The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-06

to be independent with respect to the
purse in order to he independent with
respect to the sword.
There is no limit upon the power to
tax or the power to coin gold and silver,
save alone the common welfare, and Of
that the nation is it's own sole Judge.
Sovereignty is In none of it's attributes
Il subject matter of contract. 1t is as
inalienable as it lis imperishablc. If Con-
gress and the President were to alien
ate it or to hypOthecate it in any way,
or to restrict it or deTOgate from it, or
to becIoud it, the act would be null, un.
constitutional, and void.
We could not, if we would, turn over
the collection of customs to our credi-
tors or to a foreign government, as is
sometimes done by dependent or conquer
ed nations. We could not sell or as
sign, we could not hypOthecate our right
to coin money and regulate the value
thereof, or put Il cloud upon our title
to coin at our own pleasure the money
of the Constitution and of the law.
When and where and how much of
such money we shall coin, is a question
solely for a representative Congress, re-
spOnsible only to the people who ere
ate it.
The attempts of foreign nations or OF
individuals to dictate to us what we shall
coin or how much we shall coin are in-
solent, impertinent, cOntemptuOus to our
Constitution and of our free institutions
We can not agree with the creditors to
coin or not to coin; we can not agree
with them to coin freely or not to coin
freely. We can only agree with them
to borrow and to pay. Our power to
coin, as our power to tax and our power
to borrow, is separate and independent.
1t is a parallel line that can never touch
the borrowing and the paying lines-a
power constant and continuous ever
present, nOncontractual, inalienable, in
disputable. mperishable.
Our Constitution, Mr.. President, is no.
tice to everyone of our right and of
our power. 1t was notice to our credi-
tors. All that they have a right to say
to us is, You have promised to pay
us a certain thing; it is due; pay it."
This done, let them depart In peace.
Their relations to us have no other
bearing. Our honor is satisfied, our
credit is maintained, when we do just
what we promised to do. Their honor
can only be satisfied and their credit can
oily be maintained by acceptance on
their part of just what they
solemnly obligated themselves to accept.
TO those wIhe demand something more
place themselves under grave suspicion OF
acting from purblind Ignorance or Of
being under the sway of sOrdid and
sinister influence.
The resolutions are prima facie ac.
curate in their statements and just in
their conclusions. 1t is pertinent and in
of legislative bodies to pass q declara-
tory act and publish the law as it is
again to the world. An eminent writer
on statute law, Dwarris, says that a
declaratory act rs one made where an
old custom of the Kingdom has almost
fallen into disuse or become disputable,
in which case Parliament has thought
proper, in perpetuO rel testimoniO, to
avoid all doubts and difficulties, to de-
clare what the common law is and ever
has been, and such statutes are ex-
pressed in affirmative or negative terms.
This, Mr.. President is what the SEN
ate is called upon to do by these resOlu-
tons. They were fully debated by as
able and honorable men as this country
has ever produced. They were passed in
the Senate on January %, 1878, by a
Representatives on the Doth day of Jam
Uary, 1878, by a vote of 1S9 to 20 nays.
For twenty years they have stood UNI
challenged and massailed upon the pub
lie records, advising, informing, and adj
monishing the world at large of the
opinion of Congress on the great subject
which they compass.
At the same session of the Forty fifth
Congress there was passed also the
Bland Allison Act to restore the stand
ard silver dollar to coinage, to full legal
tender functions.
1t may be interesting, Mr. President,
since the question of honor has been so
conspcuOusly brought forward in this
debate, to call attention to some of the
declarations of the party whose cham
pions bring forward these pleas, and the
action Of some of its eminent leaders and
public men.
The author of these resolutions, Mr..
President, was a Republican, an emil
nent man in the councils of that party,
an eminent practitioner Mt the bar; and
after he had proclaimed these resolu-
tions and supported them in an able
speech. the party now impugnlng them as
dishonorable appointed and promoted
him to the Supreme Bench of the United
States Another eminent member OF
that party was Senator Davis, of Illinois,
who had recently been a member of the
Supreme Court. He also voted for the
resolutions and supported them.
Another distinguished member Of that
party, the senior Senator from Iowa (Mr.
AHison), is at present Chairman of the
Appropriations Committee of this body.
Another was a distinguished gentleman,
Mr.. Window, of Minnesota, who was
afterwards promoted by it to take charge
of the Treasury of the United States.
Nay, Mr.. President, when we look over
he roll of the distinguished supporters
If these resolutions, men of honor, char
lcter, learning, and ability, we find it
dlled with the great and distinguished
names of the Republican leaders.
In the House there were Burchard,
afterwards Director of the Mint; Can
ION, now distinguished member of the
House of Representatives; COnger, ]. ID.
Cox, soldier and a statesman: Cum
nings. Hanna, Keifer, formerly Speaker
If the House of Representatives; Kelley
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