The Fairfield news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1881-1900, April 04, 1894, Image 1
zJ * - *z
f VOL. XLVHL WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1884. NO. 34. |
L THE BLAND BILL VhTOhD
TEXT OF PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S
U MESSAGE ON THE SUBJECT.
> Ha tbe Flnsrclal Coad.'t'on ol
fTountiy at Length?Thlok* lie j
MeasureIl'-advi-ed and Dangerous?The j
BjII Faulty In Construction.
Washington, March 29.?The folk
lowing is the text of the President's
?, message vetoing the s*<gniorage bilJ:
To the House of Representatives: I
^ return without my approval House bill
numbered 4956, entitled ' A:, .let direct,
lng the coinage of the sdver bullion
held in tbe Treasury and for other nurpo3es."
My strong desire to avoid disagreement
with those in both houses of Congress
who have supported this bill,
would lead me to approve-ii if I couid
believe that the public good would not
~ - - '
i)e thereDy enaangerea au.u w<ti> ouv/u I
action on my part would be a proper
discbarge of official duty. Inasmuch,
r however, as I am unable to satisfy myself
that the proposed legislation :s
either wise or opportune, my ccncep\
tion of the obligations and rcsponsiblil
ities attached to the great office I hold
fnThids t,hft indulgence oi my personal
2 desire, and inexorably confines me to
that coarse which is dictated by my
reason and judgment and pointed out
by a sincere purpose to protect and pro
mote the general interest of our people.
B The financial disturbance which
W swept over the country during the last
W year was unparalleled in its severity
f and disastrous in its consequences.
There seemed to be almost an entire
displacement of faith in our financial
ability and a loss of confidence in our
fiscal policy. Among those who atW
tempted to assign causes for our disw
tress it was very generally conceded
h that the operation of a provision of law
I then in force whicn requirea uie guvernment
to purchase monthly a large
amount of silver bullion, and issue its
notes in payment therefor, was either
entirely, or to a large extent, responsible
for our trouble. * This led to the
repeal on the 1st day of November, J
r 1893, of this statutory provision. We
LJF had, however, not fallen so low in the
" depths of depression and timidity, and
apprehension bad so completely gained
control in financial circles, that our
rapid recuperation could not be reason- 1
ably expected. Our recovery has, nev
ertbeltss, steadily progressed, and
though less than five months have 1
I elapsed since the repleal of the mis
Lchievous silver purcDase requiremeui,
a wholesome improvement is unmistakably
apparent. Confidence in our
absolute solvPDcy is to suc'n aa extern >
reinstated and faith in our disposi ion 1
to adhere to sound financial me; h?..ds is 1
so far restored as to produce the most
encouraging results, both home and
-v abroad. The wheels of domestic industry
have been slowly ser. in motion, <
and the tide of foreign investment has
%gam started in our direction. Our
: ecoveiy being so wen unaer way uumlDg
should be done to check our convalescence,
nor should we forget that a 1
relapse at this time would almost surely
reduce us to a lower stage of fia3n :
rclal distress than that from which we <
are-just emerging.
I Deheve that if the bill under consid- <
eration should become a law, it, would i
be regarded as a retrogression froca .1
j. the financial intentions indicated by i
our recent repeal of the provisions <
forcing silver bullion purchases that it j
would weaken if it did not destroy re- i
tnrrtintf faith and ftOTlfidenCe 1U OUI
sued financial tendencies and that as a
consequence oar progress would be ua- i
fortunately checked and a return to <
our recent distressing plight seriously i
| threatened.
This proposed legislation is so related
to the currency conditions growing
out of the law compelling the purchase '
I of silver by the government, that a j
)r glance at such conditions and a partial \ i
f review of the law referred to may not '
be unprofitable.
Between the 14tn day 01 August, low, when
the law became operative, arid
the 1st day of November, 1893, when i
the clause in it directing trie purchase i
of silver was repealed, there wtr^ pur
chased by the Secretary of the Treas-- <
ury more than 168 000,000 ounces of 1
silver bullion. In payment for this ]
bullion the government issued Its
Treasury notes of various denomina- l
tions, amounting to nearly S156,OOO.OCO, '
which notes were immediately added 1
to the currency m circuii-uwu auiuug j
our people. Such notes were, by the 1
law, made legal tender in payment of '
ail debts, public and private, except <
when otherwise expressly stipulated J
and were made receivable for customs, '
taxes and all public dues, and when so *
received mieht be reissued. They were <
I allowed to be held by banking associa[
* tions as a part of their lawful reserve;?. 1
I -J* On tLcj demand of the fcolders, thtse 1
L treasury notes were to be redeemed in 1
J- gold or silver coiQ in the discretion of *
f the Secretary of the Treasury, but it 1
was declared as a part of tbis redenop- '
tion provision "that it was the estab- '
lished policy of the UDited States to '
maintain toe two meiais uu a y<*k.uy
with each other upon the present le^-al
ratio or such ratio as may ce provided :
by law. The money coined from sucb !
bullion was to be standard silver dollars '
and after directive the immediate coin- 1
age of a little less tban 28,000,000
inm nrAriH? H th?f. fiit m 11 I
UUL1CCS, luc ian y?vuwv\? ?u?> ? ?
^ of the remaining bullion should be
t thereafter coined as might be necessary
to have for the redemption of the Trea- ;
sury notes on Its purchase, and thnt.
"any gain or seigniorage arising from :
coinage shall be accounted for and paid
into the Treasury." Ibis gain or seign- "i
iorage evidently indicates so much of
the bullion owned by the government !
as should remain after the usimg of a .
sufficient amount to coin as many sian- ,
rtnllarc !?? ahr?liM i
Li OX U QUT^J, UViiati>J MW wuvvt*w I
equal io number the dollars representee
by the Treasury notes issued m pay- <
m iseni of the entire quantify or bullion, i
^ These Treasury notts now outstanding ,
and in circulation amount to $152 951,280,
and although there has been thus
far but a comparatively small amount
of this bullion coineu yet the so-called
guin or seigniorage, as above defiaeci,
which would arise from the coinage ot
antirii mass has h^n fasilv HSCfr
t tained to bt a quantity cf bullion suffi
* cient to make when coined 55 156.6S1
}- standard si'^r dollars.
