"NEW YORK, _February 8, 1885_.
"HON. GROVER CLEVELAND.
"DEAR SIR,--The wisdom and public necessity of a discontinuance
of compulsory coinage of bullion into standard silver dollars as
authorized by the act of February 28, 1878, is under discussion in
most of our commercial and trade organizations.
"There is a wide-spread apprehension that the continued coinage
of standard silver dollars may bring about financial and trade
embarrassment. Under these circumstances, I do not consider it
inappropriate that I should ask an expression of your judgment in
relation to this subject.
"I have the honor to enclose a copy of an amendment, which I propose
to have inserted in the bill for the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriations.
"Yours very truly."[32]
[32] This is the draft of a letter doubtless emanating from Mr.
Tilden, as it is in the handwriting of one of his secretaries.