MONOPOLY OF EXCHANGE. 439 



legislation, have, through corrupt means, succeeded in 

 fastening upon the producing classes a system of laws that 

 are eating up the profits of industry and striking at the 

 very foundation of constitutional liberty. 



The act providing for the contraction of the currency 

 was passed, and approved April I2th, 1866. The vote 

 in the House, as shown by the public records, stood as 

 follows: 



For the bill: Republicans, 55; Democrats, 28; total, 83. 



Against the bill : Republicans, 52 ; Democrats, i ; 

 total, 53. 



In the Senate but seven Republicans and no Demo- 

 crats voted against it. Thus it will be seen that a majority 

 of both parties voted in favor of this infamous system 

 that has wrought ruin to millions of homes, consigned 

 thousands to premature graves, filled our alms-houses and 

 our prisons. Through its blighting influence crime has 

 increased and insanity become more common. Idleness 

 has been enforced and immorality induced. 



Like a deadly pestilence, this monstrous robber has 

 stalked through the land, laying its blighting hand on 

 every industry, mocking the people in their poverty, 

 laughing at their misfortunes, deriding their cries, ignor- 

 ing their sufferings, scorning their appeals, and trampling 

 with the audacity of tyranny upon their rights. It is the 

 great grapple-hook of Shylock to gather in the profits of 

 labor. Not the- Shylock in the " Merchant of Venice, " 

 who only desired the pound of flesh and refused the princi- 

 pal; this modern Shylock, more exacting than his 

 prototype, demands not only the pound of flesh, but the 

 life of his debtor and the confiscation of his property. 



