The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-02


carried out according to its intention.
In n speech made IN the United States
Senate in 1894 Senator Thomas II. Ben
ton said that Benton'B 30 years. chap
TOR CYL he had seen mo less than
nine statutes pessed in the first four
Years of the actions OF this federal gov
eminent. ali enacted for the purpose Of
regulating the value, protecting the pur-
ity and promoting the circulation OF
these foreign coins. Not only the we'll
known coins OF the principal nations
were provided for I'm these statutes, but
the coins OF all nations with whom we
traded, how rare or small might be the
coin, or how remote or uncomfortable
might be the nation. BY a general pro-
vision OF the act OF 1873. the gold coins
OF all nations which eqUalled those OF
England. France, Spain and Portugal in
fneness. were to be current at 50 cents
the pennyweight; and the silver coins OF
all nations. which equalled the Spanish
dollar I'm fairness. were to be current at
III cents the ounce. Under these general
provisions great influx Of the precious
metals took place; doubloons, guineas,
half joes were the common and familiar
currency OF farmers and laborers. as
well as of merchants and traders. Every
SuDEtADtldi clllLtu lIftl htJA III Ills MUSE
a pair OF small scales TO weigh gold.
which are now used by his posterity
TO weigh physic. IL IL great many
years-a whole generation has grown up
since these scales were used for their
original purpose: nor will they ever be
needed again for that use until the
lust and wise laws OF SO and 80 for the
general circulation OF foreign coins shall
again be put in force. These early stat
utes. added TO historical recolections.
could leave no doubt Of the true mean
Ing of the Constitution. and that for
elgn coins were intended TO be forever
current within the United States"
Senator Benton th.1 arst ed that It
was the influence Of General Hamilton
in the Government that perverted 1t from
a hard money tendency into a paper
money tendency, and which gradually
caused the provision in the Constitution
for regulating the value Of foreign coin
to become a dead letter. Possibly he was
right. and the question arises was the
movement wise one? Might we not to-
day have all the metallic circulation de-
manded by the free coinage men II We
would only make effectual the provision
Of the Constitution in regard to foreign
coins? An interesting side light is thrown
upon the theme in very rare book,
from which. because 1t is so rare. we
shall take the liberty Of quoting:
In 1889 an Englishman named Par
kinson came to this country to settle as
a planter near Mount Vernon. He re-
nd nd nftbIicha1
count of his experiences here under the
title
"A tour in America IN 1898, 1899 and
1900. Exhibiting sketches OF society and
manners, and a particular account Of
the American system Of agriculture with
its recent improvements. BY Richard
Parkinson, late OF Orangehill. near Bal
timore, vol, Svo.. London. Harding.
1906"
See review OF It, Edinburg Review,
vol. 7, p. %, oct. 1905.
At page 436 OF vol. ?, Parkinson says.
speaking Of General Washington:
There are several anecdotes related
Of him. for being methodical l was told
by General Stone. that he was travel
ing with his family I'm his carriage across
the country. and. arriving at a ferry be-
longing to General. Washington he Of
fered the ferryman moidorc. The man
said: L cannot take IT. The General
asked Why john He replied. I am
only a servant to General Washington,
and I have no weights TO weigh It with;
and the General will weight It; and. II
It should not be weight. he will not only
make me the loser. but he will be angry
with me-. Well. John. you must take it,
and I will lose three pence in its value
the ferryman did SC and he carried II
TO General Washington on the Saturday
night following The General weighed It;
and II was not weight; II wanted three
half pence. General Washington care
fully Tapped up the three half pence In
n piece Of paper and directed 1t to Cen
eral Stone, which he received from the
ferryman on his return"
How characteristic OF this great man
was this returning to General Stone his
three half pence.