fConsiderii g the present intri..s;c relation
between gold anJ siiv.-r th*maintenance
of the parity better the
two metals, as meiitio&ec1 :n 'his i?w,
can mean nothing else thar the rsa^tenaoce
of?i>?^ : -li'.VV >'> * I
tl>l I l| I'llHl ll III I I I I 111 I *
I ^e^use cur money in *heir tiaiiv transae- s
^ tions. Manifestly trie raainun^uct- yf
?rnTpSTr^y can o?iy be accomi li*hrd so t
far as it is affected by tntse Irt*>ury r
note?, and in the *s?imarior. of the v
holdcs of the same by fiv?ig 'o such t
holders, on their redemption, the coin, a
whether it is guld or silver, tImcj they h
prefer. It ioliows that while i:? -.erais li
the law leaves the choice of com to * e c
paid on such redemption to tie aiscie- 1;
tion of the secretary of tee Treasury p
the exercise of this discretion, if opposed
to the demands of tne ho^p^ is c
entirely inconsistent with the eff?<":ive t
and beneficial maintenance of the pari- i:
ty between the two metals. If both p
gold and silver are to serve us as money
and if they together are to supply to
our people a safe ana stable currency,
the necessity of preserving this parity
is obvious. Such necessity has been repet
tecily conceded in the platforms of
both political parties and in our Federal
statutes. 1- is now here no more
emphatically recognized than in the receL;
law wnich repealed the provision
uuc-r which the bullion now on band
was purchased. This law insls.s upon
tae "maintenance of the parity in value
of. the coins of the two metals and the
equal power of every dollar at all times
in the markets and m the payment
of debts."
The Secretary oC the Treasury has
f-hf-TAforA fnr the hps?. reasons, not onlv
promptly complied with every demand
tor the redemption of the Treasury
notes in gold, but the present situation
as well as the latter asd spirit of the
law, appear plainly to justify, if they do
not eDjoin upon him, a continuation of
buch redemption. The conditions I
have endeavored to present may b*
thus sumc3Hriz3d:
First. The government has purchased
and now has on hand sulfieieot
silver bullion to permit the coinage ot
all the silver dollars necessary to redeem,
La ^such dollars, the Treasury
notes issued for the purchase of said
silver bullion and enough besides to'
coin, as gain or seigniorage, 55,156,681
additional standard silver dollars.
'PhuM dm an/^inor arid
OCV/UUU* JbUwXV? (UV VUUUUUUUlUg Muv*
now iu circulation Treasury notHS issued
on the payment of the bullion
purchased amounting to $152,951,280.
These notes are legal tender in payment
of all debts, puolic and private,
except when otherwise expressly stipulated,
they are receivable for customs,
taxes and all public dues, when held by
banking associations, they may be
counted as part- of their lawful reserves
and they are redeemed by the government
in gold as the option of the holders.
Tbese advantageous attributes
were deliberately attached to tbese
notes at the time of their issue, they
are fully understood by our people to
whom such notes have been distributed
as currency and have inspired confidence
ic their safety and value and
have undoubtedly thus induced their
continued and contented use as munev
instead of anxiety for their redemp*tion.
Having referred to some incidents
whica 1 deem relevant to the subject,
it remains for mo to submit a scientific
n'otomant nf mrr nhioff i in<J t.O f.ht4 hll 1
i}t/aWUiOUU \JK UiJ VVjVVWA?rM# ?
under consideration.
This bill consists of two sections, excluding
one which merely appropriates
a sum sufficient to carry tne Act into
^ff.ct. The first section provides for
the immediate coinage of the silver
i.uliioa in the Treasury, which represents
the so-called gam or seiguiorsge
or which would arise from the coiuagof
all the bullion on hand, which gain
i>r seieni<?r;ii?e this section declares to
be $55155,681. It directs that the
money so co:aed or the certificates is
sued thereon snail be usi-d in the pay
ment of public expenditures and pro
vides that if me needs of the Treasury
demand it the Secretary of tne Treasury
may m his discretion issue silver
certificates in excess of sucb coiuage
not exceeding the amount of seignior
age in said section authorized to be
coined.
The second section directs that as
soon as possible after the coinage of
this seigniorage the remamder of the
bullion held by the government shall
ha />m'ne/1 inrn 1pct?] Standard I
silver dollars and that they shall be
held in the Treasury for tfce r<demp
tion of the Treasury notes Issued in the
purchase of said bullion. It provides
that as fast as the bullion shall be
coined the redemption of said notes
shall not be reissued, but shall be cancelled
and destroyed in amounts equal
to the coin held at any time in the
Treasury derived from the coinage
provided for,snd that sliver certificates
shall be issued on such coin in the
manner now provided by law. It is,
Wr fiono.-iiailtr 5f!
UL? w <: v Cl J U^JIUAVVI ts^.v
sa; i section that the ''Act shall not be
xvusirued to change existing laws relating
to the legal tender character or
-" cds of redemption of the Treasury
notes issued for the purchase of the
silver bullion to be coined.
The entire bill is most unfortunately
constructed. Xearjy every sentence
presents uncerta.ir.ty and invites controversy
as to its meaning and intent.
The first section i3 especially faulty in
this respect, and It i3 extremely doubt;
ful whether its language will permit
the consummation of its supposed purposes.
I am led to believe that the promoters
of the bill intended in this sect^n
to provide for the coinage of staniard
silver dollars, and yet there is positively
nothing in the" section to present
its coinage in 3ny description of
silver coins now authorized under any
existing law. I suppose this section
was also intended, in case the needs of
lheTr-"Sury called for money faster
than the seigniorage bullion could actually
be coined to~permit the issue of
silver certificates in advance of such
.nir'.no Hut- ifa iQnffimoo wnnlrt Kppm
yuu ivo >I---?
to permit the issuance of such certificates
to double the amount of seignior
age as stated, one-half of which would
Dot represent an ounce of silver in the
Treasury. The debate upon this secLion
in the Congress developed an earnest
and positive difference of opinion
as to its object and meaning. In iny
event, I am clear that the present perplexities
and embarrassments of the
Secretary of the Treasury ought not to
be augmented by devolving upon bim
the execution of a law so uncertain
and coiif used.
I am not willing-, however, to rest
my objection to this section solely ou
these grounds; in my judguieut sound
finance does not commend a further ii.fusion
of silver into our currency at
this time unaccompanied by further
adtqua;e provision for the maintainSince
in our Treasury of a 3afe gold reserve.
Doubts also arise as to the
meaning ai d construction of the second
section of trie bill. If the silver
dollars therein directed to be coined
are, as the section provides,
he hPld in thrf Trensurv for reietUD
ti.on of Treasury notes it is suggested
thai", stric-ly speaking, certificates can ( t
oe issutd on such coin "m che manne?
now provided by law," because
r: f-se dollars are money held in the
rr.isury for thi express pur^us^of redeeming
Treasury uotes oa demand,
unich wouid ordinarily mean that
rhey --ere se~ ap^:* for trie purpose of
ubstiiutmg tbem for Hies- Treasury
note*. Tr y are nor, therefore, held m
such a way as to furnish a b.-tsis for
certificates accord nig io any provision
of easting law, if, however, siivci
v.u. "?- r>ni"h'l" ' ill """v"?"
