528 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



State, county, city, town, and village in the United States. 

 They want a currency secured by adequate taxation upon 

 the whole property of the country, which will pay the 

 soldier, the fanner, the mechanic and the banker alike for 

 all debts due. 



Who then, are they that ask to have a preference 

 given to them over other creditors of the government? 

 Sir, it is a very respectable class of gentlemen, but a class 

 of men who are very sharp in all money transactions. 

 They are not generally among the producing classes not 

 among those who, by their labor and skill, make the 

 wealth of the country ; but a class of men who have accu- 

 mulated wealth men who are willing to lend money to 

 the government, if you will make the securities beyond 

 all question, give them a high rate of interest, and make 

 it payable in coin. Yes, sir, the men who are asking these 

 extravagant terms, who want to be preferred creditors, are 

 perfectly willing to lend money to the government in her 

 present embarassment, if you will only make them per- 

 fectly secure, give them extra interest, and put your bonds 

 on the market at the u market price," to purchase gold 

 and silver to pay them interest every six months. Yes, 

 sir, entirely willing to loan money on these terms ! Safe, 

 no hazard, secure, and the interest payable " in coin!" 

 Who would not be willing to loan money on such terms ? 

 Sir, the legal tender treasury note bill was intended to 

 avoid all such financiering and protect the government 

 and people who pay the taxes, from all such hard bargains. 

 It was intended as a shield in the hands of the patriotic 

 people of the country against all forced sales of bonds, 

 and all extravagant rates of interest. Legal tender treas- 

 ury notes can be used for all business purposes, without 

 compelling the government to sell its bonds at fifteen to 

 twenty per cent discount to procure coin when it is entirely 

 unnecessary." 



