The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-02-21
THE NEWS.
xiv. CONGRESS-.

XIV. CONGRESS-.
Petitions were presented in the Sen
ate, on Monday morning, by Mr.. Conkling,
both for and against the reconciliation. |
OF the latter he said he held In his hand |
memorial from the New York chamber OF
commerce, demonstrating against the re-
monetization of the silver dollar. The rules |
OF the Senate did not permit him to read at |
length this memorial, as they would permit |
to have road joint resolutions Of State leg |
islatures. He regretted that, for, although |
he was not sure that the memorial contain
ed anything new on this question, as 1t |
would be hard to say anything new in re-
gard to 1t. yet the argument contained In
the memorial was so clear, he could not |
doubt 1t would have Its effect. Unanimous
consent being given the petition was read.
During the argument on the silver bill, Mr..
Davis, OF Virginia, argued that 1t was un-
constitutional to demonetize silver. The
constitution recognized both gold and silver
as a legal tender standard. II Congress
could demonetize silver 1t could demone-
tize gold also. Then we would be without
coin. Who could tell what evils might
follow? He then referred to the arguments
heretofore made against paying bonds in
silver and contended that 1t would be vio-
lation OF contract to pay bonds in gold
alone. or in silver alone. He believed that
the reconciliation of the silver dollar and
making 1t full legal tender would soon
cause it to equal the gold dollar in value.
The decentralization of silver.had decreas
ed its value. Demonet,ze gold and the
same result would follow. He opposed any
amendment to change the weight Of the dol
lar from 412% grains, and said to do so
would be to change the value Of the dollar
named in the bonds Of the government, be-
sides to increase the weight OF the dollar
would make silver OF greater value than
gold .and drive silver from the country.
The laboring classes were in favor of the
passage of this bill. 1t has been said the
agitation of this question was even now
causing the return of our bonds from Eu-
repe. In his opinion the return Of our bonds
was due entirely to another cause. Our
exports exceed our imports. the balance of
trade was in our favor and this excess was
paid to the United States, some OF which
was paid with bonds.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the military academy appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Aiken moved to amend
so as to reduce the pay of cadets from $40
to $500. He criticized the action Of the ap-
preparation committee in several of its ap-
propriatons. In conclusion. he said that
West Point was an incubus on the people
of the country. If the people knew for what
the S275,0OO was appropriated annually. in
less than thirty days the House would be
flooded with demands to put West Point
under the hammer, or give 1t to New York.
He was bold enough ts say he would vote
for either proposition.
Mr.. Hewitt Of New York-No doubt: the
gentleman coming from the State he does,
would be glad 10 give West Point to any
body else but West Point has vindi :ated it.
self in the history OF this country, and the
pnOp1n will nlloNv N IN nnInr thn a
hammer or be closed up. [Appausc.l
Mr.. Hanna-I think 1t would better be-
come the gentleman from New York TO an
swcr the argument OF the gentleman from
South Carolina than t1 make the appeal of
a demagogue, which SANDERS the Represen-
tatives of the whole Southern people. Jap
plause on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Durham defeated West Point. He
said: Congress should stand by it, for it
had turned out the best and bravest men
that had ever been seen In this or other
countries. [Applause.l
In the Senate, on the 18th considera.
tion was resumed Of the silver bill. and Mr..
Ingalls, spoke in favor thereof. Mr.. Ingalls,
quoted from the speech of Hon. John Sher-
man, delivered in tho Senate. to the effect
that the single standard OF gold was an
American idea, and said the statement was
void Of truth. The original American idea
was a single standard of silver. He spoke
at length as to the history Of gold and sill
yer as money and said gold was the most
cowardly and treacherous of metals. 1t
had no friend or ally that 1t did not sooner
or later betray. No nation ever fought Il
great ar,by the aid of gold, but when the
battle had been secured and peace restor-
cd, gold staggered to the front again and
claimed the fruits of victory. Silver was
the money Of the people; it was the money
of wages and OF retail: 1t entered into the
minute reserve OF traffic, and il it retired at
the approach Of danger. and from an In
fcrior currency it still remained at home
ready to re-appear again and do Its work.
Referring to resumption OF specie pay
ments, he said there was not coin enough
in existence to meet thousandth part OF
the commercial transactions of the world
and specie payments never would be re-
sumed. In fact, the American people we're
not practically welded to coin as money.
They believe coin and money were created
by law, and had precisely the value that
the government issuing them declared
they should possess. II the United States
contracted to pay its bonds in gold they
must do 1t, even thou 5h the people lost
everything in the attempt to oft: But he
claimed that no such contract had beer
: made. Silver was legal tender when the
debt was contracted. The Senator from
Wisconsin, Mr.. Howe. In his argument OF
, this bill a few days ago. said this was no
East against West. He was right; but II wa'
East against West and South combined. l
, was lthe men who ownc the public deb
against those who were to pay 1t, II it eve
!, should be paid at ALL The bonds Of thi
a country were exempt from taxation, AM
they have none Of the burdens of society
The West and South, In asking the passage
Of this bill, were asking less than the,
would ever ask again. In conclusion h
: referred to the people Of the West and thei
: labors, and said. when he reflected upoI
, the burdens they bore, he was surprised a
. their moderation. AS this was the da
i agreed upon for bringing the Bland silye
= bill to vote in the Senate, the entire da
was taken up by proposed, amendmett
It some Of which we're adopted, but most {
! them rejected. Efforts were made to ad
u iourn until the 18th without avail. TIL
v various amendments offered cannot We
g be described here, as 1t would require tw
u or more columns.
. At 5 o'clock in the morning of th
q 10th, after u continuous session of II hour
= the bill was passed by vote OF AZ for IN
r 21 against, and the Senate adjourned.
Washington Notes.
PASSAGE OF THE SILVER BILL.