IA r V* "* ' ^ .v - >c
ion to indit.-ite the cmirvv eristics j
i) i lur,-. :<>oS of fhe.-e csr: Ir I
bey woe to 03 Trc m the sacee coarse- l
siir-. r certitijsi.es m circulation i
u u c exisuog laws 'hey wvuid <*c best ?
ie receivable only for customs, i:>xc$ i
zd ait puoiic dut-s; &i d uudcr tae lac-1i
:uto?e of iiiis section it is, to s*y tae
iast,ex:reinely douotful whether the i
eiuticates it coau :nplatrS would be i
i?-<-full7 received evec for such pur- i
-0S63.
Wcatever else nuy be said of the unertainties
of expression m this bill,
bey certainly ought not to be tound
a lrg-.slation affecting sublets so lm>ortant
and far reaching as oar finances
>
and currency. In statin? ether and
more important reasons for my disapproval
of this section, I shall however
assume that under its provisions these
Treasury notes issued in payment foi
silver bullion will continue to be redeemed
as heretofore in silver or golc
at the option of. the holders; and that
if when they a: presentee for redemp
tion or reujh tae Treasury ia any othmanner,
there are in tne Treasury
coined silver dollars equal in nominal
value to such Treasury notes, then ana
in that case, the notes will be destroyed
and silver certificates to an equal
amount be substituted.
I am convinced that this scheme is
ill-advised and dangerous. As an ultimate
result of its operation Treasury
not/>s which are legal tender for alJ
debts public and private, and (wbicb
are redeemable in gold or silver, at the
option of the holder, was replaced bj
silver certificates, wbicb, whatever mav
be their character and description will
have none of these qualities. In an
ticipation of these results, and as an
immediate effect, the Treasury notes
will naturally appreciate in value and
desirability.. The fact that gold
can to realized upon them and
the further fact that their
destruction has been decreed when
they reach the Treasury must teDd to
1 their withdrawal irom general circulation
to be Immediately presented for
gold redemption or to be hoarded for
presentation at a more convenient season.
The sequel of both operations
will be a large addition to the silver
currency in our circulation and a corresponding
reduction of gold in the
Treasury. The argument has been
made that things will not occur at
once because a long time must elapse
before the coinage of anything but
the seigniorage can be entered upon. If
the r?hvsi>a1 p-ffpftta of the execution of
the second section of this bill are
not to be realized until far in
the future, this may furnish a strong
reason why it should not be passed so
much in advance; but the postponement
of. its actutd operation cannot
prevent the fear and 103s of confidence
and nervous precaution which would
immediately follow its passage and
bring about its worst consequences.
I regard this section of the bill as emoodying
a plan by which the government
will be obliged to pay out its
scanty store of gold for no other pur
? * *? - nnnaf i>?ol
JJU3C UiiAU IU iViVD au uuuuuwi??i MVUA
tion of silver money into the hands of
our people. Tbis is an exact reversal
of the policy which safe finance dictates
if we are to preserye parity between
gold and silver and maintain
sensible bimetallism.
We have now outstanding more than
S338 000,000 in silver certificates issued
under existing laws. They are serving
the purpose of rnou^y usefully and
without question. Our gold rrservv*,
anrjountinir to only a little more ttin
S100,000,000, is directly charged with
tie redemption of $340,000,000of United
S'a*.es notes. Wnea it is proposed to
inflate our silver currency it is a time
tor strengthening our g'uu. reserve instead
of depMiog it. I cannot conceive
of alonger step to silver monometallism
than when we s^ndour gold to bay silver
certificates lor circulation, an 1 especially
in view of the facr of the difficulties
surroundioe: the replenishment
of our gold." Tois ieaiis me to earnestly
present .the d&Hrabilit* of ranting tu
the Secretary of the Treasnrr a belter
power than now exists to issue ooeus
to protect our gold reserve wt?ea for
any reason it snould be necessary. Our
currency is in such a confused condition,
at a our financial affairs are apt v.c
iS3ume at any time so critical a position
that it seems to rae such a course
is dictated b> urdmary prudence
I am not insensible to the arguments
in favor of comiDg the bullion seigniorage
now in the treausry, and I be
lieve it could be done safely and wi^h
advantage if the Secretary of the Tre a s
ury ban the power to issue bonds at a
iow rate of intsiest uoder authority in
substitution of that now existing and
better suited ;r the protection or tne
treasury.
I hope a Tray will present itself in
tbesear future for the adjustment of
our monetary affairs iQ such a comprehensive
and" conservative manner as
will accord to silver its proper place in
our currency; but in the meantime, I
am extremely solicitous that whatever
action we take on this subject may be
such as to prevent loss and discouragement
to our people at home, and the
destruction of confidence in our financial
management abroad.
Grover Cleveland.
Executive Mansion, Marca zy,ieyi.
Porccd to Rcslcn,
Washington, Mach 28.?This official
announcement was made at the Treasury
this afcerooos:
"Mr. J. B. Brawley, Sixth auditor of
the Treasury Department, today tendered
his resignation to the President,
to take effect upon theapDOiatmen, and
qulification o? his successor. Mc. Braw
ley 13 a citizen of MeadviKe, Pa., is a
lawyer by pro'esslon. aad was appointed
auditor April 19, 1893. Tiis position
pays $3,600 per actum. No action has
yet been takea on his resignation, and
it is not known when it will be accepted.
This is the first prominent official appointed
by the present administration
?' 1 ? J ITi? waoirvnnfmn i O
wuo Lias TCOliiUCU. xtio l^;guauuu in
understood to have been forced. For
some time past the relations ol lbs sixth
auditor and Secretary Carlisle have not
been pleasant, aad six weeks a^o, there
was quite a scene in Secretary Carlisle's
room between the sixrti auditor and the
Secretary. Sicretary Carlisle has no;,
oeen impressed with Mr. Brawler's exe
cutive capaci'y. Tue work ot the sixth
auditor's office is far behind; methods
employed were not businesMise, and
Postmaster General B ssell, Secretary
Carlisle and the Pres'dent, six w;eks
aso, came to the conclusion that a
change was necessary in tbe office. Mr.
B-a*k'7 called at tbe Tre'< try Department
\esierday and lero-.-l'V teudered
ais resignation. T'ie sixih *u litors office
audits all tbe accouats of '.he Posv-fdoe
Department. I'. is the largest au-i
tor's olfies in the Treasury, and is as
iargi- as tiie en'-ire Agricultural Department.
