VOLUME II.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

EFFECT OF THE BLAND BILL ON THE COUNTRY.

An Act Pa.s.sed by the House Providing for the Free Coinage of the Silver Dollar--Mr. Ewing Makes an Attack on Resumption--Fear of Capitalists Regarding Our National Credit--Four Per Cents. Sell Below Par--Suspense and Anxiety Continued Throughout the Year--My First Report as Secretary of the Treasury--Recommendations of a Policy to be Pursued "To Strengthen the Public Credit"--Subst.i.tution of $50,000,000 in Silver Coin for Fractional Currency--Silver as a Medium of Circulation--Its Fluctuation in Value--Importance of Gold as a Standard of Value--Changes in the Market Value of Silver Since 1873.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

ENACTMENT OF THE BLAND-ALLISON SILVER LAW.

Amendments to the Act Reported by the Committee on Finance--Revival of a Letter Written by Me in 1868--Explained in Letter to Justin S. Morrill Ten Years Later--Text of the Bland Silver Bill as Amended by the Senate and Agreed to by the House--Vetoed by President Hayes --Becomes a Law Notwithstanding His Objections--I Decide to Terminate the Existing Contract with the Syndicate--Subscriptions Invited for Four per Cent. Bonds--Preparations for Resumption--Interviews with Committees of Both Houses--Condition of the Bank of England as Compared with the United States Treasury--Mr. Buckner Changes His Views Somewhat.

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

SALE OF BONDS FOR RESUMPTION PURPOSES.

Arrangements Begun for the Disposal of $50,000,000 for Gold or Bullion--Interviews with Prominent Bankers in New York--Proposition in Behalf of the National Banks--Terms of the Contract Made with the Syndicate--Public Comment at the Close of the Negotiations-- "Gath"s" Interview with Me at the Completion of the Sale--Eastern Press Approves the Contract, While the West Was Either Indifferent or Opposed to it--Senate Still Discussing the Expediency of Repealing the Resumption Act--Letter to Senator Ferry--Violent and Bitter Animosity Aroused Against Me--I Am Charged with Corruption--Interview with and Reply to Letter of Peter Cooper--Clarkson N. Potter"s Charges.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV.

A SHORT RESPITE FROM OFFICIAL DUTIES.

Visit to Mansfield and Other Points in Ohio--Difficulty of Making a Speech at Toledo--An Attempt to Break up a Meeting that Did Not Succeed--Various Reports of the Gathering--Good Work of the Cincinnati "Enquirer"--Toledo People Wanted "More Money"--Remarks Addressed to the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce--Visit to Lancaster, the Place of My Birth--My Return to Washington--I Begin to Exchange Silver Dollars for United States Notes--My Authority to Do So Before January 1 Questioned--The Order is Withdrawn and Some Criticism Follows--Instructions to the United States Treasurer and Others-- Arrangements with New York Clearing House.

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

INVESTIGATION OF THE NEW YORK CUSTOMHOUSE.

A General Examination of Several Ports Ordered--No Difficulty Except at New York--First Report of the Commission--President Hayes"

Recommendations--Letter of Instructions to Collector C. A. Arthur --Second Report of the Commission--Losses to the Government by Reason of Inefficiency of Employees--Various Measures of Reform Recommended--Four Other Reports Made--The President Decides on the Removal of Arthur, Cornell and Sharpe--Two Letters to R. C. McCormick on the Subject--Arthur et al. Refuse to Resign--The Senate Twice Refuses to Confirm the Men Appointed by the President to Succeed Them--Conkling"s Contest Against Civil Service Reform--My Letter to Senator Allison--Final Victory of the President.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

PREPARATIONS FOR RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS.

Annual Report to Congress on Dec. 2, 1878--Preparations for Resumption Accompanied with Increased Business and Confidence--Full Explanation of the Powers of the Treasurer Under the Act--How Resumption Was to Be Accomplished--Laws Effecting the Coinage of Gold and Silver --Recommendation to Congress That the Coinage of the Silver Dollar Be Discontinued When the Amount Outstanding Should Exceed $50,000,000 --Funding the Public Debt--United States Notes at Par with Gold-- Instructions to the a.s.sistant Treasurer at New York--Political Situation in Ohio.

CHAPTER x.x.xVII.

REFUNDING THE NATIONAL DEBT.

