davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
The President Vetoes the Silver Bill
Congress Passes It.



Yesterday afternoon the President
returned the Silver bill to the House
with his objections thereto. After
reading the message, without debate
and under the gag of the previous ques-
ton, the House, by vote of 1876 to %,
passed the bill, Notwithstanding the
Presidents objections, and sent it to
the Senate. ThereHpon the Senate,
after the reading of the Executive mes
sage, concurred in the action of the
House by vote of 40 to 10. The bill
has now become a law.
The silver dollar of 4124 grains has
been made Il legal tender for all public
and private debts, where not otherwise
specified. The Secretary of the Treas
ury is to purchase silver bullion, and
have not less than S2,000,00 nor more
than $4,000, 900, a month coined, all the
profits of coinage to go to the Govern
ment. The holders of silver dollars to
the amount of $40 and upward can
deposit the same at the sub-tIeasury of
the United States and receive therefor
certificates which shall answer all the
purposes of the coin itself. 1t is further
provided that the President shall i'm
VI
the nations known as the Latin Union
and such other European Governments
as he deems eXpedient to join in con-
ference to establish ratio for the coin
age of silver and gold, and us soon as
three or more of such Governments
shall assent, appoint three commission
ers to represent the United States in
such conference.
During the past three months the
objections tn the coinage of a silver
dollar of 4I24 grains weight have been
stated many times with great force, but
the reader will look in vain for Il
clearer and more concise statement of
the whole argument against Il cheap
dollar than the President gives in his
veto message. 1t is dishonest dollar,
and as such it will force the honest dol
lar out of circulation. The public cred
itor was given to understand that he
would be paid in the coin of commerce.
The bill c0mpels him to take different
one. But in vain; the President ad-
dresses men who do not believe that
1.-The obligation of public faith trans
cends all questions of profit or public
advantage"
There is little need to speak of the
possible effects of this unfortunate
measure. With its present provisions,
the Silver bill is rather n wrong and a
shame than Il positive cause for ALARM
in business and industrial circles. 1t is
reported that Secretary Sherman re-
CARDS the measure as one which may be
used to promote specie resumption.
This may or may not be true, but with
the amount of silver which can be
coined during the next year or two
there can be little apprehension of
serious consequences. The silver de-
fusion has already inflicted the most
serious damage of which it is capable,
by the uncertainty and apprehension
which it has caused in business circles
the past three months. If Congress
will but stop here and not trif1e with
the currency question any further, con-
fidence will come back, and under the
prosperity which confidence and con-
fidence alone can bring, the great and
vigorous nation can adapt itself to the
new conditions.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
The Famine in Northern China.

Our foreign papers give some further
information in regard to the terrible
famine raging in the northern section
of CHINA famine which an English
man who recently left the country pro-
nounces "the widest-spIead and most
fearful scourge that has befallen hu-
mainly for the last 200 years." 1t be-
gan in the autumn of 1875, and the
number of sufferers is now said to be
7O,000,O00 equal to the united pOpula-
lions of Great Britain and the United
States. Fancy a tract of country"
says this gentleman, charger than 10
Switzerlands prey to want that it is
well-nigh impossible to relieve. The
peoples faces are black with hunger !;
they are dying by thousands upon
thousands. Woman and girls and boys
are openly offered for sale to any chance
wayfarer." In many cases parents,
being unable to dispose of their chill
dren otherwise, have killed them rather
than to witness their prolonged suffer-
ings. "COrpses lay rotting by the high
way, and there was none to bury them.
AS for food, the population subsisted
for a long time on roots and grass
then they found some nOurishment
in willow-buds, and finally ate the
matches off their cottages. Nearly all
the assistance that has been rendered
thus far has been by foreigners, acting
through missionaries, Protestant aud
Catholics. 1t is said that the sight of
so much self-sacIifcing labor and
Christ-like self-fOrgetfulness as have
been displayed by the missionaries
throughout these troubles has filled the
Cinnamon with establishment. 1t has
opened their eyes entirely to the mis-
representations of the missionaries
which the mandarins had spread abroad
among the common people. The drouth
in which the famine originated is at
tributed to the wholesale cutting down
of the forests on the mountains and ia
ble-lands of that section of North China.
The Chinese Government is at length
doing what it can to give relief by re-
hitting taxes and furnishing grain, but
there is urgent need of outside benevO-
lence.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08