K-pJa- Hod Marker.
Jack oxville, M-trch 27 ?A special
to T.< t i'uji-.r Uuixa rrom. Jasper, F. -t.
sh\s: Thc-re 13 great exjitemea-. <*
Eilaville, a fe?v nnl-'S s-mfh of this
place, over the murder of Mro. Laraer,
;a aged woman, a^d M -s Ejsey, a fifteen
v(;ar-.?l(i girl. The ?'">ccua ?ud the
jiirl ??ere aioile in. tue house last eight.
rm- r.tivcr tue g'.rl ^.-as fouod in
ro-ul ifi fti' r or fh? h<.?uo?.
orgies bfatou'. O-u Mrs. Tamer w;as
t unci Ccftd iu : .;e hoJif, lifer beud having
ais-> be u bentes io h je!l>. ad ax?.
a b^tcnet h a been u^ed oy thn cur
jtrer. Am examination. of the body of
the girl sho .vs that soe had been ravished.
I- is supposed Lharaf'er tae
Send bad r.is lust, be >1 vtbe
?iri and tbe old woman, to prevent bis
crime being discovered. There is >o
clue to tbe murderer, but it is ruppos-u
to bave been tbe work of a negro tramp
wbo was seen near the bouse at nightfall.
Tbe people are terribly wrougat
up. ana if lbe murderer can be disco v d
J udge L i.ob will dispose of him. j
?
*
t
i
i ^
TAKE YOUR CHOICE!
> WE ARE BOUND TO HAVE FREE SILVER
OR FREE BANKS[
> An Argamant io Favor of S:ate Banks of
I?suo?If tho Pe-pn are not Given Free
B:** k nliey w.ll !n the End have Free
SJJver.
[ To th<i Editor of The News and Courier:
For several years I have given
careful thought to the financial probi
lem, and have read the best arguments
on ail sides of the subject. I have giyen
no less attention to existing political
conditions, since in matters ofad
l ministration it is necessary to stuay
> not only abstract questions, but modifications
rendered necessary by the
fact that government is a compromise,
and that the wise statesman must content
himself with doing not what is
best, but what is best, under the circumstances.
"Abstract ideas, when
trua render Governments impracticable,
and when false tend to destroy
them."
Tbe abstract question of money is in
itself.a difficult one. Money haa several
functions to perform, and for each
tbere are requisites sometimes opposed
to one another. To be a perfect medium
of exchange money must be in
great demand, to be in great demand it
mast be comparatively scarce. But
when too scarce it does not afford a
sufficient supply for loaos. In attempt1
ing to secure a volume sufficient to
meet this demand for loans, tbe requi'
sites of i perfect medium may be sacri1
(iced. Money must also be elastic in
; volume. varying directly with the
wants oi' trade in ordar to become a
perfect standard of value for different
1 times. A government currency, while
it may be a perfectly safe medium of
exchange, cannot possess sufficieht elas'
ticity of volume. Kigidity gives rise to
alternate plethora and scarcity in business
centres and disturbs the market
for prices and loans. As most of the
traffic of the world is based, on credit,
any considerable fluctuation of prices
of commodities works serious injury.
Even in a steady general rise of prices
creditors are swindled, while through a
? *- JJ *v> r> y-r Ko *?n i n O/?
steauy uecuue ueuiuia uxaj ud uum.
All economists concur in the truth
; that the standard of values should be
set by commodities, and that money is :
merely a measure of that standard.
When it fails to perform this duty it
becomes a national nuisance. The exiting
long continued decline of average
prices, measured in gold, uncontest 1
able proof that gold is not following the
Jaw of average value, and that unless
' supplemented in volume it cannot be
taken as tbe standard. A sllvei stand- '
ard is still more unreliable. At present 1
ut-ither the gold dollar nor the silver
dollar is a representative of average
values. If all prices have fallen 25 per
cent in tne past few years it can be 1
eot-r> rbAt t.hA volume of mon- 1
ej should be increased, both for reasons J
or' honesty as of politics. This truth ;
may as well be accepted.
Those who compare merely the vol (
ume of money lor different times ae- ;
gleet a great factor in the problem. The
trade or the country is based on one 1
p-irt money and nine pans confidence. :
E-ich may fluctuate independently. !
When there is a loss In the stock of
confidence an additional demand is ere- 1
ated for money. A dimunltion of 10
per cent in confidence calls for a tremendous
proportional Increase in cur- ;
rencv. But this increase may be need
ed only until confidence is restored, .
when it ought to be withdrawn. Government
cannot secure elasticity without
resort to the Ocala sub-treasury
plan, which has so many other oad fea- :
tures as to render of no account this 1
good one. ]
The problem i3 how best to increase 1
the currency and make it elastic, and
vet preserve its true money character. .
It must be based on gold, the money of
the world. It cannot be exclusively
gold, for gold is scarce. It cannot be
based on silver at the present ratio, for
silver is discredited in the markets of I
the world, and the United States are not i
strong enough to force the world to re- j
ceive silver on the terms offered by the <
*d?ocates of free silver. The demand 1
that the United States should i3sue pa- <
per money would have been laughed at ]
I by all statesmen of all parties from the i
Ibpffinnine-of the Government till the
remarkable decision of the Supreme
Court a fe<v years ago, which in the
language of Hugh McCullough changed
this representative Government ioto
an imperial sovreignty. .No more than
the States should Congress make "anything
but gold and silver a legal tender
in payment of debts."
There are six hundred million dollars
in silver in the United States today, and
this is enough in all conscience. Any
further issue of silver will tend still
further to deplete tbe treasury of the
gold that is now tbe only means of preserving
the parity of all the silver and
all the paper currency of the Union.
The seigniorage bill is but a further
is9ue of silver. Instead of prevent-in*
a run on the gold in tne treasury it wm <
tend to aggravate It, aud will have the <
tendeucy to force either a new call for
a gold loao or the appropriation of ]
gold to a premium, and its withdraw- J
al Irom circulation.
If President Cleveland simply signs
this bill he will be yielding to the call '
for more stlvt-r. If he vetoes it with- '
out icdicating some other relief he will ]
still more surely strengthen the hands
of the advocates of free silver or of unlimited
greenbacks, and the lrrepressibie
conflict betweeD good and bad money
will oe on. Anyone who has paid
attention to the signs of the times will
see that only blind fatuity will prevent
tne extremist of the West and South
combining to sweep away "all the coneprvAtivft
forties of the East." The
next Congress will be two-ttoird8 in fa
vor of frte coinage, or even free green .
backs, unless some step is taken to ob- (
vla'e tbis daDger.
