The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-08
WASHINGTON.

and Incidents in and obom the Cap
Hol.-T ie,rs of prominent States
men.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March /. 1873.
The greatest question of the day, the
"silvcr BILL" has been settled at last
and inasmuch as il has occupied the at
tention of the people from every section
of this country for several weeks, your
correspondent feels convinced that Il
full account of the closing ceremonies
in the House and Senate, in regard to
the same, will be read with interest.
The bill was returned by the presi-
dent in the afternoon of Thursday last,
by his assistant Secretary, O. l.. Pru-
den, while the ayes and nays were be-
ing taken on bill to allow a lieuten-
ant in the army to accept decoration
from the Sultan of Turkey. Before the
roll was completed, the news that it
was refo spread through the House,
and there was little, but not much,
excitement among the members. as
veto was generally expected.
AS soon as the lieutenant had been
permitted to accept his decoration, Mr.
Stephens, of Georgia, moved that the
House take up the business on the
speakers table, and consider the presi-
dents message.
The message was then read. The
president says in it, that after q careful
consideration he is compelled to send
the bill back TO the House with his dis
approval. In his annual message, he
had foreshadowed such decision, and
he still held that bill, with provisions
similar TO the one in question, was nci-
thcr for the good of the people nor of
the government.
lie was not opposed to, but favored
the increase Of the amount of silver in
circulation; but felt convinced that it
should be done in such way as not to
interfere with the public credit lie
would ask the further consideration by
Congress of the measure. The bill pro-
vides for and makes legal tender of a
dollar of Alp l-2 grains, unless other
wise stipulated in the contract. 1t is
well known that dollar of that weight
is worth only ninety or ninety-two cents
when compared with the standard gold
dollar; thus the silver dollar, worth
from eight to ten cents less than the
money in which debts were contract
ed, is to be made payable for debts
made when the law did not authorize
the legal tender character of silver.
The payments of customs duties in
silver would take away the gold for pay
ing the public debt. lie took the ground
that the bonds should be paid in gold
only. They had been sold to purchas-
ers who so understood the matter. Dur
ing his administration, bonds had been
disposed of. During the sale of these
bonds, the question had been raised if
they were TO be paid in gold. The pub
lie announcement had therefore been
made by the administration that it was
not anticipated that they would be paid
in any currency worth less than that for
which they were purchased. To do
otherwise will be great breach of pub
lie faith. There is no power to make a
government pay its debts. The pay
ment of them lies only in the honor of
the government. That honor should be
maintained. II is said that under the
operations OF the bill, the silver dollar
of 4l2 - grains will be worth as
much rs the gold. Many supporters
of the bill think so. II silver dollar is
to be issued, il should be only a legal
tender for IFS market rolue. The kind
of money in which debts are to be paid,
should be only changed by consent of
both creditor and debtor. The stand
ard of value should not be changed, ex-
cept by the consent of both parties. lie
concluded by saying that he believed in
silver. but not in dollar of Alp l-2
grains. lie favored such dollar as
would defraud no man.
AS soon as the message had been read,
Mr.. Stephens moved that the House
pass the bill over the presidents veto.
The bill was then read. Mr.. Stephens
moved the previous question so as to
cut off all debate. Several members
having expressed desire to say some
thing, it was agreed that all who desired
could print in the "Record" their rea-
sons for voting to pass the bill over the
veto.
! AS soon as the yeas and NAYS were be-
gun, it being necessary to take them un.
der the constitution, Mr.. Cox, of New
York, remarked that he was surprised
to hear ga cry of fraud from fraud"
referring to President Hayes, and that
part of his message which says that the
silver dollar, of the weight stipulated in
the bill, would defraud all who received
it. Mr. McCook, of New Jersey, lump
ed to his feet like rocket, and demand
ed that the words used by Mr.. Cox be
taken down and reported to the House.
Mr.. Cox said he had no objection, and
repeated what he had said.
The speaker said that as the remarks
made by Mr.. Cox were out of order, he
not being recognized when he spoke,
they would not appear in the 'Record."
He added, however, that they were I'M
parliamentary. The call was then pro-
cecded with, resulting in passing the
bill over the presidents veto by vote
of ayes, one hundred and ninety; nays
seventy-three; being fifty more than the
necessary twO-thirds.
The announcement of the vote was re-
ceived with loud and continued ap-
plause. In exactly one hour after the
veto of the president had been received.
the House passed the bill over his veto.
After the bill had passed the House,
there was stampede from the floor and
galleries to the senate wing of the Cap
itol. When the action of the House was
announced in the Senate, al least one.
half of the members of the House were
OH the floor of the Senate. jay Gould's
presence in the senate chamber, occupy.
ing sofa, caused good deal of lima
tnred comment on the part of the
| friends Of the bill, as il was suspected
he was on hand to endcavor to influence
votes against the bill. II is probable.
however, that he has other irons in the
fire, and that his presence in Washing
ton is for the purpose oflobbying against
another railroad TO the Pacific besides
his own. After the bill had passed by
vote of forty-six ayes against nineteen
nays, many of the senator's retired to the
cloak rooms to compare notes. Eaton,
of Connecticut, said that the next step of
the western men will be "grcenbacks,"
and then "repudiation." Stanley Mat
ihews is going to present the first silver
dollar coined under the new law to Ea-
ton, TO wear about his neck. Remarks
of similar character fell thick and
heavy.
Your correspondent has, since the
passage of the bill, called upon several