Over $140,000,000 of Gold Coin and Bullion in the Treasury January 1, 1879--Diversity of Opinion as to the Meaning of Resumption-- Effect of the Act to Advance Public Credit--Funding Redeemable Bonds Into Four per Cents.--Letters to Levi P. Morton and Others-- Six per Cent. Bonds Aggregating $120,000,000 Called During January, 1879--The Sale in London--Charges of Favoritism--Further Enactments to Facilitate the Funding--Difficulty of Making Sales of Four per Cent. Bonds to English Bankers--Large Amounts Taken in the United States--One Subscription of $190,000,000--Rothschild"s Odd Claim-- Complimentary Resolution of the New York Chamber of Commerce.

CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.

GENERAL DESIRE TO NOMINATE ME FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO.

Death of My Brother Charles--The 46th Congress Convened in Special Session--"Mending Fences" at My Home in Mansfield--Efforts to Put Me Forward as a Candidate for the Governorship of Ohio--Letter to Murat Halstead on the Question of the Presidency, etc.--Result of My Letter to John B. Haskin--Reasons of My Refusal of the Nomination for Governor--Invitation from James G. Blaine to Speak in Maine-- My Speech at Portland--Victory of the Republican Party--My Speech at Steubenville, Ohio--Evidences of Prosperity on Every Hand--Visit to Cincinnati and Return to Washington--Results in Ohio.

CHAPTER x.x.xIX.

LAST DAYS OF THE HAYES ADMINISTRATION.

Invitation From General Arthur to Speak in New York--Letter to Hon.

John Jay on the Subject--Mr. Evarts" Refined Specimen of Egotism-- An Anecdote of the Hayes Cabinet--Duty of the Government to Protect the Election of All Federal Officers--My Speech in Cooper Inst.i.tute --Offers of Support to Elect Me as a Successor of Senator Thurman --My Replies--Republican Victory in New York--President Hayes"

Message to Congress--My Report as Secretary of the Treasury-- Modification of My Financial Views Since that Time--Bank Notes as Currency--Necessity for Paper Money--Mr. Bayard"s Resolution Concerning the Legal Tender Quality of United States Notes--Questions Asked Me by the Finance Committee of the Senate.

CHAPTER XL.

THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN 1880.

Talk of Grant for President for a Third Term--His Triumphal Return from a Trip Around the World--The Candidacy of Mr. Blaine and Myself --Many of My Opponents Those Who Disagreed with Me on Financial Questions--Accused of Being a Catholic and of Using Patronage to Aid in My Nomination--My Replies--Delay in Holding the Ohio State Convention--My Interview with Garfield--Resolution of the State Convention in My Favor--National Convention at Chicago, on June 2, 1880--Fatal Move of Nine Ohio Delegates for Blaine--Final Nomination of Garfield--Congratulations--Letter to Governor Foster and to Garfield--Wade Hampton and the "Ku-Klux Klan."

CHAPTER XLI.

MY LAST YEAR IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

Opening of the 1880 Campaign in Cincinnati--My First Speech Arraigned as "Bitterly Partisan"--Letter from Garfield Regarding the Maine Election--Ohio Thought to Be in Doubt--Many Requests for Speeches --Republican Ticket Elected in Ohio and Indiana--A Strange Warning from Detroit Threatening Garfield with a.s.sa.s.sination--The Latter"s Reply--My Doubts About Remaining in the Treasury Department or Making an Effort for the Senate--Letter to Dalzell--Last Annual Report to Congress in December, 1880--Recommendations Regarding Surplus Revenue, Compulsory Coinage of the Silver Dollar, the Tariff, etc.--Bills Acted Upon by Congress.

CHAPTER XLII.

ELECTED TO THE SENATE FOR THE FOURTH TIME.

Blaine Appointed Secretary of State--Withdrawal of Governor Foster as a Senatorial Candidate--I Am Again Elected to My Old Position to Succeed Allen G. Thurman--My Visit to Columbus to Return Thanks to the Legislature--Address to Boston Merchants on Finances--Windom Recommended to Succeed Me as Secretary of the Treasury--Personal Characteristics of Garfield--How He Differed from President Hayes --The Latter"s Successful Administration--My One Day out of Office in Over Forty Years--Long Animosity of Don Piatt and His Change of Opinion in 1881--Mahone"s Power in the Senate--Windom"s Success in the Treasury--The Conkling-Platt Controversy with the President Over New York Appointments.

