Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-03-10


bled our people to secure the blessings which
the season brought. BY the experience of
commercial nations in all ages It has been
found that gold and silver afford the only
sato foundation for monetary system.
Confusion has recently been created by q
variation in tie relative value Of the two, but
confidently believe thatSarrspgements can
be made between the leading commercial
nations which will secure spgeossTal suso of
both metals. @f1 H
Congress should provide thai the compul.-
sorry coinage of silver now required by law
may not disturb our monetary system by
driving either metal out Of circulation. If
possible such an adjustment should be made
that tho purchasing power OF every coined
dollar will be exactly. equal to its debt
paying power in all Of the markets of the
world
The chief duty of tho national government
in connection with tho currency Of the coun.
try is to coin money and declare it's value.
Grave doubts have been entertained whether
Congress is authorized by tho Constitution
to make my form of paper money loyal
tender Tho present issue of United States
notes has been sustained by the necessities of
the war, but such paper should depend for
its value and currency upon its convenience
in uso now, it's prompt redemption in coin
at the will of holder. and not upon it's com-
pulsory circulation. These notes are not
money, but promises to pay money.
II holders demand it the promise should be
kept.
The sefundiug Of the national debt at
lower rate of interest should be accomplished
without compelling the withdrawal Of the
national bank notes and thus disturbing the
business of the country. venture to refer
to the position have occupied on financial
questions during long servico in Congress,
and to say that timo and experience have
strengthened the opinions l have 80 often
expressed on these subjects. The finances
of the government shall suffer no detriment
which it may be possible for my administra-.
lon to prevent.
The interests of agriculture deserve more
from the government than they have yet
received. The farms of tho United States
afford homes and employment for more than
one half of our people and furnish mnch tho
largest parts of our exports. As the gov.
ernment lights our coast for tho protection of
marines and the boneft of commerce, so it
should give to the tillers of the soil the
best lights of practical science and experts
ence.
Our manufactures are rapidly making us
independent and are proving to capital and
labor new and profitable fields of employment
Their steady and healthy growth should still
DO maintained.
Our liabilities for transportation should be
promoted by tho continued improvement of
'nr harbors and the great interior water
ways and by the increase of our tonnage on
he ocean. The Development of tho worlds
commerce has led to an urgent demand for
'hortening the great sea ynyage around Cape
horn ny constructing ship canals or railways
'cross the isthmus which unitcs the two
continents. Various plans to this end have
Dcen suggested and will need consideration
but none of them have been sufficiently ma.
'ured to warrant the United States in extend.
ng pecnniary uid. The subject. however,
g one which will Immediately engage the
attention Of the government with new and a
thorough protection to commercial interests.
we will urge no narrow policy nor seek pc
cullnr or excessive privileges in any CONNER
cial route, but. in the language Of my prede,
'essor, believe it co be the duty and tho
right of the United States to assert and
maintain such supervision aud auth ri,y
lsthmus that connects North and South
America rs will protect our national in
terest.
The Constituti>n IN guarantees absolute rc>
ligious freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting an establishment
of religion or forbidding the free exercise
thereof. The Territories of the United
States are subject to the direct Legislative
authority Of Congress. and hence the general
government is responsible fm any yioa,ion
OF the Constitution in any Of them. 1t il,
therefore, rcproach to tho government TINT
IN the most populrus Of our cities the con-
s'itutional guarantee is not enjoyed by the
people and the authority of Congress is SGT at
naught The Mormon Church not only
ohends the moral sense of mankind bv
poigamy. but prevents tho ad,
m'nIstration of justice through the ordinary
instrumentalties Of the law. In my iudg-
ment it is The duty of Congress-. while RES
pect'ng to the uttermost The conscientious
conviction and religious scruples of every
o't'zen, to prohibit within it's jurisdiction all
criminal practices and principally that class
of them which destroy the fumily relation
and endaDger aoonl order. Nor can any
ecclesiastical orgunizntinn be safely per-
mitted to usurp in smaller degree the
functions und powers Of the national govern.