The tbird step is the repeal of the 10
per cent tax on private bank issues.
Abstractly and politically this is the
safest course.
Ft mav be admitted that for many :
purports a bank bill is not as good as a '
gold dollar. Bat if based on gold it
may for certain other purpose be as :
good as a gold dollar. Tne principle of ;
division of labor teaches that univer- (
sal money is not needed to pay local
d-hts.
Ir a dollar will circulate freely where \
it is intended to circulate, that is :
enough. A man is not needed to do
child's work. The clearing house cer
litotes, representing nothing but priv
-,te credit, and even under the b^a of
Government so far as it claimed to be
rnoDey, went around the littfp tread
"""it or us uur.y ana saveu *juiuu, i
when the siivei on<j. tre gold dol-1
iar andir e sovreign green^cfc and the
"perfec? " national baak bill *^ere skulking
iu corners. If this bank <\artiflcate
was so efficacious iq time of paij^ic, why
should not t^e bank's bill bo<f good io
tune of confidence? 3
The cry that bam issues/must necessarily
te dangerous is met #by the teachif.g
of his'-ury showing /what private
oanks ct the Middle^^ges did for
iouLd money when Governments were
issuing clipped and^debased coins and
worthless paper. 3^ was t he banks that
L made '^Governments honest. Th^re is ,
do reason todav why tbe bankers of
Charleston should not be as Intelligent
and honest as their fathers or themselves
were before the war.
This talk about wildcat currency is
absurd. So swift are methods of communication
today that a bank would be
compelled to redeem its issues or suspend
in a month. Nothing but a good
bank bill would ever get out of sight
of the bank.
The advantages of the private bank
bill are as follows:
It can be based on a gold reserve,
whereas the silver dollar will depend
on its on value.
It will diminish the pressure on national
money, and thereby permit the
Government to resist Government inflation.
I* will^supply a local want within a
circle in^Wch it performs every function
of moSfey.
It wiU serve'as a stock for local loans
on property that has no lending value
in the great centres, but is thoroughly
good security.
It will not be congested in the great
money centres, but will be confiued
within the several States.
All objections to it as local money
can be met by State regulation, and
there is: an abundance of national
money to supply all the wants of national
exchange.
The system of State banks is opposed
by theorists who endeavor to secure a
perfect money in every respect regardIpsa
nf nnlitirMl conditions hv those who '
wish to control all loans and by those
who believe that a national currency
system is the only safe one. It is op- '
posed no less by the silver kings and
miners who see in it no opportunity to ]
sell their products at an inflated value !
by those who want paper fiat money,
and by those who want the Government
to take all business into its hands.
A word now of warning. There are .
many who wish to secure a safe financial
system and will join conservative
forces to obtain it. But they feel that
the present condition of affairs is not '
just to the producers of the country. s
Pnenominally low prices and the want
of a supply for loans have combined to
run the farmers to the wall, along witb
many others. They are determined to
have m6re facilities of some Kind for
loaus. xney wm iase guuu muucy n <
they can get.it, but bad money if they
mast. If the question narrows itself
down to the issue between the present
system and free silver the masses will
take the latter every time. Aad the ?
masses have lots of votes.
The capitalists of the North have the 1
matter in their own hanns now. They
can effect a compromise on free banking.
But if they blindly set themselves J
to work,:to thwart every change they
will find that they may be overwhelmed
in the deluge of wild financial <
schemes. If they refuse to accept banR
bills they will be forced pretty soon to
take something they detest still more, fc
A recent writer in the Forum has
ahown that the silver agitation in Colorado
and other Western States has become
a craze. The necessity of the
South are driving its people to ally <
themselves with the advocates of more
money, whether paper or silver. In
South Uirouna tnousana3 or rocK-riob^d
Deraecrats who have do use for the 1
Ocala p'atform unite in its demand ?
for sliver, because it seems co be the
only practical payout of th(.? desert. <
Lat Ibeui sec that Ihere is :;notber and
a better way. '
A new Congress will be elected this
fall. Unless Mr. Cleveland and his
immediate counsellors make some com- J
promise they will be powerless hext
year by veto or any other way to coo-, 1
trol affairs.
There will be either free banking or J
free silver in the near future. Let cap- :
ifiltofo r\ir>a Tho nnlitioul
LUJUiOWO uano V/UVIV.V>* Jbuv
situation grettly modifies the financial
problem. It is wise to do the Dest one {
can, and to do it when one can.
II. ileaxs Davis. 1
South Carolina College, Columbia S.C., 1
March 24, 1894.
ThejState's Pensioners.
Columbia, 6. C., March 28.?The ,
State pensioners will, in a short time, '
receive the annual quota of the pension
appropriation. For the past week the
slerk of the pension board has been rerising
the roils sent in by the various
jounty pension boards,and the work is 1
ciearly completed. There are only three
nAiimff'aa "I? \f QTMAn QnH C
LLIUIC UUUli^ICO JL .LXXl** i?uv?
Kershaw?in which a further revision
will have to be made before the board
jan take final action and order the
preparation of the warrants to be sent
to each pensioner. From the returns
is made up there has been a total in- t
jrease since last year of only ten penrioners.
The number this year is 2,265,
ib against 2,255 last year. The ordinary r
;xpenses,etc., for this year will be paid '
Dut of the amount held over from last
pear's appropriation. This wiil in- j
jlude about 31,100, the amount of the c
'xpenses of the several ccunty boards. .
me per capita pay men o which each ,
pensioner will receive for tbe year will '
iot be less than S22, and it is all to be
paid at once. The warrants are to be
sent to the several county clerks of
?nnrt fnr distribution to tne pension- .
irs.
The following shows the number of ;
Densioner3 in each county for this and
ast year:
1894. 1893.
Abbeville 66 70
A.iken 58 53
Anderson 148 151
Barnwell j>2 56
Beaufort 1 1
Berkeley 18 19
Charleston 45 45
Chester 34 33
? Ci4S
Doesterneld so
Clarendon 46 49 %
Oolleton 67 64 i
Darlington 68 64
Edgefield 105 105 ?
Fairfield 59 57 1
Florence 32 31
Georgetown 2 _2
Greenville 164 159 t
Hampton.... 42 40 c
Horry 35 37 J
Kerahiw 45 45
LaiiCiister 64 66
Laurens 75 77
UCAXU^bUU w
Marion 93 C8 t
Marlboro 36 34 1
Newberry 41 45 1
Oconee 82 85
OraDgriourg 48 51 t
Pickens..." 57 54 t
Kiciuaiid 42 43
Spartanburg 210 203
Sumter 54 54 (
UVion 75 70
WilMamsburff 35 34 i
York 125 120 (
Total 2,200 z,zoo
In I
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., M^rch 23.?
