be subjected to suitable contraction, but there was diversity
of sentiment as to the ways and means by which this result should be
achieved without involving the country in commercial and financial
disaster.

"I am for specie payments," remarked Mr. Stevens, on one occasion,
"when we can arrive at them without crushing the community to death. I
am for arriving at specie payments, and still allowing the business of
the country to go on and thrive, and the people engaged in business to
pay the taxes which you impose on them. I say that there is not a man
in the community who would not as soon have one dollar in greenbacks
as one dollar in gold. No one expects to be paid in gold until a
general resumption by the banks of specie payment; nobody now knows
any other currency than greenbacks, and, therefore, I am in favor of
keeping that currency. In my judgment, we have not more circulation
now than the expanded business of the country requires.

"This war has given an immense impulse to every thing. Whence this
precipitation? We have barely got out of the war against the rebels
before we have a war made upon the business community, upon the
manufacturing interests, and upon all others."

"When this great Republican party was made up," said Mr. Wentworth,
"we, who were originally Democrats, took up a cross, and it was a
great cross. [Laughter.] We were told that if we went into that thing,
we should have to lay down at the feet of the irresponsible
paper-money men. Now, I want to know of the gentleman distinctly,
whether, if he could, he would resume specie payments to-morrow?"

"If," replied Mr. Stevens, "I could have specie payment to-morrow,
without deranging the business of the country, I would. If it would
derange the business of the country to return to specie payment at
once, I would postpone it a little. I voted for the Legal-tender Bill;
and I am glad I did so, for the country would not have survived
without it."

"Would you compromise on a year?" asked Mr. Wentworth.

"No, sir; nor on two years," replied Mr. Stevens. "England did not
resume specie payment the year after the wars with France. The Bank of
England issued paper money, but the Government had L14,000,000 in the
stock of that bank to give it security, and the Government prevented
it from resuming specie payment until it thought it best. Now, when
that great war of twenty-five years was over, did England attempt, in
1814 and 1815, to return to speci