National Republican., 1879-05-27
fORTy.SlXTH CONGRESS.
Mr.. McDonald's Views on the Use
of the Army.
Exchange of Subsidiary silver Coin-The Bill
Discussed In the Morning Hour-Causes
of Depreciation and Premium
senator Edmunds Gives Notice
that He Will Reply to
senator Mcdonald.
SENATE.

of Statistics ordered to lie OIL the table and be
printed
Mr.. GARLAND from the Committee oil the Judi
cary, reported with amendments Senate bill In re.
ference to district courts in Texas. ordered that
the amendments be printed and placed Oh the cal.
cndar.
Mr. WlruERs introduced bill for the relief of
the Albcmarlc and Chesapeake Canal Company.
Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The Senate then took UP the bill providing for
the exchange of subsidiary CONS LOT lawful money,
and making such coins legal tender in sums not
exceeding $50 The pending question being on the
committee amendment to substitute the words ten
dollars for twenty dollars.
Mr. EDNuNDs referring to the argument that the
bin would equalzc the distribution of small coin,
snid the Government could not properly interest
itself In such plan of regulation business Itself
regulates the distribution of the coin, and when
the Government goes into the business of keeping
the circulation even II would meet with failure.
He knew there was inconvenience from the &c.
cumuatOn of these coins. The people OF his state
US well HS OF western StaeS le't @ o Su as vo
not what 1t purported to be. The coins were deprc
ciatcd because they were issued in excess of the
Sir. FERRY pointed out that no more coin could
lawfully be issued lNn was sufficient TO redeem the
SjOOOO0OO of fractional currency. This was n bar
TO excessive issue The object of the bill Is to make
this deprecated coin more valuable.
Mr.. EDMUSDs. Why does II need appreciation?
Mr. FERRY. Because 1t Is below standard value,
and bankers are unwilling to receive II.
Mr.. EDMUNDs. That is not the question: Why Is
II below par?
Mr.. FERRY Because there is more alloy in 1t
than in the standard dollar.
Mr.. EDMUNDS Philosophlcally that ought to be Il
correct answer; but we all know That these small
coins are not below par until You get an excess OF
quantity over whnt Is needed for purposes of trade.
there Is no way of disposing of 1t. The proposition
is to allow II to be converted when II accumuntcs
in certain quantities and thus take away the depc-
Mr. EDMUSDs then said that so long as the issue is
kept down to q certain amount 1t WI be ut rNri
above that 1t will be below par. 1t IS below par;
therefore we have got too much in one place. lie
thought we had too much all round. Alluding TO
Mr.. Fcrry's former statement that the bill would
make subsidiary Con like greonbacks equal to
gold, Mr.. EDMUSDs asked what law exists making
greenbacks rcdcemable in gold. They are not so
Teteemabc. The Secretary of the Treasury Of
course redeems them In that one of two legal ten.
ders which is the less valuable; therefore lie re-
deems them In silver, not in gold.
Mr.. FERRY said the redemption was to be in stand
ard silver dollars which are legal tender lie re.
pcated that there could be no excessive issue OF
subsidiary coin because It q 8kSS Shc ~ sGS S o S @ 5s
Mr.. EDMUSDS further said that the proper theory
of coinage Is not II theory of redemption. We re-
deem promises, but we merely stamp coin. The
business of n Government i'll respect of It's coin Is
finished when 1t has assaycd aud mintcd it, No
Government undertakes to redeem its coin, The
demption. If you redeem small coins you must re-
deem large one. lie did not object to taking In the
excess of subsidiary coin and melting 1t, but the
adoption of this bill would be step toward dis
asrOus financial policy. , ~
NJ
bill would not contract the currency, but would
allow the subsidiary coin to be drawn out from the
Treasury the same as aclionnl currency; ~ would
practically increase the value OF silver relatively 10
gold.
Mr.. BAYARD also spoke in favor of the bill. read
ing letters from practical business men describing
the evils of the present system of subsidiary crcu
laon, and desiring some remedy therefor.
Mr.. CoKLING offered an amendment to the fourth
section of the bfll to make silver coins OF smaller
denominations than 81 receivable by postmasers
for payment OF postage or purchase OF postage
twenty-five cents and under rs provided in the bill.