that If contains no provision protecting
from its operation pre-existIng dep1S,
in case the coinage which it creates sIaii
continue to be of less value than thaC
which was the sole legal tender when
thew were contracted. Ifit is now pro-
posed, for the purpose OF taking adVah-
tage Of the depreciation of silver in the
nayment of debts, to coin and make d
legal tender silver dollar OF less COM
mercial value than any dollar, whether
of gold or paper, which is now the Jaw
full money in this country, such meas
ure, it will hardly be questioned, VIII,
in the Judgment of mankind, be an ACT
of bad faith as to all debts heretofore
contracted. The silver dollar should DE
made legal tender only at its marker
value. The standard OF value shoulu
not be changed without the consent Oh
both parties to the contract. National
promises should be kept with untilnch-
ing fidelity. There is no power to com
pei nation to pay its just debts. Its
credit depends Oh its honor. The ma
ton owes what it has led oil allowed It's
creditors to expect.
L cannot approve bill which, in my
Judgment, authorizes the violation OF
sacred obligations. Inc OOllSatloh vi
public faith transcends all questions OF
profit or public advantage. Its unques-
tionable maintenance is the dictate
as well of the highest expediency as OF
the most necessary duty, and should
ever be carefully guarded by the execu-
tive, by Congress, and by the people.
1t is my firm conviction that, If the
country is to be benefited by a silver
coinage, it can be done only by the is
sue of silver dollars of full value,
which will defraud no man, and cur
rency worth less than it purpOrts to he
worth will in the end defraud, not only
creditors, but all who are engaged in
legitimate business, and none mere as
suredly than those who are dependent
on their daily labor for their daily
bread. r. B. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, February26, 1873.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
Scientific Notes.

Prof. Simon NewcOmb is the third
American to enjoy the honor of being
elected Il member of the Royal Society,
Profs. Asa Gray and Benz. F. Pierce
being the only others.
An Austrian, Herr Aug. Edward
Granfeld, has lately devised a new tel
egraph apparatus, by means of which
100 or 100 messages can he sent in the
remarkably short space of one hour.
Arctic exploration still claims large
share of attention. Probably the next
expedition to start will be that of the
Dutch, which sails May LIST, but many
Others are preparing. Capt. HOwgate
is working hard to get the necessary
appropriation from Congress to enable
him to join his preliminary expedition
under Capt. Tyson, which is now at,
OF near, Disco. His plan it will he re-
membered, is to establish n colony in
Lady Franklin Bay, to remain at least
three years.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
Negroes Kidnapped in Flo,.,
Sold in Cuba ua

The president received a Iet,.
a reliable source, several We'll. yl &.
stating that the writer was in re a.
of facts capable of direct h p"sSes
colored men, citizens of Flor rUpl d
been kidnapped and transportoIa'
tbe Gulf of Mexico to Cuba ar1 det
sold into slavery. The writer a ~, %
members of the families of SOM naS' q
enslaved citizens have IeceiveJ "
gence from their relatives stati, l'lt
they were held in bondage. Tbei
occasioned much surprise to n ,e Ir
dent, and he concluded to disH. p
confidential agent to Cuba to a p",0
whether the statements were trna 2
an agent was found in Judge 7
republican member of the Hon, .
Louisiana, a discreet and conrteon
and familiar with the Spanish lan.
Judge Leonard a few days aeooL,.
an indefinite leave of absence frn'
House and left New York for ~
on the steamship Columbus Wedna
last.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08

