
ing class, who in 1869 were floating vas
schemes and projects that four years after
ward collapsed like punctured balloon.
Gen Grant was then in the first year o
OF his presidency. He had from the start
exhibited a remarkable fondness for tht
chiefs OF great corporations, for men o
money, and for the representatives o
material power His personal associate
all sympathized with this taste. Therefore
when he was approached in the beginning
of 1870, on the subject of the Suprem
Court reserying itself, he was willing
listner; and he became an obedient instru
ment in the hands of the iObbers VIII
swarmed around the White House, seeking
to direct the policy and the appointment
Of its occupant.
By the death of Justice Grier, and o
Secretary Stanton. who had been nomi
mated and confirmed in place of Justic
Wayne, but never took his seat on tn,
bench, two vacancies occurred in the court
The first to be filed was that of Grier
Pennsylvania railroad dictated the nomi
nation; and the only test made at Wash
ington was whether Judge Strong wa
sound on the question of upsetting the de
cree of resumption. When appealed Il
personally, he referred to an opinion givel
by him as State Judge, which left z,
doubt about his action if transferred d
higher sphere. Mr.. Thompson, ther
president of the Pennsylvania Railroad
with Col. Tom Scott as bis chief of staff
gave positive assurance that Strong wa
sound, and under these circumstances h,
was confirmed on the 18th of February
1870.
The same sinister influences prevaile,
when Mr.. Stanton's vacancy came to b,
filled, Joseph Bradley had long been thi
counsel of the Camden and Amboy, anC
was identified IN other ways with the Rinl
which held possession OF the line connecL
ing Philadelphia and New York. It wa.
not necessary toask what his cenrse would
be If put on the bench. He was appointed
expressly to make majority that would
overthrow the Courts Judgment for hon.
est money, aud to be the slave ofthe Rina
whenever his services were needed, He
has kept faith with his owners, for hi,
vote consummated the Great Fraud. Brad
ley was confirmed on the 2lst of March
1870, when the republicans had more thar
three-iourths OF the Senate.
The case was then made ND at the frs
opportunity and with all possible expen
dltlon. to reverse the decree which wa
the pride and the glory of Chief Justic,
Cnase, who had in the stress Of nationa
Crisis recommended the legal tenders. HI
called them into existence, but when tn
war was over he WINS among the first q
bring the government back to its old moor
lngs. Thus packed to order, the suprem
court not only inflicted upon itself the mos
serious wound it ever received. but j
opened fertile source of evils. whic
nave been vexing the country ever since
ana nave brought it to bankruptcy an
aud unprecedented distress.
1he corporation escaped the pavment q
51eir debts IN gold, but the people of III
United States have had to nav hundred
OF millions as the price of that INDULGENCE