William Iugram, a young 'armer living
near Everrgeer, Ala, >vas married
last night. Toward midnight, a party
of friends surrounded bis house and
commenced a serenade, using for instruments
tin cans, cow bellsT etc. In- .
gram decline so incensed >.hat be spiz
ed an axe and running to the door,
hurled it into the crowd. The s^arp {
edae struct a voung man named Jim
Dixon and cleaved his spinal column .
producing de tth Ingram surrendered,
and is spending his honeymoon in jail. J,
r
A ROW IN DARLINGTON.
AN ARMED MOB WANTED TO ATTACK
STATE CONSTABLES.
The Gang of the Darlington Gnards Taken
from the Armory to Mske the MlJltla
Powerless?The Fall Siorr of the At
filr. 1
Columbia, S. C., March 29.?There
came near being a big riot in Darling- 1
ton yesterday over the raiding of bilnd
tigers by State constables. The matter
fortunately passed over without bloodshed,
but the indications for some time i
were for serious trouble.
The fircf. br,Ai7n nf t.hft IrnnhlA hprA
was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
when Governor Tillman received a tel- i
egram from Dispenser Floyd saying
that raids were b^ing made and that a ,
mob was cn the streets armed with
Winchesters. From then on until 9 ,
o'clock last night the wires between
here and DarliDgton were kept hot
with telegrams.
As will be seen from the ssory pub- '
lished below the mob took the arm3 of
rhe Darlington Guards,leaving no arm- 1
ed organization to uphold the law. i
Governor Tillman promptly provided i
for the maintainance of the law by tel- i
pgraphing to Sumter and puttiDg the
Sumter Light Infantry in readiness to i
jo to Darlington and by arranging for |
a special train to take the company to (
Darlington.
The full story of the trouble is found
in the following telegrams. These are
all the telegrams which passed between
the Governor and Darlington and Sumter
and Charleston. The telegrams are
published in the order in wbich they
were sent and received and explain
themselves:
Darlington, S. C? March 28.
Constables raiding. Armed men
walking streets swearing they will
shoot. J. B. Floyd.
* ?
ro Sheriff: Scarborough, Darlington, S.
C.:
Columbia, S. C., March 28.
I expect you to preserve the peace
ind see that, the law is upheld.
B. R. Tillman. 1
Darlington, March 28.
Fighting sure. Mens with guns
iwear they are going to kill.
J. P. Kir yen.
W. H. Lawrence, Darlington:
Wire me bow many constables in
Darlington. Keep me posted.
13. R. Tillman.
Captain Darlington Guards, Darlington,
S. C.:
Put your command under orders of
Sheriff and preserve the peace.
B. R. Tillman Governor.
Darlington, March 28.
Guns taken away from Darlington
Juards by mob. J. B. Floyd.
TVirlinctnn. Marnh 28. *
Six constables here. Not enough to
lold crowd down. Winchesters and
ihot guns displayed. C. B. Svfan.
Captain Darlington Guards:
I bear yonr arms bave been taken by
nob. Answer If this is true.
si. 13. Tillman.
Sheriff Scarborough, Darlington, S. C.:
If you do not arrest those resisting i
:he law and assist constables in their i
work it will be the worse for you. j
DarliQjjton Guards ordered to obey ?
pour commands. Answer.
B. K. Tillman, (iovernor.
D. B. Swan, Darlington, S.C.:
Sheriff has been ordered to assist you
and Darlington Guards ordered to obey
:is orders. Do your duty.
B. K. Tillman, Governor.
Darlington, S. C., March 28.
No trouble here and no prospects of
iny, ttut a good matured crowd in
;own. I can keep the peace.
W. F. Daegan, Mayor.
Darlington, S. C., March 28.
Telegram received. Have conferred
with Sheriff who says there is no danger
of breach of the peace and no necessity
for ordering out malitia.
Henry T. Thompson,
Captain Darlingtpn Guards.
Darlington, March 28.
All quiet. Don't anticipate any t
.rouble, If necessary will wire. t
George P. Scarborough. f
Do J. B. Floyd, Darlington, S. C.: '
Chief constable ha3 been ordered to ^
Darlington. Have warrants sworn out
igainst all persons who resisted the ?
:onstable3 for riot, conspiracy and re- 0
listing an officer. Attorney General a
vill come down tomorrow. Gailiard c
vill mate the arrests. B. R. Tillxan. f
Dailington, March 28. I
On receipt of your "first telegram I e
vent to the court house and was in o
:onsultation with officers of my com- j
naml concerning it, when during my i,
msence from the armory a party of v
:itizens went there aDd took possession t
>f guns. On hearing of it I went to
hem and demanded that they surrenler
them immediately, which they did.
! now have all the guns back and have ?
aken such precautions as will effect- *
laliv prevent a recurrence of the inci- *
lent." Everything.quiet. t
Henry T. Thompson, t
Captain Darlington Guards. 2
everything quiet. f
At 9 o'clock last night tne Governor j:
jot a telegram that everything was j
,hen quiet in Darlington. * c
The following telegram was received
it 7 o'clock last night. It had evident- .
y been written early in the afternoon: L
Darlington. March 28
Things look very squally. Threats c
)eing made, (i-uos and Titles oemg lisplayed.
Have aiied constables all a
: can. G. F. Scarborough. i
Snenlf. *
SU1ITER WAS READY. t
When the Governor neard that the e
irms of the Darlington company had t
>een taken he sent and received the fol- t
owing rejegram:
IV.R. D--]gar, Sumter, S. C.: ?
Can I g-t a special train to carry '
? - ^ a.? *. _ I
unitary irom ^umier <o jjitnuiiiiuu. .
answer quick. B. R. Tillman,
Governor.
i
Captain Sumter Li?bt Infantry: 1
Can your company be relied on to <
ipbola the law? A mob has possession *
)f Darlington. Ans-ver. <
B. JR. Tillman, Governor.
? 1
Sum^r.S. C , March 28. ;
The Sumter L'g.'it lufnutrv will upic.Jd
the law. A. C. Phelps, Captain.
Sural er, S. C., March 28.
Ye?, sir. W. K. Delgar, S. A. ]
IIT T) T? ...I..a, Unrnfat*.
Y . JLfc. ijauiic;.
ThaLks. Things have quieted down '
ind may not need it. B. ft. Tillman,
Governor.