Jesse G.. Kenaston. Auditors, j. Gray,
Charles Ingalls,, w. H. Drake. Grand
jurors, Charles Mcclellan, Chas ingalls,.
SUTTON Moderator, N. K. Campbell.
Clerk, J. E. Willard. Selcctmen, j. E.
Willard, A. Fl. Ball, Nj. A. Taft. Treas
urer, R. D. Wilson. Overseer, R. Ellis.
Constable, C. w. Willard. Listers, N.
K. Campbell, Silas Roundy, B. M. K.
Wiley. Auditors, II. Easterbrooks, NJ
A. Campbell, o. M. Fogg. Town grand
Juror and agent, R. Ellis. Supt., j. T.
Otis. Court grand jurors, H. Easter
brooks, r. Ellis. Petit Jurors, o. nj
Fogg, E. L. Carr, F. w. Barker, Chas
Clark, L. N. Frost, II. A. Blake. Com,
E. III. Stone, 81.
Moderator, A. l.. Weed
Clerk and treasurer, o. C. Cole. Select
men, A. Hutchins, T. j. Hood, I'll. Jack
son. Constable, A. S. Aver. Overseer
A. L. Weed. Listers, II. o. Niles, u
L. Pierce, j. S. Porter. Agent, A
Hutchins. Town grand juror, Peter
Blair. Supt. E. w. Clark. Auditors,
L. P. Shepard, D. j. Weed, E. W.
Clark. CON-, E. II. Stone, 81. Tax
raised 100 cents on the dollar.
WATERFoRD.-Clerk and treasurer,
L. S. Freeman. Selectmen, A. B. Goss,
G.. W. Felch, E. E. Hovey. Constable,
Orsen Cushman. Listers, Willard Kin
ney, E. III. Cushman, L. S. Freeman
Supt., w. G.. Stiles. Overseer, Lorenzo
Green. Agent, VIM. M. Hovey. Au-
ditors, C. NJ. SWEET, R. M. Ross, G. w.
Stiles. County CON-, E. Fl. Stone, IA
Voted to raise 40 cents on the dollar.
Moderator, A. w. Eddy
Clerk and treasurer, Orvis Fits. Sc
lectmen, It. HI. harrington, J..F. Stew
ems, w. H. II. Davis. Constable, c
w. Patterson. Listers, A. Gile, d. S.
Ferguson. Supt., c. A. Stevens. Over
seer and agent, j. F. Stevens. Audit
ors, F. harrington, j. B. Rogers, A. A.
Perry. CON-, E. III. Stone 60. Tax
raised 200 cents on the dollar.
WHEELoCK.-M Moderator, L. Jetfer-
son Cree. Clerk and treasurer, Charles
Rogers. Selectmen, B. E. SquiIes, M.
D. Welch, Ferdinand Darling. Con-
stable, Edwin A. Williams. Listers,
Charles Rogers, Thomas Chandler,
Horace Darling. Auditors, T. j. Cree,
Jonathan Emerson, Samuel II. Jones.
Overseer, Henry Hoffman. Agent,
Charles Rogers. Town Grand Jurors,
L. SulIoway, Samuel d. Gray. Supt. A.
B. Chandler. Com, E, II. Stone, 9.
Tax raised in December, rs cents.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
Death of Ben. Wade.

Benjamin Franklin Wade died at JEFF
ferson, Ohio, Saturday morning. al
half-past six O'clockx-in the 18th year
of his age. He was born in Springfield,
Mass. Going out to Ohio Il young man.
he began the practice of law at Jeffer-
son, his home ever since, in 1929, rose
steadily In his profession, glided nat
urally into politics us Il wing, keeping
always IN advance of the growing anti
slavery sentiment, till in 1851 he was
elected to the United States Senate.
where he was kept by successive re-
elections till 1869. After Lincolu,s
death he became, as president of the
Senate, acting vice-president of the
United States, and so successor to An
drew johnson in the White House had
the impeachment trial ended in the ex-
pected way. "Bluff Ben Wader did a
great work in the ante-rebellion DAVIS
and good service during. the war period.
though occasionally losing his balance
in Impotence with Lincoln, but he was
"war horse,n and the new
era of peace was one he could not nm
derstand. 1t is needless to saw that Mr.
Wade was the same in Washington as
IN OHIO, showing the indOmitabie quail
tiles which had distinguished every step
of his upward course. The plantation
manners of many of the Southern Sen
ators, as well as the tameness with
which they were received by too mapv
Northerners, excited his astonishment
and Indignation. One cognizant of the
facts thus relates the sequel of one of
these attacks on Northern Senator.
A southern fire-eater made an attack on
a northern senator, and Wade was
and Disguised at the cringing.
way in which the northern
man bore the taunts and insults of the
hOt-headed sOutherner. AS no allusion
was made to himself or state, Mr.. Wade
sat still, but, when the Senate adj
journed, he said openly, if ever a south
ern senator made such an attack on
him or his state, while he sat on that
floor, he would brand him as a liar
This coming to the ears of the southern
men, senator took occasion to point
edly speak few days afterward of Ohio
and her people as negro thieves, In
stantly Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08

