The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-02-07
Solid Shot Poured Into the Ranks Of
the Sullion:sis by the Advocates
Of Honest Money.
The Wants of the West and the
Needs of the South Painted in
Brief and Glowing Co!ors.
SENATE.

gave notice that he would call 1t upior con-
sideraIion at an early day.
Mr.. EDMUNDS submitted resolution
the committee on appropriations
to report a bill making adequate provisions
for the employment OF All additional cleri-
cal force in the Pension and Surgeon-Gen-
erals Office, to promptly examine and dis
pose of all claims fOr pension. He asked
Tor the present consideration OF the resolu-
ton but an objection WAS made by MIR.
Davis, (of West Va, and it was laid over
until tomorrow.
Mr.. CONKLING presented a petition
signed by a large number OF prominent cit
liens of New York, in regard TO the famine
and suffering in Northern China, and sug-
costing that a commission be appointed
from the residents of China to act in con-
nection with the United States minister in
procuring and distributing relief. They
also suggest that the unexpended balance
of money received from China in 1856 be
used 10 relieve the sufferers. Referred.
Mr.. EATON said he would vote Tor the
amendment proposed by the finance COM
mittee for an International conference to hx
a relative value of gold and silver, but be-
fore considering the bill he desired to sub
nit an amendment thereto. To-day 454
grams of standard silver equalizsd a gold
dollar He would make silver coin worth
100 cents and under his Constitutional oath
he would do it now, and not wait for the
report of any international commission, be-
lieving the stamping of silver by the Gov
ernment as money appreciated its value, he
would make a silver dollar consist Of 44C
grains. He therefore moved to amend the
bill by striking out 4l2! grains and insert.
ing instead 40 grains. Ordered printed.
Continuing his argument, Mr.. EATON
said the bill now before the Senate wss de-
fective and faulty and should not receive
the assent of the national legislature.
Catch terms about the dollars of our faith
er," and violent adjectives could have no
weight in this discussion. The Senators
were here as the representatives OF states
to take care OF the interests OF states
and such legislation as would satisfy the
thoughtful people Of Kentucky, Ohio and
Georgia would satisfy the thoughtful mind
Of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New
York. The question of finances should
never he forced into the arena OF politics
He argued that there was sufticiency ol
coin and currency in the United States for
the transaction OF all the business of the
country. The cry was Ter more currency
but there was great amount now awaiting
circulation. The honorable Senators had
said. "pass this silver bill and tie people
will be relieved" but no Senator had I'M
dertaken TO show how it would relieve
them. lie had heard enough about the
dollar of our fathers Now let Us have a
dollar OF the sons. \ silver dollar worth
100 cents he did not object To, nor To
the coinage OF a silver dollar under proper
restrictions, but there could be no doubt
that such a standard had been claimed.
One metal ALWAYS drove the other out Of
the country. Mr. Eaton referred to the
speech OF the Senator from Indiana Mr..
Voorhees, on the silver question, and said
he did not attack nor arraign the motive OF
any honorably Senator on this floor, but OF
the effects which tho-e principles enunci-
ated might cause he had right
to speak. Such remarks as were uttered by
that Senator would array class against
class and labor against capital. lie did
not say this was the design of the honorable
senator, but such would be the effect of his
speech. Millions of the capital of Connec-
ticut had been poured into the lap Of the
west, and capitalists to-day did not ask its
return in greenbacks. What they asked
was the payment of the interest, and
commission recently appointed TO
make inquiries concerning investments, &c,
recommended that capitalists having money
invested in the west reduce the rate Of inter-
est, that the western debtor might continue
in possession of his property. The North,
South, East and West were bound together
BY bond Of brotherhood which could not
be broken. The Senator from Indiana
charged that capital was aggressive and AFRO
giant. He tEaton) thought it was always
timid, quiet and avoided anything like
revolution. Tohis Southern friends he would
say that they were droken down by the raw
ages of war. Maryland, New York, New
Jersey and New England had capital, and
the natural advantages OF the South afford
Ell good investments for it. Let there be no
more menace. Brave men did not fear it,
and honorable men would never indulge in
it. He believed that but for the unwise ac-
ton of Congress the commercial men
Of the country would have resumed
specie payment before the first OF March
next. There were some things which Con-
gress could do to assist the people. Ii could
reduce the expenses Of the Federal Govern
ment, cut down the army and navy, reduce
the number Oh cadets at West Point, and
the naval academy, and open new avenues
IF trade and commerce. Let American
capitalists purchase ships on the CLYDE or
elsewhere, and issue an American register
10 them. We could under-seil OFT grest
rival, England, everywhere.
Mr.. HOWE said that only that sor, Of
which was born of conviction
would induce him TO speak Immediately
succeeding so abe aid eloquent a speech
which the Senate had Just listened 70. He
'eferred to the arguments heretofore made /,
N regard to the payment OF bonds i'm silver, |
md said the simple truth was that the debt |
would be paid in gold or silver, either,
or the simple reason that the |
DIN did not exist with which to pay |
I. The debt must be paid in commodities |
lie then spoke of the power OF Congress to |
,oin money and regulate the value thereof, |
and said Congress had better exercise that |
power carefully and coin the best money.
Il the 5i-metallic currency was best, a.
ome authors said il was, then the United |
states had better adopt it, even though |
ONE other countries had other
oinage. The pending measure
lad been stigmatized as dishonest,
,ut he was not so sure it was. There was
difference OF opinion as to whether we had
II had not promised to pay our debt in
old, and before he allowed himself to be
laced in the category of reputation he
oust be allowed to give his views of the
ontract under which the funds were dis
osed OF. Mr.. Howe then reviewed, at
ength, the act OF 1868 to strengthen the
hbiic credit, and that of 1870 to refund
he public deot, end argued that If the
reditor insisted upon the paymea. Of the
onds in gold, he must rest upon the equity
his claim and not upon the
Nv OF the land. The cap
talists did not exactly ny - the rescue Of
ne government when il was in want OF
leans; they consulted their own interests
4 investments, as they had perfect right
} do. He favored the reconciliation of
liver because il was an American product
I'D he could not lesislste against IT. He
poke Of the attempts TO demouetizs silver
; a conspiracy, and said that a large part
Europe was in the same conspiracy The
question Tor Congress was, should
,e United States become a party to this
,nspiracy. For one, he declined. 1t was
deliberate effort to blast 80 per cent of
lie means Of our people to::pay their debit,
Ie then referred TO the needs Of the West. !
I'D said that section had fever millionaires
ian the East, and fewer paupers as a con-
quence. This silver question was not an
sue between the West and East. IL was
, issue between productive effort and fixed
lpital- The simple truth was that the
,o,,la Of the Net bxalieved H., $1,000. ri