Tho morning hour expired, and the bill went over
without ilnal action,
The President pro tenn. laid before the Senate n
communication from the Secretary of the Treasury
in reply to the Senate resolution, asking in
formation in regard TO the direct tax upon the
states giving such information relative to the
liability of Georgia for such taxes. Ordered to be
printed -
and city council of the city OF baltimore praying
for the passage of the act authorizing the establish
ment of nn aChOrNgcgroumd light on Fort Bar, be-
tween the Camden Consolidated oil Company
wharf and Fort Mcllenry. Referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
being the bill relative to transportation of animals,
was laid aside, and the bill introduced by him,
regulating the employment of the militia ana inc
land and naval forces of the United States, was
taken up. Mr.. Mcdonald proceeded to speak on
the bill.
lie detailed the growth and present status Of the
Federal election laws, and said that when the
clause giving Congress power to regulate the times
bers of Congress was discussed by the Trainers OF
the Constitution fear was expressed lest snch power
might be misused to exclude all but mvorites oil
Congress from office; but those who favored the
clause said there was no danger that 1t would ever
be used and urged its necessity In order to Sc
cure uniformity in elections They argued that lis
improper use could only occur when Con
gress should become corrupt and cease to
vision fSp''s could guard against corruption in indl
vidunls. If 1t had been supposed that the clause
would ever have been construed as IT Is now con
oil nj hnv M
struction was never thought of until party ncccs
sity dictated It's adoption, when was fastened
upon the elective system in the states so firmly that
itcould not be shaken oil. Supervisors of elec
tions are generally supporters of the party III
parent. Under State laws impartial boards were
Obtained thus escaping the dangers resulting ironl
political bias.
States until the time of reconstruction, when laws
were obtained in some States resulting IN the de
feat Of p ESpE syse TOs sdoped in M IoasaSn %
which he said the returning, board frauds wore
pcrpetrNed, and drew parallel between the action
Northern States in regard to elections. His Obec
tion to the present laws wNs that they violated tht
Constitution by seeking TO thwart the will of the
people in choosing Representatives; that they sur
rounded the polls with enemies Of the domlnan
party, and that the elective machinery had bee!
used and would be again used, to obtain party trl
umphs. lie referred TO the elections OF 1873, when
by The aid of these tws in close districts, the re
nublicans obtained twelve more Representatives II
lie read from the Wallace committee testmon!
TO show that supervisors and mNrshNs were ap
pointed in Philadelphia, involving much expense
when they were not needed, to aid in securing fair
ness In that election. lie also alluded to the con
duct of the election in New York. Though nOmi
nally to protect voters in the South these laws ha,
been used to control elections all over the country
In Massachusetts alone more money was paid 4
supervise elections than in all the States lately II
rebellion He supposed this was TO prevent tn
people from cleCting General Butler. That gentle
man was no fayorile of his, but ms citizen OF Mas
SNChusctts and Il candidate for Governor, he wa
entitled to fair play and the people had right Il
choose him II they wished. But the Republican
party did not think So and consequently toregl
hid was called In,
Mr. MCDoRALp defined what he thought tobe tn
proper use of the military power by NE President
II was his duty TO rcpcl INVASION Hnd suppress IN
surrcction rs provided by the ConstitutiOni 6l
while IL Is his duty TO execute the laws, anolhc
branch of the Government Is the maker of lnw'
and the President CannOtuSc troops at his pleasure
The use of the army must be directed by Congress
Under existing laws the discretion In the use q
troops in certain Cuscs Is vested In the Prcsidcn
who is also CommandGr-in.C Chief, and Is Charge
with executing laws, Thus all the power Of III
Government Is concentrated in one mans hRnd
lie showed the danger of this system,
Mr. MCDONALD further said II had been elaine
that troops were not allowed to bG present Arme
nj pencpGbe elections. In 1861, In his state arlnc
troops left their camp near u certain Town, az
came around the polls, with arms IN their hand
driving away CiliIGns MS loyal US they were an
freely exercising their own privilege of NOllnl
though not Cit2rns Of the suite, while preNenun
good citizens rom voting, lie saw lhls hlmsel
aud knew that similar scenes occurred elSeWhci
In the state.
lie went over the history of the Powell law nm
said the purpose Of the bill now Introduced va
not only iO avert danger but to remove the appr
hcnSon Of danger from the use ol inc lnlllhE