nnced the Senator liar. Inc
ano anotors were thunderstrucK
SUI Gathered around their champion,
..,h;,e fine northern men grouped aoouo
Wade. A feeler was put out iroll Sno
ntbarn side. looking TO retraccivn,
ST. Mr. Wade retorted III bis pecuilal
uu and demanded an apology for t1e
;nsnlt offered himself and the PeoPie
u.s. Luz uanresented. The matter thus closed'
y fgbt was looked upon as certain. Inc
next day gentleman calico t Ipo ns vnI
senator from Ohio, and asKeo Ine ISL
question touching his ackno"ieos' 'o"'
of the code. Sin a
81 am here" he responded, III d
double capacity. l represent Tue W SUI
of Ohio, and / represent Ben Waue
As senator, am opposed to 9ue :,
as Ben Wade / recognize the code:
.EMy friend feels agrieved, salo nc
gentleman, sat what you SAID ID tne
Senate yesterday, and Will ask lot aii
apology OF satisfaction"
81 was somewhat embarrassed con
tinued Senator Wade, Shy my posiIloh
Yesterday, as 1 have some respect Ior
fbe chamber. l now take this oppor-
tunity of saying what | then thought
and you, if you please, repeat H. io
friend is a foul-mOuthed old black
guard p" 10
f1Certainly, Senator Wade, you do
not wish me to convey such message
as that ?" -. :,
"Most undoubtedly do, and will tell
YOU, for your own benefit, this friend OF
yours will never notice it. | will not
be asked either for retractiOn, explana-
ton, or fight"
Next morning Mr.. Wade came into
the Senate, and, proceeding to his seat,
deliberately drew from his coat two
large pistols, and, unlocking his desk,
laid them inside. The southern men
looked on in silence, while the northern
members enjoyed to the fullest ex-
tent the fire-eaters' surprise at the pro-
ceeding of the plucky Ohio senator.
No further notice was taken of the af-
fair of the day before. Wade was not
challenged, but ever afterward was
treated with the utmost pOliteness and
consideration by the senator who so
insultingly attacked him.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
Public Opinion.

am in favor of remonetizing silver
under certain restrictions, but cannot
sustain the present bill.-Vice-P resi-
dent Wheeler.
The veto should never be referred to
without special and honorable mention
of the names of the southern democratic
senators, Messrs Bayard of Delaware,
Whyte of Maryland, Butler of North
Carolina and Lamar of Mississippi, who
voted no. No member of either House
made Il more signal vindication of his
manhood than Mr.. Lamar, who voted
against the decided Instructions of the
Legislature of his Hartford
COurant.
The transfer of the Boston custom
house from one politician to another is
no great thing for anybody to rejoice
over. The only difference between
Mr.. Beard and Mr.. Simmons is that the
former is older in the business and per-
haps little more astute. No one pre-
tends that he will be better collector
than Mr.. Simmons, and if anybody sup
poses the custom-hOuse is to be divorced
from politics he is greatly MISTAKEN
Fftchburg Sentinel.
A man sharp, shrewd and caustic, but
possessed of no more principle, finan-
clal or political, than beer barrel,
BenJumin F. Butler is a standing dis
grace to New England republicanism,
and for that reason, if for no other. we
hail the termination of the power of
his pet collector. Let the fault-fuders
fiddle away, as they will, this appoint
ment of Mr.. Beard is IA signal victory
for the best and truest civil-service re-
FORM Waterbury (Ct.,) american.
The representatives of the great and
Intelligent American people have re-
solved that there shall be stamped nm
on ~ cents worth of metal Zone Dol
lar" The act has been passed. The
deed is beyond remedy, for the present
at least. Honor and good faith have
been spurned, and the American name
is BUNDLED before the world. Thank
Heaven, the act is the act of Congress
only, and all honor to the president who
refused to participate in the decd
Boston ADD ertiSer.
An able president in friendly relations
with Congress would have checked the
silver lunacy in its earlier stages and
nave prevented its outgrowing the
power of his veto. Had Mr.. blaine
been president and had he held the
sound views of Mr.. Hayes, it wouIJ
have been a political impossibility for
the silver bill to be repassed over his
veto.-Ne,U York Herald. ME
"ln God we trust" 1t is now in or
der for Mr.. Bland to introduce a hill 70
make IO inches the foot, three pints one
quart, and SO seconds one minnta
Let's have this thing even all ronnd
you know.-Ne'0 York Commercial Id
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08

