The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-10
ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.
PIPING TIMES or PEACE MEANING
ENDIN THE SENATE.
a Colloquy Between Senator VOORHEES, and
the Free silverites-More Compro-
mise Rumors.

much larger than it had been for several
weeks back, so there is no excuse for a
suggestion Of absence Of quorum.
Mr.. Harris sent to the clerks desk the
resolutions adopted at a joint meeting
Of the Memphis Cotton Exchange and
! Merchants Exchange and said that as
these resolutions reflected somewhat upon
himelf personally he desired to have them
read, so that he might submit some re-
marks. Mr.. Harris said that those raso-
lutions criticised in terms more or less
/ severe 10 his colleagues and himself. as
! having been derelict I'm the discharge OF
| their duty 10 the constitution and In the
| matter OF repeal OF the Sherman law.
With great res pect TO those exchanges,
| ne trusted that they would pardon him
| from saying, that he had the vanity 20 be-
! lieve that he knew his duty 10 his con-
sttuents quite well as, and possibly even
/ better, than they did. He failed to re-
| member exactly how and when they be-
| came authorized 10 speak for or represent
the views and interests of the whole peo-
| pie Of Tennessee. He was inclined to
| think that If the whole people Of that
| State were appealed 10, they might Dos
siDly repudiate the authority Of those ex-
changes 10 represent them on that ques-
ton.
The resolution offered last Saturday by
Mr. Wolcott (Col) instructing the III
nance Committee TO report bill 10 carry
out the bimetllic declaration Of the Voor-
hees substitute was taken up. and Mr..
Wolcott addressed the Senate I'm advocacy
Of IL. Within the last few days. he said.
the worst apprehensions OF the friends
Of silver as 70 the position Of the Presi-
dent has been realized The Presidents
open letter addressed 20 the people Of the
United States through Governor Northen.
OF Georgia, was one Of the most re-
markable pronunciamentOs Of this gene
ration. The President Of the United
States, while Congress was I'm extraordi-
nary session, convoked by his proclama-
ton, Informed the country that ne was
astonished at the opposition OF the SEN
ate TO the measure which he had nd-
vocated In his message. Such an utter
ance was intrusive and offensive. and was
uniting the relations which should east
between the legislative and executive de-
partments Of the government. II would
not be tolerated in any civilized country
Of EuFOpe-empire 90 kingiom-where
parliaments or legislatures existed And
whatever might be the attitude Of the
Senate on this question, the Presidents !
letter 10 Governor Northen deserved the |
protest and rebuke Of every man who
valued the perpetuity Of republican in !
stitutions.
The passage Of the repeal bill, Mr. VOL !
colt contended, would leave 10 silver no |
place as a standard OF value. Silver was
to be discredited, attainted. outlawed. |
As TO the proposed international agree |
ment. he declared ii 10 be a chimera, a
myth. He appealed 10 the senator from |
Indiana who was, at heart opposed TO
the abandonment Of. silver. who held the !
key OF the whole situation in his hand. /
10 stand with the people OF his own coun- /
try and his own flag against the pro- |
posed surrender 10 British institutions. /
The only hope OF silver was an amend /
ment to the pending bill. There was no
hope for an Independent measure. If the
pending bill should pass. the hope which
the silver States cherished would be aban-
cOned; and tbs country would cast its
fortunes with the nations Of the Oh world.
where poverty comes as one that trav-
eleth and want as an armed man" The
step, once taken, would be irreyocable,
and the Senate owed II 10 itself and 10
the country not 10 make a cowardy sur
render Of the sacred interests with which
Il was entrusted.
Mr.. Voorhees, denied that the pending
bill would demonetize silver. The state
ment that it would do so. might be re-
peated a hundred thousand times and still
II would not be true. The bill did not
touch the monetary value Of silver. IL
merely said that the government does
not want 10 buy any more silver bullion.
Mr. Harris inquired whether the pas
sage OF the House bill or II the Finance
Committees substitute would not remove |
The last statutory recognition Of silver
rs money metal. IL would leave the
iilver already coined untouched and unim-
paired; but would II not effectually de-
'troy any hope Of the future coinage Of
silver.
Mr.. Voorhees, repeated his assertion
hat the passage Of the repeal bill would
lot demonetize a dollar Of silver. As 10 Fl
ilver bullion. ii was a raw material and 4
he term characterization" could not be /.
applied 10 it. =
Mr.. Harris-if you pass the pending
ill, can you utilize silver I'm any way, 20 =
Increase the volume OF money In the r
ountry?
Mr.. Butler-In other words. does II not a
bsolutely stop the coinage Of silver? \.
Mr.. Voorhees,: The senator from South -
arolina does know, because he ought :.
, know, that there is a coinage power =
II in the Sherman law after the pur- r.
lasing clause is repealed. =
In answer 10 another question by Mr.. ~
arris. Mr.. Voorhees, said that there was a
lough silver bullion on hand now 70 n
,cupy the mints seven or eight years. n
nd the power TO coin that silver was in n
lie Sherman act. and would remain in 81
after the repeal Of the purchasing IA
ause. He defended the declaratOry ! =,
.ction Of the substitute and cited Magma O
harta and the Declaration Of American q,
as illustrations OF the value kl
nd importance OF such declarations II ir
)licy ~
Mr.. Teller asked Mr.. voorhees, why, %
he CVoorhees), were anxious about M
metallism, had not the purpose been in
II in the form OF legislation, Instead 81
the form OF a meaningless declarations NJ
that had been done, the bill could ti'
I'VE been passed within six hours after pc
came 10 the Senate. Why, he asked, In
"a not that been donei II had not OF
.en done because the senator from IN
diana knows that the executive depart la
emf was opposed 10 Il. and because he Dh
,ew that neither now nor In the next ~
ur years could he enact INTO statue ~
single word or letter or line In the ~
irit OF that declaration. The Eenator pe
,m Indiana was not going 70 fool The M
nerican people on that subject. They lsl
,tId know (and the debate would con-
Iue until they did know. o.
rhe WolcOtt resolution was then placed
the calender, and the silver purchase
zeal bill was taken up. Mr.. COckrell
IN the floor. but the discussion drifted ss
- - 1aFfa lon Of efl