The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-23
EX- GOV, HENDRICKS SPEECH.
BEFORE
The Indiana State Democratic Con-
vention Feb. 20, 1878.

Ene 4no1ana 0Late lDemoOTaglo VOL
vention Feb. 20, 1878.
the Resumption Act,
The Ex-Gov. commenced his remarks
with the observation that one of the Louis
lana criminals has been tried and coveted.
The president and John Sherman say he
should not have been tried. Why not?
His guilt, and that Of others, is shown
by the verdict. 1t is high crime against
the nation and threatening the stability OF
free institutions. What are the relations
between the president and Mr.. Sherman
aud the accused that authorize or permit
an effort on their part to influence judicial
proceedings in state courtr After
long and terrible contest it is settled that
state elections and state legislatures
must be free from military influence and
control So also it must be understood
that the president and his cabinet cannot
directly or indirectly interfere with judicial
proceeding under state authority. State
courts must be wholly free and Independent
offederal control, except where the constitu,
ton and laws give to the federal judiciary
an appellate supervision. 1t is to be
regretted that the facts developed upon
the trial are Of such character as to create
anxiety on the part of the president and
any of his cabinet, but they cannot avoid
the effect upon the public mind Of an
exhibition of that anxiety and of unseemly
denunciatons of the state authorities.
Whilst it is true that the title of Mr..
Hayes to the Office of president and of
Mr.. Wheeler to the Office of vice -porsident
has been settled under the solemn forms
of law, and whilst it il our duty, in my
judgment, to recognize the title, because
it is in the interest of the public stability
and tranquility to do so, it is still none
the less true that an
IMPERATIVE DUTY
Demands that fitting punishment
should be visited upon the public criminals
through whose hagitious crime that
judgment was obtained. Because a
Judgment is final and conclusive forms
no reason why immunity should be secured
to the criminal through whose perjury
it was obtained, If this is true Of sim
pie property judgment rendered in a
court of law, much more is it true of a
monstrous crime against the elective
sovereignty of a nation. The very fact
that it was successful furnishes the
strongest reason why the condign punish
ment of its perpetrators should cover 1t
with perpetual infamy and manifest to
all future conspirators against the liberties
of the nation the danger of attempting
ats repetition.
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
Since the Inauguration of President
Hayes | have regarded the repeal Of
the resumption act as hopeless. lie was
pledged TO resumption. Every vote
tor him was for resumption. If John
Sherman at the head Of the treasury holds
che position he will enforce the strictest and
hardest execution of the law, and it il
understood that any bill to repeal the
clause will now be vetoed. | have hereto
fore said that, In my belief
the resumption law has been the source
OF the greatest calamity to the business
interests and prosperity of the country
1t has had the effect of causing men t
hoard Greenbacks and the bank.
to withhold and withdraw circulation
in the fear of being crushed b.
forced redemption in gold" A favorabl
foreign trade has promoted return 1
specie payment, and if balances shall con
tlnue 10 our favor | expect to see our pape
money at par with gold at an early day
w I'll the restoration OF silver money mti
gate the evils OF contraction caused by tn
resumption law? That is now the hope
the business men OF Indiana. It is not &
cheap money tina. the people demand il
restoration, but as q legal tender aud col
contemplated by the constitution. Whe
restored it will become again a standar
anG measure of value. Before its demon
citation silver was at par value with col
and when restored l think it will ri,
again to the same level. | need hard
say to you that the value of any class
description of property greatly depend
upon the important uses to which it ms
be applied. Silver was money. Tht
stripped it of its most important use al
now say it is worth eight per cent. lie
than before and therefore it cannot
good money. Is that fair argument? I
material tor the manufacture of wa
silver will have only the value which tn
use can give it, but when stamped wi
the quality of money and made leg
tender for the payment Of all classes of
debtedness it becomes the
ACTIVE AGENT OF TRADE AND CoMaIERC
measures values and discharges debts, al
III such use, becomes correspondingy mo
important to society and more yaluab
Were gold stripped of the quality
money what would be the effect upon
value? do not believe the pennvWeig
of gold In the beautiful Winecup is as us
full to society nor as valuable az the sar
weight OF gold in the stamped coin viii
does its busy work in the channels
trade; and the demonstration of gt
would demonstrate that fact, | ha
heretofore said that 'silver has becon
an important product of this country, al
lnasmuch as the world recogni7
1t as money medium of exchange, | ca
not see why we should not utilize o
large product OF that metal to the exte
that may be found practicable. It's val
as money to the country is too great to
thrown away" Should experience pro
that because of the increased producti
OF silver there will be a permanent a
important difference between silver a
gold, congress is clothed with ample DOW
to provide the proper and adequate remeC
1t Is objected to the restoration of I
silver money that it will be in bad fai
towards the public creditors. I'll thoue
that possible, would not favor restorati
however important to our interests
might esteem it. Ny Judgment is
entirely satisfied that have no ankle
upon that question. The question
settled by the fair reading of the pub
credit act OF 1869, and the refundipc ;
81 1870. Al the date of the former