simply take the record of the last year,
his disappointment would seem an IL
lustriOus example of civil service re-
form. Unfortunately, however, the
gentleman was one Of the first to
weaken" in his confidence in these
principles, and when his term of office
had nearly expired, abandoned what
ordinary people would consider the post
of duty, and found it necessary to go
to Washington to direct in person the
campaign; which for obvious reasons
could not be entrusted to his former
COMMUNICATIVE ief-for he is not an
advocate of civil service reform. Be-
hold, then, this modest and deserving
young officer of the government, accom-
panied by his secretary, his deputy, and
a host of friends and retainers, with the
well-trained corps of employees on duty
at the Custom House here, systemati-
cally at work. The whole country is
secured for recommendations the de-
partments are besieged the Capitol is
picketed; a popular hotel is engaged
as headquarters, -everything which a
skilful organization, zeal and activity
can accomplish is done.
1t has failed and while we are not
sorry, all things considered, we think
we had right to expect if this was
dOne,-what Why this: If in the
Judgment OF the President and his adj
visers, the purposes of his administra
ton could be better carried out by
different man, that man should be one
who would most nearly fulfil the prom
Uses of the President to the country.
What is the result Probably no
one would say that the new appOintee
is not a man altogether capable of fill
ing the position, as a man of character
and business ability. But what has
been gained? An active, energetic
politician, successful manipulation of
caucuses, holding trained body of
men so firmly in hand that they could
carry almost any measure in many of
the wards, is displaced by the chairman
of the State Republican Committee who
has been doing with all his might just
the work which his predecessor in the
Custom House had laid down, and
promised utterly to relinquish.
Judicious men grieve that the Presi
dent of the United States is showing
the white feather. That after distinct
ly enunciating policy, which has
alienated from his support large num-
Der of influential members of his party,
he should surrender his principles to
the first demand for reward of party
services for this is what this really
amounts to, judged by the ordinary
standards of reasoning among men.
OBSERVER.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08

has already been proposed at Albany
and, although it will naturally be fought
to the bitter end by the barnacles, it
nevertheless stands a fair chance of
going through. A reduction of 25 per
cent. on the aggregate of all the salaries
paid by the city of New York, being
$40, I6, 600, will save the city 80, 529,-
l65, and still leave many salaries much
larger than there is any reason they
should be under the existing conditions
of our municipal civil service. A
thorough and close analysis of the whole
matter is now in Order-and the COM
munity is not in temper to stand
great deal of nonsense on the subject.
Ever since the commencement of fish
breeding experiments by Seth Green
and others, an interest in the growth,
habits and protection of the tinny tribe
has been steadily growing. The an
nual meeting of the American Fish Gull
turist took place here this week, and
many interesting sta tistics we're pre-
scented from which l select the follow
ing; among all fish interests the oyster
trade is most important f; In the States
sc, 1000, 900 of bushels annually are con-
sumed, and in New York 100000
bushels annually. The fisheries in the
United States produced in 1876, total
l ,294, O38 900 pounds, valued at $751;
27S, S29 Codfisheries produced 81, 1885,
$40; whale, S2,s41 900; mackerel, 3d.
365 ,272: mehaden, yielding more than
whale fishery, 81 ,657 700; great lake
fisheries, $1,600,000; and the lobster
catch over 81 100000. In the business
2,12S vessels are employed.
Lent is rapidly approaching and the
CAV world is making the most of its few
remaining days of sunshine before put
ting on the sOmbre garb which it
swears, theoretically, during that solemn
season. AS a consequence amusements
flourish bravely and offer the citizen
and sojeurner a varied entertainment.
At the Academy, German Opera is going
Wallack's there is "Money" in every
sense of the word.
At Booths "Uncle Toms Gin" de-
the Grand Opera House Rignold is play
ing "Henry "" At the Park Robson
and Crane are giving their side-split-
ting farce of "Our Bachelors" At the
Union Square "a Celebrated Case" is
having a great run. At the Standard
"Our Boarding House" attracts thou
sands of sympathizing boarders. At the
Broadway, "Exiles." At the Fifth
Avenue a new Irish play "The Dia-
Oulmaugh" or .'Good Demon" is coming
money. At Steinway Hall Theodore
Thomas caters to educated tastes with
series of Symphony concerts, given
as only Thomas can give them, and be-
side all these there are each evening a
score of lesser concerts, readings, re-
ceptiOns, &C., which furnish out re-
markable varied and attractive bill of
fare. RADIX.