Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-06-17
Clay, Calhoun and Webster,

These three names stand out on the page
OF history more prominent than any other
three connected with that of the republic.
lnthe bright galaxy of American states.
men they are stars OF the first magnitude.
In them were combined in an eminent
degree eloquence, honesty and profound
craftsmanship. Gould they be consulted
on the conflicting issues OF to-day, they
would be unit in opinion, which the rec.
ord they have lett behind confirms.
They passed away before the day of
green6ack legal tender and national bank
currency, but with prophetic vision they
saw them in the future, witnessed the con-
ilct and rendered Judgment.
In the United States Senate in 1888,
Henry Clay said:
whatever government agrees to re-
ceiye in payment of public dues, is a
medium OF cxchange-is money, current
money, no matter what its form may be. ;"
In reference to national banks he said:
81 conceive its establishment as danger
Gus to the safety and welfare of this re-
public"
John G. Calhoun, the idol Of the south.
ern Democracy, and the most eminent
statesman OF which that party can boast,
has lttG the following opinions on record,
in reference to the issues of the day:
1T appears to me after bestowing the
best reflections ! can give the subject,
that no convertible paper, that is whose
credit rests on the promise to pay, is
suitable for currency.
'Bank paper is cheap to those who
make it, but very dear to those who use it.
'On the other hand, Il national cur
rcncy, while it would greatly facilitate its
financial operations, would cost next to
nothing, but would give to every branch
of industry great advantages, And now
undertake to affirm, without The least
fear that cln be answered, that paper
issued by the government, with the single
promise to receive it for dues, would form
Il perfect paper circulation, which could
not be abused by the government; that it
would be as uniform in value as metals,
and shall be able to prove tnat it Is
within the constitution and power of
Congress to provide such paper, accord
ing to the most rigid rule of constituting
the constitution.
The mooted question now is the con-
stitutiOnal power of congress to make any
thing but gold and silver Icgal-tender for
debt.
On this point the opinions of Daniel
Webster, who won and merited the title
of Constitutional ExpOunder," is timely
and cOnclusive:
"By denying to the states all power Of
emitting bills of credit, or making any
thing but gold and silver a tender in pay
ment of debts, the whole control over the
standard of value and medium Of pay
ments is vested in the general govern
ment. Delegatjng the grant to congress,
and the prohibition to the states, Just
readingO of the provision is this: Congress
shall have power to coin money, emit bills
Of credit, and make anything besides gold
and silver coin legal tender in payment
Of debts. "
Were these great men in the United
States senate to-day, does the country
believe they could be driven, coaxed or
bribed to follow in the wake of Blaine,
ConkIing, Edmunds and Bayard, crnging
at the heels Of the money power, willing
to do its bidding for the sake of place and
power, though the nation perish2
If Greenbachism is lunacy, Americas
most brilliant orators and profound states
men were lunaticS.