Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-03-26

toral vote, and were the real choice OF
the people of the Uhicoa 'StasesAt ibe
last election.
LEGAL TENDER TEST CASE
We have no idea that q decision one
way or the other, by the Supreme
Court OF the United States, as TO the
power of Congress to authorize the
issue of legal tender paper will settle
any thing. If the decision should be
adverse TO the power there will bc q
camor for constitutional amendment,
and tho same demand will be made
should the Court decide that Congress
has the power Questions OF this kind,
political us well as financial, and which
have been hotly contested in debate
and at the polls, can hardly be perma-
nently adjusted by nine solemn old
gentlemen in black silk gowns, setting
in little back room in Washington
City. The bred Scott decision before
the war, was TO settle great many
questions, and among them the right
OF tho negro to American citizenship
and the constitutional protection Of
slavery in the territories. But II set
tied nothing and only added fuel to the
existing flames of sectional discord
and jealousy, until they eliminated in
great war. The Court said the me-
gro couldn't become a citizen under
the Constitution. The people kicked
the decision aside aud altered tho Con-
stitution so as TO mako the negro a
citizen. They acknowledged by this
the Court was legally right but morally
wrong. Those were the days of senti-
mental politics.
There would be no necessity in 60
ing to the Supreme Court for settle
ment of this question, had not Grant,
at the instance of this class who now
set themselves no as the special advo-
Gates of honest money" packed the
Supreme bench by the appointment OF
Bradley and Strong, in order to reverse
the decision of Chase, Nelson. Clifford
and Field-constituting majority Of
the Court-tbat Congress had no pow.
er to declare Government paper a legal
tender act. Grants Attorney General
Hoar, went before the Court and de-
manded re-argument of the question
The minority of the Court, reinforced
by Bradley and Strong, allowed the
re.argument and then by five judges
!, 20 four, (the four above named, re
versed the decision in the Hepburn
case, and decided the power Of the
: Federal Government was without limit
as to the past, present, or future, in
making greenbacks legal tender II
is generally believed there was a big
speculation in stocks and bonds, bidder
away IN this decision, and that tn,
Grant crowd made big thing OF it
but the details have been kept with
extraordinary closeness.
Allthe agitation and discussions thai
have taken place the last half dozer
years, on the legal tender or greenbacl
question, would have been avoided hat
Grant permitted the decision Of Chic
Justice Chase in the Hepburn case t.
stand. II merely went to the power
of Congress to make greenbacks
legal tender for debts contracted be
fore the legal tender act, and deniet
the existence of such power. Th'
Justice of this decision can hardly b,
disputed, for any other ruling woult
abrogate the validity of contracts
but the Court as Grant packed it, dit
not stop at triHes, and conceded Il
Congress the most extraordinary pow
ers in making legal tender papei
money.
In view oil the somewhat crooked
a
record Oh tho court 10 the past IN deal