The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-03-17


pulsory coinage of silver now required
by law may not disturb our monetary
system by driving either metals out OF
circulation. If possible such adjustment
should be made that the the purchasing
power of every coined dollar will be
exactly equal, as debt paying power in
all markets of the world. The chief
duty of the national government in con-
nectlon with the currency of the coun-
try is to coin money and declare its
value. Grave doubts have been enter
tanned whether Congress is authorized
! by the constitution to make any form of
money legal tender. The present issue
of United States notes has been sustained
by the necessities of war, but such paper
should depend for it's value and currency
upon its convenience in use, and its
prompt redemption in coin at the will Of
the holder, and not upon it's compulsory
circulation. These notes are not money
put promises to pay money if the holder
demands it. The promise should be
kept.
The refunding of the national debt at
a lower rate of interest should be accom-
plished without compelling the with
drawal of national bank notes and thus
disturb the business of the country. !
venture to refer to the business / have
occupied on financial questions during a
long service in Congress, and to say that
time and experience have strengthened
the opinions l have 50 often expressed
on these subjects. The finances of the
government shall suffer no detriment
which it may be possible for my admin
lstration to prevent.
The interest of agriculture deserves
more attention from the government
than they have yet received. The farms
Of the farmers Of the United States
offer homes and employment for more
than one-half of our people. and furnish
much the larger part of all our exports.
AS the government lights our coasts for
the protection Of our mariners, and the
bcneh Of commerce, 50 it should give
the tiller of the soil the best lights of
practical science and experience. Our
manufacturers are rapidly making us in
dustrially independent, and are opening
to capital ard labor new and profitable
schemes of employment. Their steady
and healthy growth should still be main
tained.
| Our facilities for transportation should
be promoted by the continued improve
ment of our harbors and the great in
|
of our tonnage on the oceans.
The development of the worlds COM
| merce has led to an urgent demand for
| shortening the great sea voyage around
Cape Horn by constructing ship canals
or railways across the isthmus which
unites the two continents Various
plans to this end have been suggested,
and will need consideration, but none of
| them has been sufficiently matured to
warrant united aid. The subject, how
| ever, is one which will immediately en-
| gage the attention of the government
with a view to a thorough protection to
| American interests. We will urge no
narrow policy, nor seek peculiar or ex-
elusive privilege in any commercial
route. but in the language Of my pre-
decessor, "I believe it to be the right and
duty of the United States to assert and
maintain such supervision and authority
over any inter-oceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national
interests"
The constitution guarantees absolute
freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting m establish
ment Of religion or prohibiting 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 respon-
sible for any violence of the constitution
in any Of them. 1t is, therefore, a re-
proach to the government that in the
most populous of the territories the con-
stitutional guarantee is not enjoyed by
the people, and the authority o Con-
gress is set at naught. The Mormon
church is not only an offense to the
moral sense of mankind by sanctioning
polygamy, but prevents the administra-
| tion Of justice through the ordinary in
strumentalities Of law. IN my judg-
ment it is the duty of Congress, while
respecting to the uttermost the conscien-
tious convictions and religious scruplcs
Of every citizen, to prohibit within it's
jurisdiction, all criminal practices, es-
pecially of that class which destroy fam
lily relations and endanger social order.
Nor can any ecclesiastical organization
be safely permitted to usurp in the
smallest degree the functions and powers
Of the national government.
The civil service can never be placed
on q satisfactory basis until it is regula-
ted by law for the good Of the service
itself, for the protection of those who
are entrusted with the appointing power
against the waste of time and obstruction
to public business caused by the inordi
nate pressure for place, and for the PRO
lection of incumbent against intrigue
and wrong. l shall, at the proper time,
ask congress to fix the tenure of minor
Offices of the several executive depart
ments, and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall be made during
the terms for which incumbents have
been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the au