CHAPTER XLIII.

a.s.sa.s.sINATION OF GARFIELD AND EVENTS FOLLOWING.

I Return to Mansfield for a Brief Period of Rest--Selected as Presiding Officer of the Ohio State Convention--My Address to the Delegates Indorsing Garfield and Governor Foster--Kenyon College Confers on Me the Degree of Doctor of Laws--News of the a.s.sa.s.sination of the President--How He Differed from Blaine--Visit of General Sherman--Reception by Old Soldiers--My Trip to Yellowstone Park-- Speechmaking at Salt Lake City--Visit to Virginia City--Placer Mining in Montana--The Western Hunter Who Was Lost in a "St. Louis Canon"--Sunday in Yellowstone Park--Geysers in the Upper Basin-- Rolling Stones Down the Valley--Return Home--Opening of the Ohio Campaign--Death of Garfield.

CHAPTER XLIV.

BEGINNING OF ARTHUR"S ADMINISTRATION.

Special Session of the Senate Convened by the President--Abuse of Me by Newspapers and Discharged Employees--Charges Concerning Disburs.e.m.e.nt of the Contingent Fund--My Resolution in the Senate-- Secretary Windom"s Letter Accompanying the Meline Report--Investigation and Complete Exoneration--Arthur"s Message to Congress in December --Joint Resolutions on the Death of Garfield--Blaine"s Tribute to His Former Chief--Credit of the United States at "High Water Mark"

--Bill Introduced Providing for the Issuing of Three per Cent.

Bonds--Corporate Existence of National Banks Extended--Bill to Reduce Internal Revenue Taxes--Tax on Playing Cards--Democratic Victory in Ohio.

CHAPTER XLV.

STEPS TOWARDS MUCH NEEDED TARIFF LEGISLATION.

Necessity of Relief from Unnecessary Taxation--Views of the President as Presented to Congress in December, 1882--Views of the Tariff Commission Appointed by the President--Great Changes Made by the Senate--Regret That I Did Not Defeat the Bill--Wherein Many Sections Were Defective or Unjust--Bill to Regulate and Improve the Civil Service--A Mandatory Provision That Should be Added to the Existing Law--Further Talk of Nominating Me for Governor of Ohio--Reasons Why I Could Not Accept--Selected as Chairman of the State Convention --Refusal to Be Nominated--J. B. Foraker Nominated by Acclamation --His Career--Issues of the Campaign--My Trip to Montana--Resuming the Canva.s.s--Hoadley Elected Governor--Retirement of Gen. Sherman.

CHAPTER XLVI.

EFFECT OF THE MARINE NATIONAL BANK AND OTHER FAILURES.

Continued Prosperity of the Nation--Arthur"s Report to Congress-- Resolution to Inquire into Election Outrages in Virginia and Mississippi--Reports of the Investigating Committee--Financial Questions Discussed During the Session--Duties and Privileges of Senators--Failure of the Marine National Bank and of Grant and Ward in New York--Followed By a Panic in Which Other Inst.i.tutions Are Wrecked--Timely a.s.sistance from the New York Clearing House--Debate in the Senate on the National Bank System--Dedication of the John Marshall Statue at Washington--Defeat of Ingalls" Arrears of Pensions Amendment to Bill to Grant Pensions to Soldiers and Sailors of the Mexican War--The Senate Listens to the Reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

CHAPTER XLVII.

MY PARTIc.i.p.aTION IN THE CAMPAIGN OF 1884.

Again Talked of as a Republican Candidate for the Presidency--I Have No Desire for the Nomination--Blaine the Natural Candidate of the Party--My Belief that Arthur Would be Defeated if Nominated-- Speech at Washington, D. C., for Blaine and Logan--Opening of the Ohio Campaign at Ashland--Success of the Republican State Ticket in October--Speeches in Boston, Springfield, Ma.s.s., New York and Brooklyn--Address to Business Men in Faneuil Hall--Success of the National Democratic Ticket--Arthur"s Annual Message to Congress-- Secretary McCulloch"s Recommendations Concerning the Further Coinage of Silver Dollars--Statement of My Views at This Time--Statue to the Memory of General Lafayette--Controversy Between General Sherman and Jefferson Davis.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

DEDICATION OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

Resolution of Senator Morrill Providing for Appropriate Dedicatory Ceremonies--I Am Made Chairman of the Commission--Robert C. Winthrop"s Letter Stating His Inability to Attend the Exercises--Letters of Regret from General Grant and John G. Whittier--Unfavorable Weather for the Dedication--My Address as Presiding Officer--The President"s Acceptance of the Monument for the Nation--Mr. Winthrop"s Address Read in the House by John D. Long--Inauguration of the First Democratic President Since Buchanan"s Time--Visit to Cincinnati and Address on the Election Frauds--Respects to the Ohio Legislature --A Trip to the West and Southwest--Address on American Independence.

