The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-22


The Last as to Mr.. Caihoun's Views.
We trust that our readers will excuse US
for trying to make it apparent beyond dis
pute that Mr.. CALHouS not only never de-
.clared himself in favor OF making green
backs, or Treasury notes, legal tender Tor
debts, but took pains to define his views on
the subject so clearly that it is difficult to
imagine bow anybody could mistake them.
The Greensackers are very apt to claim in
their stump speeches that Mr.. CALHOUN was
in favor OF fiat money or irredeemable green
backs; and they sometimes make the
ayerment with so much confidence
that not only do they impose upon
the credulous masses. but even silence
the opposing speakers on that point
In fact, the assertion has been SO o1tenmade
that Mr.. CALHOUN was an advocate OF IRE
deemable greenbacks as legal tender tbat
the average Greeubscker firmly believes
the statement to be true. II any Conserva'
tive speaker shalt hereafter lack the lnfor-
nation which would enable him TO put
stop to those Interpretations, IL VIII ho'
be our fault. We have furnished line upon
line from MIR. CALHoUN'S own declarations
which shows that he never went as far IN
advocacy OF the issue of Treasury notes as
the Democrats now propose to 20, ana
would have held in contempt such schemes
as the Greenbackers put forth. We wish to
add one more to these extracts. The fol-
lowing will be found to be conclusive evil
dence as to Dir. CALuoUN's views. we
quote his own words. Mr.. WEBSTER nav
ing accused Mr.. CALHOUN Of advocating
Government paper-money, for all the pur-
poses OF trade, &C., the latter replied:
"Instead OF excluding all paper-money
from circulation, suggest the use, not or
Treasury notes, rs he stated, or any other
PAPER containing promise to pay money,
but simply one which should contain a
promise to be received in the dues OF the
Government, and that, too, only to the eX-
tent necessary to meet the temporary deficit
of the Treasury, and to [aid in] the process
OF separating from the banks.
"Such is the character Of the paper
suggested, and which tue Senator says
would do more TO ccrtralZc the circulation
and exchanges than the union OF the Gov
eminent and the banks, which, however, ne
sigrally failed to prove. That it would
have greater tendency than the exclusive
receipt in its dues OF gold and silver |
readily acknowledge; and to that extent l
think it Objectionable. Yet do not agree
with the Senator that there should be some
one great emporium which should nave
control Of the commerce, currency, ana
exchanges of the Uuion.
at specie had from the first been eHciu-
siyely received in the public dues, the pres
ent commercial inequality would never
have existed; and, may add, it never VIII
cease until we return to the constitutional
currency. What the Senator has said as 10
the union Of the political and money pow
ers, and the tendency to extravaganza from
the use OF Treasury notes and their depre-
citation, is so clearly inapplicable to the de-
scription of paper l suggested that 40
deem it necessary to waste WORDS upon
it."
He here expressly declares that he adyo-
Gated Treasury notes (greenbacks) "onIy to
the ertent necessary to meet the temporary
deficit of the Treasury" and to assist i'll
getting the banks divorced from the GOV
eminent. What sort OF enDackef would
such man be at this day? Why, he would
be denounced as a friend OF the " bloated
bondholders,'' or as u buliionist, or as
hard-money oppressor of the poor.
But Mr.. CALHOUN went further: he de-
clared that "if specie had from the first
been exclusively received in the public
dues, the present commercial inequality
would never have existed; and l may add
it neuer mill cease until zee return 10 the
constitutional curreacy"! So Mr.. CAL
noUN held that gold and silver were the
currency. Is it not passing
strange, we repeat, that anybody else than
BEAST BUTLER should have the efrontery TO
claim the greatest of South Carolinans as
an advocate OF an irredeemable paper.cur-
rency which should be a legal tender for
debts