Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-19
silver Legislation.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
A brief explanation OF the act intro
duced bv the writer on Wednesday IN the
General Assembly of Virginia may not be
inappropriate. The act has two objects.
one of which is to prevent hereafter the
making of contracts in the State OF Nir-
GINA sOlvabie aud payable in gold alone.
Ii the act is passed that object will GER
tainly be accomplished. and all contracts
will be solyable and payable in gold or sill
yei nj the option of the debtor. The Sc
cond object is 70 increase the demand for
silver. and thus enhance us value and
raise its price, 80 that we can no longer be
tainted with the statement that we are
making legal tender Of sixty-cent dol.
lar
-Four States have already passed simi-
lar act. 1t is about all that State oan do
IN behalf OF one of the great master
metals Of the world. Tho act, If passed,
will be far reaching in its consequences.
Its commanding Importance was recently
alluded to IN the discussions OF the Ame-
rican Bar Association at Milwaukee. The
constitutlonality OF the act Is based upon
section 10, article l, OF the Federal Consti-
tuition. While State has not the right TO
coin money il has the undoubted right to
use both gold and silver in the payment OF
obligations and tho settlement OF con-
tracts. This is the constitutional right OK
every citizen of Virginia, and II Is the
duty of the supporters OF the great white
metal TO stand by it and give it all the aid
that can come from State Legislation. IL
majority of the States pass similar law
it means the free coinage OF silver, which.
in the opinion of the writer. Is sound De-
mocratic doctrine.
Calamity has followed in the wake of all
of those countries that have adopted gold
monometallism. and as short as has been
the time since the repeal OF the Sherman
bill, it has been long enough TO show that
every prediction OF the gold monometal-
lists has been falsifed. The earnings OF
our railroads are falling OF gold Is being
expoIted agricultural products are rail-
ing; debtors are beng bankrupted. and
the time has come when the advocates OF
blmetallism must grid on their amor for
the greatest contest of modern times.
What has hitherto been done is mere
skirmisb. The true battle of bimetallism
has yet TO be fought. | have not the least
doubt Of the result. Silver will undouot-
eddy triumph, and say about the contest,
"let hiln laugh who WINS"
CAMM PaTTEsoa.
The following is the bill referred to:
A bill to enforce the payment of all con-
tracts in gold or SILVER entered into in,ths
State of Virginia.
Be il enacted by the General Assembly
of Virginia, That all contracts hereafter
made. whether written or oral. entered
into in the State Of Virginia for the pay
ment of money. or debts of any kind or
description. made either by individuals or
corpor&tions or trusts or joint-stock COM
panies or any association of persons what
ever, shall be payable in gold or silver 81
the established legal rates OF either metal
without regard to the fact that the con-
tract calls for either particular metal.
This act shall be in force from Its pass
ACE.