The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-28
LETTER FROM HON. 4. G. BROWN.


GENTLEMEN: Your letter inviting an ex-
preston OF my opinions on the more important
political issues Of the day, has been received
and is hereby acknowledged A. Won leave
il optional with me to choose NV own method
OF replying, | will answer in writing. | do
this Tor the reason that an oral address is
more likely to be misunderstood; and for the
better reason, that prefer, at this busy sea
son, not to call or have called from their fields
laborers who may be more proftably employ
ed in blowing aud planting than listening to
any address that | could make to them
You ask Tor MY opinion. In replying you
will, for this and for many other reasons.
bear in mind that | am speaking Tor myself
alone. A. no man, or party, is in any manner
responsible Tor what I say, no one need be at
the trouble To dsavow any sentiments that |
may express. In making the call to what
am about to respond, most OF you were wholly
uniformed to my opinions, and therefore,
did not in any manner commit yourselves to
their support You hatter me with the a7sur-
ance that my opinions will have great influ-
cnce with the people. in this you proba-
bly, mistaken. hope you are, if my opinions
are to have influence simply because they are
my opinions. 1t Is one of the very worst signs
Of the times that the people too prone to
follow bIudly the opinions Of others, instead
OF investigating and forming opinions OF their
own. If give reasons Tor the faith that is in
me, the re-ons hope will have due and prop
or consideration without regard TO the source
from which they come
A7 ] speak for myself alone, you viii par
don me ior using the personal pronoun. Omit,
ing the word I'VE" / shall be spared the
trouble of explaining who il meant, and just
how many are included in the use Of that
much abused, because too often used LITTLE
monosylablc Eve Re il understood / do not
peak for the people.
OF all the questions, up for consideration
the lop-rnost one is the currency. 70 that
give my first attention.
am = bard money But | not
silly enough 10 suppose that the vast business
OF this country, at home and abroad, he
conducted on an exclusively gold and silver
basis Coin, in whatever quantities the world
has presented it or is likely to present ii,
ought to and must. Tor necessities OF trade be
supplemented by what, Tor convenience, We
call paper money" In what proportion and
what extent paper money may be put upon
the country. rs q substitute Tor aud reliable
representation of coin IL, and always has
been u vcxed question. The nearest that
inancicrs have cvercome to solution OF the
problem is, dat sit depends on circumstan-
ce-." And chat is simply no solution at all,
Who then is to Judge? As the government, il
whosever hands it may be for the time being
whether Democratic, Republican or IndePeD-
dent, is the custodian Of the public honor in
ierest and credit, that government must take
charge of this, as of all other questions Of
public moment and be responsible to the peo-
pie at home and to the outside world for the
consequences OF it, good or bad management
Taking the ground a. / do that coin is the
Constitutional currency. but that it ought 4
be. and must be supplemented by 'papei
money" | am called upon to make good theso
propositions or let them fall
IL is too iate TO appeal 10 the Constitution
That sacred instrument | know has Ilk'
Caesars mantle. been pierced by steel IN en-
1ious hands, rent and torn and trampled Oh
rs it is, and has been, it still commands my
yeneration And whatever others may say OF
.lo | mean AT all times to bow before 1t witt
rcVereutlal awe.
Article l, Section s, paragraph >, says,
Congress shall have power to com money,
and regulate the value thereof.
Sec 10, same article says: No State shan
coin money, emit bills of credit or make any
thing but gold and silver a tender in payment
OF debts.
Article 10 says; The powers not delegated
10 the United States, nor prohibited to the
states arereserved. etc, etc.
Ii /. clear from these extracts that th'
limited states has exclusive control over tbs
coinage and chat no State has power to emi
bills OF credit or make any thing but gold ant
silver a tender in payment OF debts
The corrollarv Is. If ! read correctly, that th'
United States must be responsible Tor the PEG
DIE the States and the world al large Tor the
performance of every duty connected WITH tE'
currency
What are its powers? what Its duties, and
what Its responsibilities are the question: III"
cover the whole ground.
Its power to coin money and regulate Its
value j. distinctly given and a< the same
power il denied to the States, the United u eyes
stands alone, without rival, and with unlln
tied powers.
bullion IT can command, or at teast enough t'
meet the demands of labor traffic and com
merce. II
Its responsibility is to see at all times, tina
these demands so long as they are legl'iIia ~
fairly met, and generously responueV 4 - -
II metal in sufficient Quantities cannot ~
.,btai,;ed on fair terms To meet these nehlailt1
.the Constitution opens the way to supply ~
Sefieieney. ,.y IT, !,
ssNo state shall emit bills of credit That ],
n power prohibited 20 the States II mus 80
somewhere unless it is ASSUMED that ne ia.her
meaaffO make government y p!ch a. az ~ =
IN war as " ell as in peace should ns~+. an
CURE its people TO deal exclusively IN goiu, =
silver or other metal. No such absurui9y eouie
ever have taken possession OF their minus an an.
NO generation of their descendants mas ever -
ed % attempted TO act on any such honseis.S I
idea. Paper in some form has already supple
yaented the metals in swelling the FcisHe
sFhat we call money - vii
eontfane 10 he used II rejected in one form
will be received in another. fhe vital questio
is In wha1 quantities may it be safels issueu, =
20 state it differently, in what proportion ~
coin basis Is It safe to issue paper PfoinlsSs Z
navy II il elifIiQult 70 answer this question:
saaaet be answered with certainty , Du'
may make an Approximate answer, thsat -
serve ear purposes if the Government T. eeH
Quoted wita reasonable amount q i; 7. ~ ~
mast reliable authorities that have taiieh uliue
my observation it is safe tor eioVefhh.ens ~
ATen managed private institution q issue
Rnaximuta 81 three dollars IN paper ~ ols =
actual coin is hand held to meet demands =
redemption- -. 4
wenld have the Government increase = =
eek az eoin and bullion, ~ both gold ana IS II ]
ver to the largest amount possible without I
xTuing inferest bearing bonds. tFe alnoun
snav / think be.made to aggregate THREE qeeefk
s9aaff0n Of dollars, without serions inteTteEtns
with ea4amence, and with decided advantage {
the mfnfn1. and the kindred interest," OF e
sEsr11.ssfrv 1ha accumulated stock OF gold an
e ..lslvsr coin and hAllion, would make the bas
g. enw rSne hundred iiious Of dollars IN fh
UniEsd States Treasury notes These noss