The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-29
LET rs Return 70 Tue CONsll
JlIIDS.

Yesterdays DISPATCH contained the fol-
loving editorial article:
4 Better Banking Plan.-Has Johh
sherman endorsed the amended Carhsie
bill? If he hasn't, it can pasS.-A'i d''''
Constitution. ~.
The constitution is hard upon the Pres
idont and his Secretary OF The Treasury
who are using their utmost efforts, not
10 strengthen the money power. as our
Atlanta contemporary seems TO suppose
but TO devise better banking ana cur
rency scheme than We now nave. II lhe
Constitution Will originate and give 10 the
uublic a currency system, or banking
system, or silver law. entitled TO be
accepted upon it's merits. Mr. Carlisle ana
Mr. Springer Will receive IL with grateful
hearts. our congressman arc not deslrous
Of DOING wrong. They simply do not
know what they ought TO do. They arc
as anxious to do what is best as arc any:
Of us. who remain at home and censure
our most faithful public servants.
Then why do they not all turn to the
Constitution OF their Government and
read its plain and simple mandate, lay
ing down financial plan for the people
of the United States that is perfectly
simple and the perfection OF common
sense? Why do they not do this and inn
mediately give the people Of this country
the benefit of that scheme Of finance
which our organic law entities them to?
II il, as brief as it is simple: That the
Government shall coin gold and silver ac-
cordng to the market values Of the
two metals. and then have nothing what
ever 10 do with finance. That individuals
may then issue their notes promising to
pay this coined money, and pass them to
whoever will take them. That the States
may charter banks and authorize them TO
issue notes on such terms as suit the
LEGISLATURES of the States, and there is
the whole plan of the Constitutions
our Constitution is the best scheme Of
government that ever came from the
hand of man. When it is adhered 90 the
laws bear equally upon all. and the people
are contented and prosperous When 1t
is departed from some get advantages at
the expense of others, and discomfort and
DISORDER arise everywhere.
Too long has it been the fashion 10
talk of the Constitution with bated breath
or as an obsolete instrument. 1t is the
Magma Charta OF our liberties and our
rights; it should ever be held in the very
forefront and the people should rise up
and demand OF their lawmakers that they
shall look to il for their guide in all
cases and keep themselves strictly with
in its limits.
No man can "ead the .ecords of the con-
vention that framed our Constitution and
fail to see that it's trainers intended TO
sever the Government of the United
States absolutely from all possible con-
nection with the issue Of paper money.
The first draft of the Constitution pro-
vided that Congress should have power to
borrow money and emit bills on the
credit Of the United States. These words
land emit bills" were stricken out in the
convention. when all the principal men
Of the day took part in the debate and
all declared that it was their intention
to sever the new government from all
possible connection with paper money.
The war period abrogated the Consti-
tuition and set it on one side. Congress
adopted its own will for it's rule, and
eubscrvicnt northern public acQuiesced in
the innovation. II leSslated about money
and currency as though it were an unlim-
tied Government. with all the powers of
a car. The passions of the day required
that this Unauthorized course of con-
gress should receive Judicial sanction,
and war Supreme Court stepped up,
and, without citing any authority, either
of precedent or logic, it arbitrarily de-
clared that the Constitution had intended
10 confer upon Congress a power of con-
troll over the currency. Next II subser-
vicinity declared that this power of con-
troll went the length of authorizing con-
gress 10 make the Governments promise
to pay a dollar an actual dollar, in its
provision making the Governments notes
legal tender for debt. 1t imputed to the
Congress of the United States a power
to do thing which the Almighty himself
cannot DO unless he first changes the
laws Of the universe. The pretext upon
which this was done was that the CON
stitution confers upon Congress power TO
make war, and also confers upon II power
TO do all things that are necessary and
proper to carry out an express grant of
power. But thinking men went back TO
this tribunal in times OF peace and said
TO It: If the Government has power 10 do
this abnormal thing in time OF war that
do It in time OF peace. Some new excuse
had, therefore. to be found. and the new
one was that issuing legal tender paper