The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-06


pei can arise on such a state of
facts. If this doctrine is sound an equity
repeats constitutional power to regulate the
value of our coin; policy or expediency gives
it no higher standard; our first duty 10 to be
Just. This does not include sacrifice OF
the means of the people to pay claim that
has no foundation in love or morals. Are
we morally bound to so shape legislation as
to increase the value of a commodity we
need to pay our debtsg
Referring to the act OF 1873 demonetizing
silver Mr.. Wallace argued that il was passed
in secret manner and in the dark, and the
duty of congress now was to repeal it.
Mr.. Bayard said he did not propose now
to give any extended expression of his views
on the reconciliation of silver. He was
not in favor of abolishing silver as the coin
of the country. Should it be in his power
without disturbance to the business and
credit of the country to restore silver as
money the effort would not be wanting on
his part He argued that this silver bill, in
substance, proposed that two men should
approach the mint, one with silver and the
other with gold, and that the government
should stamp silver and raise 1t ten per cent
in value and at the same time stamp gold
but raise 1t nothing in value. He could not
support such a measure.
Mr.. Gordon presented the resolutions of a
public meeting held at Rome, Ca, in favor
of the RECOMMENDATION OF silver and the
repeal of the specie resumption act. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin submitted an
amendment to the silver bill so as to provide
that dollar shall consist of APO grains STAN
dard silver instead of 41214 grains. Ordered
printed.
Mr.. Burnside submitted an amendment 10
the clause declaring that the said dollar shall
be a legal tender for all debts public and pri-
vate so as to provide that it shall be legal
tender for all debts public and private
amounting to sums over $500. Ordered
printed.
Mr.. Christiancy then took the floor to
speak upon the silver bill, but yielded to
went into executive session, and when the
doors were reopened adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Jan. so.
Mr.. voorhees, submitted a resolution re-
questing the president, if not incompatible
with the public interess, to transmit to the
senate statement as to how many acres of
| land in the Indian territory have been
| surveyed into sections and quarter sections,
| for what purpose the said survey
has been made, and how much
| land remains in said territory not surveyed.
Also, what amount OF lands were owned by
the several tribes of Indians previous to the
| treaties of 1866. and whether the Indian
title to any such land has been relinquished
| since the said treaties were made, and IL so
to what extent and for what consideration.
| Agreed to.
| A favorable report was made on the senate
| bill appropriating $275,000 to purchase the
Freedmens bank building in this city.
Mr.. Window, chairman on appropriations,
| stated that the clerical force of the surgeon
| generals Office in 1876 was 100, and it was
then cut down in the general reduction that
year to 135. Last year, however, the force
was increased by detailing twenty enlisted
men for duty in that Office.
Pending the discussion the morning hour
| expired, and consideration was resumed of
| unfinished business, it being the silver bill.
Mr.. Chrlstancy submitted an amendment
| in the nature of a substitute providing for
| the coinage OF silver dollars of 434 grains,
| nine-tenths pure silver and One-tenth alloy,
which shall be legal tender for all debts,
except when otherwise provided by law or
| contract IL also authorizes the secretary of
the treasury to purchase monthly not less
| than 50 900. 0Oo worth of silver bullion
| to be coined. 1t further provides that the
amount shall remain in force but one year
| Any gain arising from such purchase and
coinage shall be accounted for and paid into
the treasury as provided under the existing
| laws relative to subsidiary coinage, provided
\ that the amount of money at any one time
invested in such silver exclusive of such
| resulting coin shall not exceed SIS, 900, 900.
| Ordered printed.
his amendment.
Mr.. Christiancy read lengthy argument
| in support of his substitute, and said that
he was not opposed TO the introduction of
| silver coin into our currency, neither was
he opposed to making it legal tender so as
to be Just to both creditor and debtor, bat
he did not want to have the recoinage
of silver so that it would repel
| other coin from the country. He could not
approve of the reconciliation of silver in
homeopathic doses OF 412H grains, but was
willing to have it in allopathc doses of 434
grains. The question as to what amount
of silver should be put in a
dollar to make ii equal in
| value to gold dollar, to fix the standard of
a silver dollar at 4l2% grains, worth but 81
cents, would be grossly unjust. The passage
of the bill now before the senate was. in
plain English, debasing our coin, and all
such expedients had by verdict of history,
debased the debaser more than the coin.
| Mr.. Allison gave notice that he would in
sist upon disposition Of this DILL tomorrow
or next day.
Mr.. Salisbury said the bill was one of
greatest importance, and he was in harmony
with Its general features. There were several
senators. however, who desired to discuss it,
and he was not willing that it should be
pressed to vote without the fullest discus
sion.
The senate then went into executive ses-
sion, and when the doors were opened ad-
journed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81.
When the question postponing the silver
bill was being discussed Mr.. 0glesby said the
public feeling was as much aroused on this
question of the reconciliation of silver as it
had been on any question since he had been
in the senate, and the people were growing
impatient at the apparent studied delay
in dlsposipg of it. The American people
bad been for more than three years in
despair. Poverty had been on every hilltop
all over the country smiling at their distress.
Congress had given expression TO no plan
that could be considered an honest
attempt at relief. The time had
come when congress could say, and ought