Captain A. C. Phelps, Snmter, SC.: J
Later advices reDort ihings now quiet 1
it Darlington. If I n^d you will wire. <
B. R Tillman. Governor. 1
&aillard ordered to darlington. i
Tbe following telegram was sent to
Chief Constable Gaillard at 5 o'clock
in the afternoon:
Take your entire force of constables,
armed with Winchesters to Darlihgton
tonight. B. R. Tillmav. (rovernor.
a trihle alliance.
Darlington, S. C., March 29.?
Everything is perfectly quiet here now.
The Sumter Light Infantry are here,
and are quartered in the Guards' armory.
There was real y no occasion for their
being ordered oul. Sumter, Florence
and Cheraw have all sent offers of assistance
in case of necessity.
A large meeting of the citiztns of.Darl*
Lngton, Sumter and Florence was held
at the court house this afternoon, at
which the followiug resolutions were
passed, without a dissenting vote:
Resolved, Tnat it is the sense of this
meeting:
"n: ^ rn a. ^ ? i_
JCitBc. JLLlttb U Illrtirg UUUBO IS UiS
castle, and that he is expec'.ed to defend
the same aga:23t all unreasonable
searches.
Second. That in the counties c f Darlington.
Florence and Sumter search
of private residences, private rooms and
private apartments, used by their owners
as dwellings and not as places of
trade., shall be neither tolerated nor permittee.
We hereby pledge ourselves io
resist all such unlawful depredations.
Third. That the citizsns of Darlhgton,
Florence and Sumter hereby mutually
pledge themselves to support each
3ther in resistance to all such unlawful
icts, and we invite the co-operation ol
ill other law-abiding and liber ty-lovlng
iit?Z3D8.
florence allies.
Florence, March 29.?The people
ofFlornce have been in a state of excitener"
all day, waiting anxiously,for news
Tom the "seat cf war." By 6 o'clock
:bis motninc: the notice was heard ciickng
over the wires, warning Darlington
.hat a reinforcement of twenty-fiye constable
would pay that town a visit to-day
Later on tnere came a telegram from
Dariinglon, saying that they expected
trouble. Tnereupon a party of citizens
n fvnm nn/5 van
^uaLLGIQU a cpcuiai uaui, auu icawuw
Darlington at 2:15 p.m. Immediately
afterwards a joint meeting of citizens of
Darlington, Sumter and Florence coonties
was held in the ccurt house. Addresses
were made and resolutions read
md adopted.
At 4 o'clock the Darlington Guards,
Lwenty-five in cumber, marched down
x> the deopt to meet the Sumter Light
[nfantrj; these latter arrived on a special
.rain at 5 o'clock, forty-three strong.
Dapt. Phelp3 in comraond. The comDaaies
then marched together to the
Darlington Guards' armory.
The meeting of citizens had adjourned
;o witness the arrival of the military,
rhey resumed business at 5:15 p. m?
idopted further resolutions', listened to
spirited addresses and adjurned at 6.
nj trouble is expected to occur just
iow. The constable have been refused
sccommodation at any of the hotels
;bere, and are staying closely cooped at
.he sheriff's own house. They did not apDear
on the streets. There is no disposition
on the pari of our citizens to
esiat the majesty of the law, but they
propose maintaining the Constitutional
ixemptiou of priv&lo dwellings from ua?
reasonable searches.
mayob dahgan* talks.
Darlington, March 29.?There is
10 mob in Darlington nor has there
NA AM nn "XT."* AW A Unft A 1 O tX7 A l?
jccu tX'.Ly< u uuo uaa u^ucu uician vi
my authority. The reports current and
;ent abroad are absolutely without founlation
and have been originated and
promulgated by irresponsible and evilninded
persons from iear or malice. I
assured the Governor by wire that there
nsls uo row or prospect of one and that
[ could keep the peace of the town. The
peace has been kept and that, too, by
he ordinary number of police on duty.
During the constabulary raids which
vere made without hindrance or moles
;a!ion, some one circulated the report
hat raids would be made on private
louses. . Immediately some five or six,
>r possibly eight, men got double-fcareled
shot guns, and openly asseried
hat resistance would be made. The
:onstables were than in a difierent part
:f the t:wn. I immediately went to the
heriff, who accompanied thera'dinjj pary,
and asked if there were warrants for
he search of private houses. He assured
ne that thsre were none. 1 then went
o the men who had the guns and tcld
hem there was no foundation for the re>ort
and to put up their gun8, which
pss immediately done. Evervthins
[dieted down.
A short time afterwards a rumoi was
pread that Mr. U. S. McCullough had
ared the constables to raid his home
,nd that the constables had accepted his
hallenge. Immediately McCullogh's
riends rushed for his residendence' on
5eari street. The constables were then
m Broad street, and perfectly ignorant
f what was going on. On the way to
dcCullo'ugh78 house they met McCulough,
who assured his friends that there
ras no truth m the rumor. Everybody
urned back and the guns were again put
:d. and all became quiet.
A rumor soon spread that the Goverior
had ordered out the Darlington
Juards. Somebody said good naturedy.
"Confound the Guards; we will go
ake tbeir guns." A few then rushed
o the armory and took out a few of the
uos, which were unloaded, and apleartd
with them on the street, laughag
and joking. As soon as I saw this
; told several that their action might be
nisconsirued and to carry the guns back.
* L-""4 *it-ir*n ( rv rPhnrv> r 5Afl wK/\
1UUUI bUio nuiv- vaye* xuvujpgvuj nuv
tad been out of his cffica a few minutes,
leard about the guns being oat and ordered
them returned, which was done.
Ill this wa3 a joke ana occasioned no
ilarm to any one on the streets not eveo
o ladies and children, who duriDg the
vhole of it were walkmg about except
hat it ofitred the opportunity, too
:agerly sought Or by some of the faitbul,
to rush a telegram cff 10 the Goverior.
I am the peace officer of tbis town
md I can keep it better than the sheriff.
,be constabulary or the militia, and I m >
- - i .4 i ?;ti i? i j i
,ei a 10 teep ii> auu win uc l'sckcu uy a
mndn d good citlz'.ns if I ated them,
md when I fill, will call lor aid and
lot before. I have assured the Governor,
the sheriff, the Attorney General
md the chief constable, that I couid and
v< Uid keep the peace, but it seems that
heGov-rcor, at lea^t, persists in beiiev
eg to the contrary. 1 am satis5ed the
iherifi aud ii:e chief copstab!* believe it.
W. F. Dakgan, Mayor.
The W*r :s Ovor.
Augusta, Ga. March 24.?Col. D.
