The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-31
Washington Letter.
WAsH1NGToN, d. G. Jan. 26, 1878.
CONGRESS-.

WASHINGTON. d. G. Jan. 26. 1878.
CONGRESS-.
In the Senate. Mr.. Beck offered q |
cOncurrens resolution that the Secre-
larry of the Treasury be prohibited
and directed to cease the purchase of
any more bonds for the reduction of
the principal of the National debt, the
same not being due yet for some %
years, and that the Committee in Con-
gress having such matters in charge be
to make no provision by
looking to the payment
of any money whatever therefor. This
will doubtless prevail and
will have the effect to stop the pay
ment of the principal of the public
debt and keep the bulk of money in
this country, which will of necessity
make money matters much easier than
at present, and afford more circulation
of money in this country to relieve
the present mercantile as well as labor
distress, besides it will prevent John
Sherman from carrying out any fur
ther his erratic financial policy at the
cost to the people of the present utter
destitution of financial ruin. Mr..
Jones, of Florida, addressed the Sem
ate upon the Matthews silver resolu-
tion, contendiDg that as the Constitu-
ton vested Congress with the absolute
power of regulating the coinage of
money, no one man or body of men,
who happened to loan money to the
Government, could exact payment of
the bonds in any kind of money except
that which was contracted for, aud as
the silver dollar was good enough for
the bondholders TO buy bonds with, it
was good enough for the Government
to redeem the bonds with from them,
and the time has come when they
should be made to take silver or moth
ing. All the week has been spent in
discussion on SILVER except when
temporarily interrupted by the regu-
lar business, the arguments, both pro
and con, beng directed towards Mr..
Matthew'S Silver resolution, the Silver
Bill proper, of Mr.. Bland, having not
vet come before the Senate for action.
Mr.. Thurman made a very able and
earnest argument in favor of the Sill
yer Bill, and doubtless made converts
of some few who were waveriug. His
argument was listened to with intense
interest by all who were fortunate
enough to gain admission. Every vote
is eagerly watched after. and when he
announced that he would give the
SILVER Bill his vote, the announcement
was received with considerable ap.
plause, as Mr.. Thurman was new
convert. This caused the moneyed
aristocrats to look down-in-the,
mouth" as they have been worsted all
through the week by the arguments of
the silver men. AS usual, Senator
Blaine, in his speech, presented the
statute of Ex- Governor King, of Maine
to the Government to be placed in the
Statuary Hall, resorted to his low, in
sulting and personally abusive course,
and it really seems as though he can
not open his mouth without display
ing all the characteristics Of the black
guard. His taunting and cutting al
lusions to the conduct of Massachu-
setts in the war of 1872, was entirely
uncalled for. and caused both Senators
Davis and Hoar, to rise and reply in
assertions with considerable emphasis.
The scene was quite exciting, and as
Blaine can talk louder and faster than
both the Massachusetts Senator to-
gether, he had them at sn advantage
and coward-like, took advantage of
his Observation-Disclosures, for the SEN
ators had much the best OF the argu.
ment.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Riddle offered bill to reduce
taxes, such as Internal Revenue and
Tariff, until such reduction should
equal the amount which has been paid
towards the liquidation OF the frnci-
pal of the public debt by John Sher-
man and his predece ssors, a self inn
posed task which was wholly i.nau-
tnoriZet, rs the bonds are not due for
many years to come aud the action OF
the Secretary ct al. has been the great
cause OF the present distrcssful eoudi-
ton of the coQn;ry, the funds Of the
country have been paid to the bloated
bondholders, thereby depriving the
masses of its USE Another clause of
the bill suspends the "SiDking Fund,"
which will prevent the Secreta, OF
the Treasury from any further cutting
down the public debt by starving the
public. A resolution was in circuia-
ton i'll both Houses, among Senators
and Members, pledging the siguers to
vote for and advocate the resolutions
adopted at the caucus of the "Silver
men" hereinafter given in this letter,
and many were the signatures readily
obtained, showing the immense popu-
lari!y of the measures of the silver
men and the hearty support given
their causes in both Houses of Cou-
gress. The House, like Senate, spent
the remainder of the week in unim-
porsant measures of both public and
private necessity.
THE SILVER CAIICIyS
held by the advocates of the Bland
during the past week. estab-
lished a regular organized movement
to push their measure through the
Senate at an early day. Many able
speeches were made among which we
note that of Mr.. Buckner, who went
SO far as not only to favor the repeal