The New York herald., 1878-02-10
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
EoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Y,
Tho session of the House TODAY for general de-
bate. Mr. Hewitt. (dsm.) OF Ala, occupied the chair
Speaker pro tenn There u very small attend
anco OF members The first speech was made by
Mr. joyce, (rcp) Of Vt, In advocacy of a years.
Presidential term and Of civil service rolorm. 'Ho
was followed BY Mr. Chittenden, (rep.j OF N W., in
speech against tho proposed silver legislation. Mr
Chittcnden said he opposed tho Bland bill because
clipped dollar is not n good dollar; because the pro-
ceedngs and arguments most influential In promoting
Its success havo been Elusive and discreditabe be.
II is an extravagant gift TO the producers Of
gold ana silver bullion; because It Is cruel
mockcry OF tho suffering people; because 1t
remorsclcssly denies the aggressive ana en-
ghlencd commerce Of our country an international
currency. and because II Is revolutionary aud wholly
impracticable ns standard currency Tho clipped
dollar rcverses the traditions and maxns OF all hon
orable commerce. antagonizcs tho underlying prnci.
plcs OF all our snteccdent legislation, and dehcs
laws stronger than any legislation. He said If his
points were truthfuily made, we the edge OF
a fresh national calamity, which unaverted will in.
volve nation integrity. The honest silver dollar
OF our constitution Gun do harm. II
never 10 convenient or current in active
aud largo commercial Transactions until the
leading nations of Europe concur with US
IN The establish hment OF bi.metasm but Within GER
tam limitations controlled Dy natural laws " is
much honest gold dollar But the disturbing ques.
ton Is, Shall the government legalizc and issue
about OF the silver dollar. Honest men with whom
we have commercial relations throughout the CIVIL
ized world hold their breath and stand aghast
Ing prOp0stion seriously entertained BY Congress,
that ninety cents worth OF silver (more or iess) shall
within our jurisdiction, be legal tender or honest
gold dollar Could any currency legislation
be more discrcditablo tnan that proposition
II Congress DO mat has not equal authority for
enactng that Two cents worth OF steel or copper shall
he al O a q of lvcP
gold, must be as near as possible OF equal intrinsic
value. Mr. Chittenden, referring TO the demonctza
tioh Of the silver dollar Of AL grains in 1873 said II
was demonetized not because It was worth less, but
because It was worth tnreo ana onehalt cents more
the legal unit and measure OF value, and In practice
the only one. Tno silver dollar, with a
II was plainly the duty OF Congress 10 regulate"
again value Of It's com. It, then, had ell her
the bullion value OF tho gold dollar or 10 demonetizo
the other. Mir. Chttenden then gave figures TO
show that 10 have demopetzed gold would have been
monstrous He referred to the SILVER meeting In CHI
cago Of the 18Th OF last December, and the Bioom-
Ington tIL) meeting III January, and showed that
demonctzaiion not by STEALTH charged at these
two gatherings. He sad tnat the "Shyl locks" men
toned In Chicago paper's report OF The meeting
there were the actlve bankers aud business men at
home and abroad. who, through tho Chamber vi Com
mcrcc OF Now York, gave hcaRo outright round
million of dollars IN the hour OF her dcsoation-tho
very who have subsequently, loaned Chicago
scores and scores OF other mlioIs which have been
hopelessy squandcred and lost IN Quixolic ventures
evil consequences OF the passage OF The bill. lie
At tins very hour We nave within our reach
gold enough Tor the establishment OF sound cur
rency. In concluding, Mr. speaker, let me appeal 10
the pubic opinion OF the South and Wost to hait watt
discard passion and prejudice, re-examine your posi-
tion resent aud rebuke with Just ana honoI
every inputaton hurled against the representa-
oil capital at the centres oi commerce; drive
IRON your presence, branded with shame
tho meu. wherever Lorn and however eloquent,
who through ignorance or wickedness seek to array
labor against capita. Alter seventeen years OF a6-
n v
son. valor, greed, steam and electricity storm DRIVEN
bunstcd and Scared. our snip OF PROMISED peace
deeply laden With AL the precious anu golden
urcs, sighted IN the oing She Is able and waiting
come into port through tho straits oi honest endur
ancc, lighted by cxpericncs and sustained by tho ruo
American spirit Shall put out the lights Will
VIC obstruct the channel? Dare remove the ships
helm, leaving her crippled and heipless2 1 hear
members OF Congress say that thoy then,s selves
opposed to the SILVER mania, but that they will he
burned IN eihgy AZ home II they vote against THIS bill
think better than the passage OF this bill making
the silver dollar OF 4l21s grains unlimited legal ten
that no member OF TINS Congress shall ever be
turned again. We shall all agree tnat there arc no
400 lives our cVuntry TO Ue weighed IN the baance
against tho national Integrity We shall agree, again,
that there arc NO compensatons In life ior iceaDc
disgrace.
VT. KEyyA, (dcm.J OF W. Va, advocated tho re-
monotzatlon of silver, the repeal OF the Resumption
ACT, tue aboAhng OF the national banking system anu
the granting of iull legal tender qualities TO green
backs.
marks made BY Mr. Chttendeu oil New York. in regard
to silver meeting neid IN Chicago, SAID tnat whllc
tho people VI CnlCagO hckuowleuEeu OIL
the world when that CITY IN ashes, yet they did
cot icc that the rich men OF New YORK, who helped
them in their nour OF need should now keep them
IRON rising from their ashes.
Mr.. ELLswoRrI, (rcp) vi Mch., spoke in opposition
to the denagoguing which attempted to array IaDor
against capliai Tor the purpose OF gaming poli-
tical power Dcmagogues were attempting 10
teach the Wegt 10 dcspise the Shyocks
oil wall street and the bloated bondnolders,
but the West should remember that these very men
in the dark hours OF the countrys history came Ior-
ward and poured millions oi money into the treasury
ana saved the country from her peril Roicrrng
to tho condition OF the south he declared himself in
favor Of general amnesty bl and he asked his
publican trends tv voto Tor such measure.
Mr. HAyEs, (rcp.) oil ILL.,, replied 10 the arguments
put against the rcmonetizaton Of silver and
defended that proposition.
The proceedings were closed with speeches by
Messrs HASKELL, (rep OF Kansas. IN favor Of silver
remonet tizatiop, anu by Mr. BELL (dem) Of Ga, ad-
vocating bl TO pension the sodIers OF the Mexican
war
There were not more than half dozen members in
the Chamber when the House, al nvc O'Clock, ad-
Journed.