B. D>er, who was elected colonel of
he 6ih Georgia regime, was called on
.onight by a com mi tie*. from differernt
;ompanies and officially notified of his
jkction. Coi. Dyer was forced on account
of business to refuse the office,
lod.another man will have to be selectea
'Jo\. Dyer's election as colonel of the
3ecrgia reiment wa3 significant from the
act tnat he is a Republican, and was an
officer in the Union army.
A SUMTER SENSATION.
JUDGE BENET ACCUSED OF GAMBLING
WITH CARDS"
' "I
He Indignantly Danl<? the Charge from
the Baccb, and Says He Wu Only Eng*g\ng
In a Social Game of Wblit With
Friends.
Week before last, the Samter Freemao,
an Alliance paper that is very
much opposed to Gov. Tillman, remarked
editorially that Judge Benet of
this circuit, who was then holding
court in Sumter, was a prototype of
Judge Mickey. The Manning Times
did not like this, and said some pretty
sharp things about the editor of the
x icoMigij, wucicu^:?i tac cuiiur ui Ult5
said paper bad the following to say in
last week's paper:
"Since the Manning Times undertakes to
report rumors about the favorable impression
Judge Benet has made upon our people
here we regard it as essential to truth and
to a future proper administration-.of Jus- _ ?
tice that we should publish the rumors ofa "
different character that are passing around
thick and fast. We hear that since Judge
Benet has been here presiding in the day
time in our Courts he Has been almost ev- :/$
ery nightplaying cards with persons known
as professionals. Of course everybody has v ' heard
that Judge Benet before his election
was a notorious gambler, but since Ms election
it was hoped he would try to mend his
ways a little. It is distressing to think he
has not done so. We know tnat the foreman
of the grand jury has had his attention
called to this matter and we hope it will be
well ventilated before we are through with
it We want no gambling Judges."
Upon seeing the above Judge Banet
in open Court at Sumter last Wednesday
morning made the following state*
merit:
I wish the attention of the members
of the Bar and the juros present and
the jarora and officers of the Coort con- - cerning
a matter which has arisen
since the adjournment of Court yesterday.
It is a very painful matter,
which I cannot well pass over.
When I left the Court House yesterday
evening and got to my lodging I
iuiuiu iu my ixl*u a newspaper, puolished
in this town, addressed to me and
marked in certain places, In that paper
I was openly charged with consortia
g with professional gamblers of
Sumter and spending my nights card
playing and gambling. :
The charge has been made against
me openly as a Judge. I have no means
of redress, except to answer it from
the bench as a Jndge. The office I bold
deprives me of toe ordinary personal
means of redress, and while it is true
that office puts in my hands power by
which such conduct nugh*. be justly
and severely punished, I will not use
tnis power in my own behalf.
I do say as a true man the charge is
false, absolutely false, without even
the semblance of truth as a foundation
for it.
Gentlemen, I feel I owe this state
LUcLio lu iuemutrrs 01 Lilt* x>ar, or wuoae
profession I am an humble member. I
teel I owe it to the officers of the Court,
who have been so kind and courteous
to myself. I owe it to the jurors who
are present and the grand jury who : ,:9
are absent, especially in view of my ^
charge to che grand jury concerning
their duty as officers of the law. I ?"
Know I owe it to the people, whose-re?
presentatives elected me to the office I
now hold. I owe it to the good men
and women of Sumter, whose kind
hospitality I have eajoyed. 1 owe it to
the office I now hold, however inefficiently.
I owe it to myself and to those
who bear my name to say that the man
who wrote this charge wrote what was
utterly untrue, without excuse and
without foundation. I cannot comDre
hend what motive lie had: I hardly
kno w the mao. I never cross his path,
I know no reason whatever for his attack.
He must have been shamefully
imposed upon by his informant, or he
must have wilfully believed lies that -v'S
were told him. 1 therefore feel that the
only way to meet the published accusation
is to do so thus promptly and ' ^4
publicly.
I cannot go into the newspapers. I *
will not. My hands are tied. Men of :
proper sentiments comprehend what I
mean by that Good men know I mean
by that The best way to meet a false- |
hood is to confront it with the truth.
And this is the simple truth: that M
during the three weeks I have been in
Sumter my goings ouc and my comings
in have been seen and known
by all who cared to see and know.
Nothing I have said or done aud nowhere
1 have gone would I seek to hide %
from the most blameless man and the
purest woman. So far as that is concerned
my conscience is clear.
Wherever I eDjoyed the hospitality - - A
of friends I met good men and good
women, aud while in their company I
did not see anything that had the appearance
of eyil or the suggestion of it.
What Drobablv is the ooly foundation
for the charge is this?although it
seems pitiful that I have to make the
statements that follow matters purely
of private life. On twojoccasions during
these thre e weeks, and only on two oc* fifl
casions, I have seen or handled cards. I ??*
played whist in company with three
other men who are piayera in the pre*
sence of ladies for one and a half or
two hours at a time. We engaged in ^
a harmless and innocent game of whist
with no appearance or suspicion of
money or gambling.
I owe it to the gentlemen who played - .
with me, as they are charged with be
? i li. * ~
lug ?uuie33iuuaigumuitus, w say cuau
if they are gamblers the fact is a re
velation to me, for I never heard it of
them nor have 1 ever seen them gam*
bling.
This is the only foundation for the
charge that I nave nightly been gambling
and consorting with professional
gamblers.
You will suffer me to say that when
I assumed the gown of a Judge it was
with the honest endeavor and determination
to perform the duties of that of- -3
ficeso as to deserve the approval of
gooa men ana 01 my owa ~j
conscience, and I to say the men
who elected me to that office and to the
grand jury, if the man who made this |
charge can prove the truth of what he
says I will take the robe of office off
my shoulders and leave the Bencn, as I
ouhgtto do. " ~ i
But I nave said enough. It is very J
true that wnen a iaisenooa starts on its
way the truth finds it very hard to overtake
it. It may be the newspapers in
the State may copy this false accusa- 'S
tion. If they do. 1 dope they will also
state that I have thus openly, and court- . 3
iag ihvestigation, denied it from the 5]
Bench.
I have no fear of investigation, if it
conducted in the white li*ht of truth
and honesty. Having said this I
leave the matter in the hands
I me gooa peopie or oucnier - .
who I-tbink will not allow one wlio i3
comparatively a sfranger to suffer from
a faise charge made by one of tiwir fellow
townsmen. I leave your town aod
county in a few days and when I do so
T oh oil t'aal rv?nfi ionf-. Mint. T lftAVH mv
character and reputation in good hands.
This is my last word on this matter.
The Illinois Democracy are discussing
the adoption of a new frilL It . >.
is the nomination of a United States
senator by the state convention.