The Southern herald., 1898-03-11
Speech Of Hon. W. +. Love.
Mr. Love said:

Mr. Love said:
Mr.. Speaker; shall vote for
his resolution because | believe II
is legally aud morally right. It's
only a clear aud literal construc'
tion Of the law as il is written, IT
literally construed and faithfully !
administered. The FIRST part OF
the resolution reciles what Is ex-
pressly stipulated in all Of the OBJ
legations Of the Government, ex
cept gold certificates, that they are
redeemable in coin Of the standard
value of the United States on July |
IA, 1870. In other words, the law
governing all Of these obligations
REQUIRES ,ha, the bonds shall have
on their face redeemaOle in
coin standard silver dollars OF 4l24
grains weight, nine parts hne, ana
gold dollars Of the standard weight
of 25 8 grains, nine parts fine.
AMOUNT OF PUBLIC DEBT.
According to the last report OF
the Treasurer Of the Uniteeo,ates,
the interest. hearing debt OF our
government consists Of sS47 $685.
1870. exclusive Of the Pacific rail-
road bonds. The items ofthis debt
are as follows.
| shall undertake, Mr.. Speaker,
to confne my remarks strictly to
the letter and spirit of this resolu
ton. and not follow the line Of some
who have discussed the silver ques'
tion in its broad sense. This reso'
luton doee not ask for the free coin
age of silver, as has been asserted
by some, but simply says that 1t II
the law that we may pay these oh
legations in silver, and that to d.
, so is not in derogation Of the right
of the public creditor nor a viola
ton of public faith.
1t is not my purpose at this tim
to discuss the wisdom aud expedi
ency Of the free cionsge Of silver
5 or what is required by enlightene
e self.interest on the part Of the Gov
o ernment and the people 10 that rel
n pect.
II In view Of the magnitude OF n
e interests to be affected, the questio
!. presented in the resolution shoul
II be considered with great care all
1t decided with judicial impartialit.
y Self-interest nor partisan ga
rs should be permitted to mislead
IT in the investigation nor to betr'
le our judgment in reaching a co
clusion.
Atthe very beginning Of this di
y cussion We are met by our Repu
10 lican friends with the declarati
VI that the resolution sliirms what
u false in fact, unwiSe in policy, a
~ bad in faith.
60 We are told that its adoption
Congress would be in the nature
- reputation Of the solemn contra'
of the Government, would be d.
" iruclive Of the rights Of the pub
~ creditors, would tend to weaken {
.e, national credit, bring disgrace up
'u' the Government and the people
~" the United States.
"e If these affimations be true,
resolution should be defeated b.
,;s unanimous vote and the subj
,as buried forevet. A government a
,or 10 fulfill the obligations Of its c.
In tracts can not afford to repudi
them. It's pledges once given
. sacred. Religion, morality,
sound policy unite in Ibis law
rv EQUITY. But the subject for ing
,,v ry is, What acts did the Cove
M. ment agree to perform and W
3 a obligations were assumed2
,us The resolution presents the q
H. lion whether the bonds issued
,sn der and in pursuance Of the &C
IN. July IA, 1870, and the TesumpI
Of Law Of January IA, 1875, may
col. paid, both as to principal and
his tsrest, 10 silver dollars weigh
4l21 grains, containing 371i gr
. Of pure silver, without a viola
of The public faith or without
ogatien Of the rights Of public C
" litors. Nov, if the latter par