The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-05-30
FREE COINAGE.
Hon. Oscar Turner, OF Ken
tuCky, On she Coinage Bill.

'''S Z az iH9Ss' NUR lux AAC uioCuoSiou OI
the amendment to the bill relating to
coinage and coin and bullion certif
Gates, and for other purposes, Hon
Oscar Turner spoke as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, as we are discussing
this bill under the fye-minute rule, |
will proceed directly to the merits OF
this amendment offered by the gentIe-
man from Texas (Mr. Mills). The
misery that has been brought upon
this country by the financial legisla-
ton of the last fifteen years, and
which legislation has been entirely in
the interest of the bondholder, has
been so thoroughly discussed that l
will not trespass upon the time of this
House IN referring to it. The masses
demand relief, relief from the burdens
of taxation and the unjust legislation
which IS making them poorer every
day, while it is adding to the wealth Of
the bondhoders. Silver has been des
moneiized by fraud, so we'll concealed
that not even the members Of the COM
mittee on this food who reported the
bill under which it was done can give
any satisfactory account of it or fix
the guilt upon the perPetrator, as ap
pears from the speech OF the distin.
guished gentleman from Pennsylvania
{ Mr. keliey), delivered in the House
May 10, 1879, and which l refer to-
The currency has been contracted
to such al extent as to more than
double the purchasing power of money,
thus causing 4 general shrinkage iu
valueaalI over the country. 1t is well
understood by the people. 1t has
5rough; bankruptcy aud ruin upon
the country. The Republican party
have had the power in every branch
Of the Government, but instead of Civ
ing relief they have added to the bur
dens of the people, and by their votes
at this session have shown that they
intend to oppose every measure Of
financial relief. The people are look
ing to us TO give them some relief, and
it is the duty of the Democrats upon
this floor to make the attempt, and if
1t is not successful let the masses
know WHARF, the responsibility rests.
Let the President give Us another veto
if he means to disregard the right of
the people to financial relief which is
Just aud proper. Let the people know
Who is responsible. Let Us do our
duty as Democrats on this floor.
Now, what is demanded? We want
free and unrestricted coinage of silver
aud to make it legal tender for all
sf.,nf,r,tg ..,I ~ I
grand object OF this bill But that Is
lot all the people need. Tie great
question IS 20 put stop to the inter
.sis bearing debt, to pay off The bonds,
md TO give 20 US an Increase of cur
-ency. The amendment of the gen
leman from Texas has for its object
hese ends. It not only enables Us to
lay off The debt to 4 large extent, by
purchasing silver bullion, coming itin-
o money. and paying for it in green
packs, and appropriating that silver
o the payment OF the bonds that are
payable IN coin. but it puts the green
packs in circulation which are paid for
he silver bullion. Thus it increases
he circulation very largely, while at
he same time 1t extinguishes the bond.
I'd Indebtedness of the country and
stops the interest to the amount OIL
many millions of dollars. I regard this
amendment as important as the bill
tself, and the author Of this amend
nent is entitled TO the gratitude of the
iufferiug masses. 1t is practicable,
lnd meets and avoids the objection
urged by some, that the bonds cannot
be paid in greenbacks, aud a the same
line it gives to the country a large in~
crease in the volume of greenback
currency.
l hope this amendment will be ad
'pted, aud then let US substitute
yreenbacks for national bank curren
y, and pay of the bonds upon which
hey are founded or abolish the banks
hemselves-which are dangerous to
.ivil liberty-wielding almost a con
rolling power over this Government
already Then let US tax the incomes
If these bondholders, as we attempted |
he other day, if We cannot tax the
bonds themselves, and make the bond
iolders bear their portion of the enor-
nous expenditures of this Govern
neut; make the taxes equal and uni
orm-"equal rights to all exclusive /
privileges to none" Then we will /
lave done something in the way of
substantial relief for the people of the
country. And why, Mr. Speaker,
should we not do this?
The United States bonds we're orig |
ually payable in currency. They were
put upon the market and sold at from |
forty to sixty cents on the dollar |
One would have supposed when they |
went up to par it would have satisfied |
the avariee of the bondholders, but it !
aid not. In violation Of the rights of |
the American people Republican
Congress passed the act of March Is,
1869, making these very bonds paya
bic in coin, and to add to this stupen
iuous fraud they demonetised silver,
increasing the burdens of taxation |
millions of dollars and depreciating
the value of labor and property all |
over the country by contracting the
all in the interest of the |
bondholders and to increase their |
wealth at the expense of the farmers,
aborers and all other producing elias
'es-inereasing the burden by taking
lway from the people one of the means
IF payment, silver coin.
And now, to day, when we propose
% pay these bonds off in silver coin,
We are met by the opposition of the
same party, voting oD every PROPOSE
ion in the interest of the boodhold. |
ng aristocraey of the country, here
lud in Europs, and against the inter-
st of the toiling masses of the people,
lnder the false cry that they want
honest money"
Why, Mr.. Speaker, who first created |
be greenback currency and declared |
t legal tender, with unjust exeep
ions in favor of the bondho olders and |