CHAPTER XLIX.

REUNION OF THE "SHERMAN BRIGADE."

Patriotic Address Delivered at Woodstock, Conn., On My Return from the Pacific Coast--Meeting of the Surviving Members of the Sherman Family at Mansfield--We Attend the Reunion of the "Sherman Brigade"

at Odell"s Lake--Addresses of General Sherman and Myself to the Old Soldiers and Others Present--Apathy of the Republican Party During the Summer of 1885--Contest Between Foraker and Hoadley for the Governorship--My Speech at Mt. Gilead Denounced as "Bitterly Partisan"--Governor Hoadley Accuses Me of "Waving the b.l.o.o.d.y Shirt"

--My Reply at Lebanon--Election of Foraker--Frauds in Cincinnati and Columbus--Speeches Made in Virginia.

CHAPTER L.

ELECTED PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE.

Death of Vice President Hendricks--I Am Chosen to Preside Over the United States Senate--Letter of Congratulation from S. S. c.o.x-- Cleveland"s First Annual Message to Congress--His Views on the Tariff and Condition of Our Currency--Secretary Manning"s Report-- Garfield"s Statue Presented to the Nation by the State of Ohio--I Am Elected a Senator from Ohio for the Fifth Time--I Go to Columbus to Return Thanks to the Legislature for the Honor--Business of this Session of Congress--Attempt to Inquire Into the Methods of Electing Mr. Payne to the Senate from Ohio--My Address on "Grant and the New South"--Address Before the Ohio Society of New York.

CHAPTER LI.

A PERIOD OF POLITICAL SPEECH MAKING.

Organization of the "Sherman Club" at Mansfield, Ohio--My Experiences with Newspaper Reporters--Address at the State Fair in Columbus on Agricultural Implements--Other Speeches Made in the Campaign of that Year--Address at Louisville, Ky.--Courteous Treatment by Henry Watterson, of the "Courier Journal"--Hon. John Q. Smith"s Change of Heart--Answering Questions Propounded by Him at a Gathering in Wilmington, Ohio--Success of the Republican Party--Second Session of the 49th Congress--But Little Legislation Accomplished--Death of Senator John A. Logan--Tributes to His Memory--His Strong Characteristics--My Reason for Resigning the Presidency of the Senate--Succeeded by John J. Ingalls.

CHAPTER LII.

VISIT TO CUBA AND THE SOUTHERN STATES.

Departure for Florida and Havana--A Walk Through Jacksonville-- Impressions of the Country--Visit to Cigar Factories and Other Places of Interest--Impressions of Cuba--Experience with Colored Men at a Birmingham Hotel--The Proprietor Refuses to Allow a Delegation to Visit Me in My Rooms--Sudden Change of Quarters-- Journey to Nashville and the Hearty Reception Which Followed--Visit to the Widow of President Polk--My Address to Nashville Citizens-- Comment from the Press That Followed It--An Audience of Workingmen at Cincinnati--Return Home--Trip to Woodbury, Conn., the Home of My Ancestors--Invitation to Speak in the Hall of the House of Representatives at Springfield, Ill.--Again Charged with "Waving the b.l.o.o.d.y Shirt."

CHAPTER LIII.

INDORSED FOR PRESIDENT BY THE OHIO STATE CONVENTION.

I Am Talked of as a Presidential Possibility--Public Statement of My Position--Unanimous Resolution Adopted by the State Convention at Toledo on July 28, 1887--Text of the Indors.e.m.e.nt--Trip Across the Country with a Party of Friends--Visit to the Copper and Nickel Mining Regions--Stop at Winnipeg--A Day at Banff--Vast Snowsheds Along the Canadian Pacific Railroad--Meeting with Carter H. Harrison on Puget Sound--Rivalry Between Seattle and Tacoma--Trying to Locate "Mount Tacoma"--Return Home After a Month"s Absence--Letter to General Sherman--Visit to the State Fair--I Attend a Soldiers"

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