ople and the demands of commerce.

"Congress alone can change the value of our coin. I see no object
in negotiating with other powers on the subject. As coin is not
now in general circulation with us, we can readily fix by law the
size, weight, and measure of future issues. It is not worth while
to negotiate about that which we can do without negotiation, and
we do not wish to limit ourselves by treaty restrictions.

"In England many persons of influence and different chambers of
commerce are earnestly in favor of the proposed change in their
coinage. The change is so slight with them that an enlightened
self-interest will soon induce them to make it, especially if we
make the greater change in our coinage. We have some difficulty
in adjusting existing contracts with the new dollar; but as contracts
are now based upon the fluctuating value of paper money, even the
reduced dollar in coin will be of more purchasable value than our
currency.

"We can easily adjust the reduction with public creditors in the
payment or conversion of their securities, while private creditors
might be authorized to recover upon the old standard. All these
are matters of detail to which I hope the commission will direct
their attention.

"And now, my dear sir, allow me to say in conclusion that I heartily
sympathize with you and the others in your efforts to secure the
adoption of the metrical system of weights and measures.

"The tendency of the age is to break down all needless restrictions
upon social and commercial intercourse. Nations are now as much
akin to each other as provinces were of old. Prejudices disappear
by contact. People of different nations learn to respect each
other as they find that their differences are the effect of social
and local custom, not founded upon good reasons. I trust that the
industrial commission will enable the world to compute the value
of all productions by the same standard, to measure by the same
yard or meter, and weigh by the same scales.

"Such a result would be of greater value than the usual employments
of diplomatists and statesmen.

"I am very truly yours,
"John Sherman."

As the result of its investigation the commission agreed, with
entire unanimity, that the gold five-franc piece should be adopted
as the unit of value, and that the coins of all nations represented
should be based upon that unit or multiples thereof. This would
require a slight change in the quantity