The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-01-24
SENATE.
Washington, Jan

Mr.. Morrell submitted an amendment
to the preamble of the resolution of Mr.,
Matthews in regard to the right of the
government to pay the bonds in silver,
reciting at length the provisions of the
various acts of Congress pledging the
faith of the government &c. He said in
long recital of the acts in the preamble
as submitted by the Senator from Ohio
there seemed to be strange omissions of
some strange statutes. He hoped the
Senator would accept the amendments,
Ordered printed.
Mr.. Hereford submitted the follow
ing:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to inform the Senate
the amount of government bonds sold
since March 4, 1861, giving the amounts
of each issue with its date thus sold,
the net amounts received from the sale
of each issue and the currency in which
the same was paid any syndicate, person
or persons for placing the same in the
market, for purchasing the same and in
what currency they were paid. Agreed
to-
At the expiration of the morning hour
the resolution of Mr.. Matthews in regard
to the payment Of bonds in silver was
taken up as unfinished business, and laid
aside informally that Mr.. Voorhees, might
address the Senate on the resolution sub.
mitted by him before the HOLIDAYS, de-
claring that it is Of the highest impor-
tance that the financial credit of the
government be maintained, and that in |
order to do so, the government itself in
all its departments should in good faith |
keep all Its contracts and obligations en-
tered into with its own citizens.
Mr.. Matthews in expressing his will.
ingness to have his resolution laid aside
for the present, gave notice that he would
ask the Senate TO vote on it on Monday
next Mr.. Voorhees, then addressed
the Senate upon the resolution submit
ted by him.
ADDRESS OF MR.. VOORHEES,.
Mr. Voorhees, said the agitation of the
question of finance will never cease until
the people are satisfied the vast debt is
in process Of extinction upon the prin.
CipIes Of justice to tax paying labor or
until, on the other hand, Chey are subju.
gated into silent submission, and the
government itself becomes changed in
spirit and form, into a moneyed aristoc.
raCy. DenunCiaton is now the principal
weapon used by hose who range on the
side Of grasping wealth. There is no
epithet, however base, that is not in daily
use against those who venture to believe
as ! do, that our whole financial system
is organized crime against laboring tax
paying men and women of the United
States, The great plea Of the present
hour for a continuation of the wrong and
injustice is hat good faith requires it,
Those who, finding mOnstrOus evil i'm
bedded in the laws of their country wish
to eradicate il by peaceful Legislation are
at once and with the uttnost fury assault.
ed as viOlatorS of public filth, enemies of
the national honor, and worse, if possible
than common swindIers. This plea. so
loud now in our ears, has been invoked
in behalf of every wickedness that has
occurred. The usurper iuvokes it to pro.
tect the throne he has stolen as soon as
he ls seated, The tyrant invOkes il to
shorten his prelOgative, aud his nobility
in turn invoke it in order to live in ease
and spendor off the labor Of others.
Mr.. Voorhees, reviewed the financial
legislation since 1862, and said expert
ence had shown legal tenders to be the
best money that ever circulated. Every
Government bond which did not on the
face stlpuIate payment in coin was made
payable by express words Of the law in
legal tender notes. This enactment
guaranteed to the American people the
right to pay three-fourrhs of the national
debt in national currency. 1t was the
law OF the contract when all the 5 20
bonds, amounting to over fifteen hun.
dred millions, were purchased from the
government by bOnJholders and paid for
In this currency at par when it was quot.
ed at from 40 to 80 per cent. below par in
coin. Every one understood the law TO
be as l have stated it at the time of its
passage; in fact, the great struggle then
was whether even interest on tile bonds
l have mentioned should be paid in coin.
NO one IN debate Wade the slightest pre-.
tense or intlmaJiOn that the principal of
the bonds was payable in coin Durinp
the full term of the seven eventful wears
that followed there is not a platform of
either political party in any State in
the Union which makes such au asser.
ton.
SECRETARY SIBERIAN SHOWN UP IN HIS
TRUE COLORs.
Mr.. Voorhees, allnded to Secretary
bherman's letter of '68 fayOriuR the nav.
ment of bondsinthe same kind of money
90 bought them, and his subsequent &C
tion in procuring the passage of an act
for the payment of bonds in coin, which
he said, was open reputation of tho