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Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882 to John Sherman

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02974 Author/Creator: Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Letter signed Date: 29 July 1876 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 20.4 cm, Width: 25.4 cm Order a Copy

Writes, "In view of universal business paralisis [sic] and consequent universal distress, has not the Government stood still long enough? [...] Congress promised to pay the public Creditor in Gold or Silver Coin. Who has the rights under the Constitution to impair that contract? What excuse can Congress offer for refusing to coin silver into dollars? Is this question satisfactorily answered by saying that we have unexpectedly developed too much silver. Will our friends by refusing to return to the silver and gold policy from its origin to 1874 leave our adversaries to wield this weapon against us." Contains note on verso, written in graphite at a later date, "Return Queery [sic]. Was Mr. Weed a crazy silverite?", and initialed, "HJ" or "HI."

Sherman, John, 1823-1900
Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882

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