Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-14
ttIs question shall never reach the United

mend 10 Z Q Nlath General Assembly nny re-
4 IN which may be necessary to compel m
liudlcaton by the Supreme Court Of this
que ,tion, 9, important for the general welfare,
ald cyaded In so COW ardly n manner.
The speaker dwclt Mt some lc;iyth on the
question Of legal tender and declared that the
states have the right to make foreign coins n
legal tender for debts In such states.
The remedy is for each state to enact that
the silver dollars of the United States and
of our sister republics In North and South
America, containing not less than 81 IA
grains fine silver, shall DC legal tender by
tale or at 100 cents each, for all debts public
and private, collectIble within that state.
There can be no doubt of the right Of any
state to make gold and silver coin tender In
the payment of debts collectlbie In that state.
It is equally clear that this right extends to
foreign coin, because mt the time the constl-
tuition was adopted, nad for several years
after, there were no national coins. 1t may
be said Congress enacted In 1857 tina, there
after no foreign coins should be n legal lender
In the United States. But no act OF Congress
can deprive n state Of n constitutional right.
Admit that the right of the United States is
concurrent with that of the states that II
could lawfully pass the statute OF 1851; that
statute is only entitled to Its legal effect. 1t
is good In NIL territory over which the United
States has exclusive Jurisdiction; 1t Is COOL
In nll states which have not or do not avail
themselves of their constitutional right to
mhkc lOEelRu kOlu uUu bllNtT COlu u lekhl
tender, but cannot possibly take away that
right.
4 The right 10 regulate the value of foreign
coins is also In congress, and must also be
considered exclusive. unless the right ito
make gold and silver coin n tender In the
payment OF debts which right Is expressly
declared by the constitution Of the United
States to be In tho states, does not In order
to make that right OF my practical use, In
clude the right to regulate the value OF the
coin when made legal tender.
Tho right to make gold, silver or paper
money legal tender is not specifically grant
ed to congress by the constitution Of the
United States, but the right TO coin money.
and regulate the value thereof and Of foreign
coins,' expressly given to congress In the
the courts to include the right to make those
coins legal tender. The right to regulate
the value OF coins, foreign and domestic, is
not complete In an act specifying the value
ut which such coins shall be received by the
United States at Its custom houses or land
offices, but includes the right to fix the value
OF all such coins rs n tender In the pay ment.
The governor answered number OF crltl-
cisms that had been made upon his scheme.
In closing he said
But It Is said, ''wc must educate; we must
food thesEast with silver literature" And
every once In while we hear Of come dis
tinguIshcd banker In New York or London
is, "a TO l! That is silver at 90 cents per
ounce! And we arc to convert Wall street!
G-r-e-a-t Godi!
My agreement was to abide by tho decision
OF this miners convention, and that promise
will be performed. The matter is In your
hands, but be assured, my fellow citizens, that
In this crisis, unless the miners Of silver shall
demand and enforce all their constitutional
rights, both as citizens Of the state and ma
tion, In state legislatures as well rs In Con-
I'm, frRn in nf all frra
gone; the slavery described by Senator Teller
commences, and tho homes OF the silver min
ers OF the Rocky Mountains shall hcnccforth
be left unto them desoatc.
G. W. Adams Immediately moved that the
governor call an extra session. Many seconds
we're heard and there was much commotIon.
In the midst OF this 1t was moved that re-
cess of fifteen minutes be taken, which was
carried.
During recess his friends lost no time In
congratulating the governor, while those op-
posed to extra session used all their persuasive
cloqucnce with members to vote against the
proposition.
Upon rc-assemblIng Thornton II. Thomas
OF Creedc spoke In opposition to the extra
session. lie introduced resolution as n
substitute as follows:
Resoived, That the governor be authorized
to submit the right OF states TO coin silver and
legalizc foreign coins as legal tender therein
to the State Supreme Court.
Governor Wnite-I did not recommend that
the state coin silver. / discussed the consti-
tutional right OF states to coin their own
money. and said the remedy for the present
silver depression in Colorado lay In the state
coming silver dollars. which 1t has the right
to do. containing 81 u grains. That will also
get the question before the courts.
Mr.. Fitzgerald OF Aspen favored the cover
nor's plan in q three minute talk and was
loudly applauded.
Senators White and Balsinger opposed the
extra session.
Chairman McMichncl made strong appeal
In support Of tho governor.
Tho Thomas amendment was defeated and
the original resolution carried by vote OF 10
toS.
silverton, Central City, Creede and Bache-
lor voted solidly against the special session.
Aspen, Bio ckcnridge, Cripple Creek, Koko-
mo and Lawson went so.idly in favor Of 1t,
while St. Elmo split its vote.
Governor Waite thanked the convention
md said he would call the legislature To-
gcther in Jaru3ry
The convention then adjourned.