The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-24
Honest Opinion.


1t seems that Butler is too good lawyer
to undertake an argument on the question
of the constitutionahty Of congress making
paper legal tender before the U. 5. sup |
RENE court, and we predict that he will
never argue the case with Mr.. Chittendens
attorneys, at least any case that involves
this question independent of all others, or
any case wherein the decision will settle
the point. Such is not the policy OF any
of the greenback leaders. They prefer to
claim without proving the constitutionality
of such power vested 10 congress, and as
long as mere assumption satisfies their toll
lowers none of them will ever attempt
proof. In addition to this they claim that
nearly everybody has ideas similar to their
own, very much as the Organ 10 this city
claims that every democrat from the count
ry who looks at its little sign around the
corner or who condescends to notlcesits
editor is greenbacker.
General Butler and every lawyer of any
prominence in and out of congress,
without regard to parry ties, de-
nounces the legal tender issue Of
so-called paper money as uncon-
stitutional. And even when it passed the
senate in 1862, notwithstanding the plea of
war necessity, it was passed by majority
of only five. At that time Secretary
Sherman, who was member of the senate.
said from his place in that body.
1.-THE Senator from Vermont (Collamore) con
tends that This measure illegal tender) IS unconst-
tional confess that if did not feel its necessity
would shield myself behind his conviction and
vote against it,"
Chase was then Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and very many of our old democratic
readers will remember that it required a
large amount of pressure to make him say
in writing to Congress that he deemed it
necessary. 1t will also be remembered
that Mr.. Pendleton of Ohio was then q
member Of the house, and in speech
that he made upon this subject, in which
he was ably supported by Mr., Conkling,
the present senator from New York, he
used the following fOrcibIe language:
''If the language of the Constitution and the
weight of authority can settle any proposition, ii
is that Congress has not the power to do that which
~ is proposed shall be done by the provisions OF
this bill"
No greenbacker will claim that Mr.
Pendleton is not good constitutions
lawyer, and that his opinions upon cur
rency are not as good as any advocate they
may number in their ranks. To such We
commend the following from Mr.. Pendle-
tons speech on the infexible law of cur
rency, that paper, no matter by whom is
sued, must sink below par. unless convert.
ibe into coin. He said:
The wit of man has never discovered O
means by which paper currency can be
kept at par value, except by its speedy,
cheap, certain convertibility into gold and
silver. | need not cite gentlemen to his
tory or to uthorities-writers on poIitica
econOmy-to prove it. Unless convertible
they have always deprecated; they always
will depreclate; they ought to depreciate
because they are only valuable as the rep
resentatives o. gold and silver and il
they are not convertible into that of which
they are the representatives, they mus
necessarily lose their value. You senC
NhSoS bONSo OuG lulO LUB WUIlu 6lhup6G
with irredeemability. You put on then
the mark OF Cain, (irredeemability,) and
like Cain, they will 90 forth to be vaga-
bonds and fugitives on the earth"
While our fiat friends are crying on
against the money power, which is vested
in some 1000 national banks, as dangerous
to the welfare of the country, they canno
see, and do not want to see, the peril O
the country in money power vested il
the hands OF the political bodies at Wash
ington, and carried on or used by thr
Secretary of the Treasury with his arm!
of special agents, marshals, detectives anC
tax .Gatherers, who have the power to in
crease or diminish the volume of this cur
rency as it may suit their purpose.