Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/117

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 89 true business interests of the country, and delay the resumption of specie payment. He therefore re turned the bill to congress, with his veto, April 22. The arguments contained in his message were un answerable, the bill was not passed over his veto, and his course was sustained by the whole country. Perhaps no act of his administration was more highly approved by the people at large, and the result amply proved the wisdom of the firmness he exhibited at this crisis. About two months after this, in a conversation at the executive mansion with Senator Roscoe Conkling, of New York, and Senator John P. Jones, of Nevada, the president entered at length upon his views concerning the duty of the government to take steps looking to the return to specie payment. His earnestness on this subject, and the advantages of the methods proposed, so impressed the senators that they asked him to commit his views to writing. He complied with this request by writing a letter addressed to Senator Jones, dated June 4, 1874, in which he be gan by saying: &quot;I believe it a high and plain duty to return to a specie basis at the earliest practical day, not only in compliance with legislative and party pledges, but as a step indispensable to lasting national prosperity.&quot; Then followed his views at length. This letter was made public, and attracted much attention, and in January, 1875, the &quot;Resumption act&quot; was passed, which, to a large ex-