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"I have been called the father of greenbacks. greenback? Did you ever think what it was? simply the credit of the great American people put in the form of money, to circulate among the very people whose credit makes it worth anything. When I was Secretary of the Treasury the question arose-How should these vast armies and navies be supplied? How could the boys be fed in the field, the sailors in ships, and provision made for their support, for their clothing, their food and transportation? I found the banks of the country had suspended specie payments. What was I to do? The banks wanted me to borrow their credit, or pay them interest in gold upon their credit. They did not pay any gold themselves, or propose to pay any, but they wanted me to borrow their notes. I said, "No, gentlemen; this great American people is worth all of you put together, and I will take the credit of these people, [and cut it up in the form of little bits of paper, and we will circulate that paper, and we will receive that paper for bonds, upon which we will punctually pay the interest in gold." And then, in order that the national currency might be permanent, and that nobody might have cause to complain, I called the national banking system into existence, and pledged every bank to redeem its currency in greenbacks, and the Government pledged that every dollar should be redeemed in the endthe securities to be pledged and provided-that in the end everything should be made equivalent (in gold.

"I think this is the true idea of a greenback. It is the credit and property of the American people-made to serve the purpose of money in the midst of a great strife, when we must have everything we can get. And, fellow-citizens, is my humble judgment, if out of this war this national currency comes, as is provided for in our platform, so that no western farmer or merchant will be obliged to pay tribute to the East in his exchange, so that we shall not lose upon exchange so large a profit upon our industry, so that the laborer receives his dollar or two dollars, or dozen dollars at the night or week's end-will be perfectly sure that it won't turn to dust and ashes before the morning sun rises; I say if we can get such a good sound currency as this, then this country will not at least have been without one of the collateral benefits of this war; if you can take your money on the Atlantic and go to the Pacific, and pay your bills all

the way, without having to change the currency at every tavern you stop at.

"I say, if the Government is administered as it should be, with proper vigor and economy, every dollar in greenbacks would be as good as a dollar in gold. Why, eight months ago, if I could have had the assurance that I would not have been troubled with any more issues-I would have undertaken to resume specie payment in a week, if anybody wanted it, and I say now, if the war is prosecuted as it ought to be, and the Government is administered with the economy and prudence that I trust it will be, then there is no more danger of that currency than there is that the American people will fail."

THE Advertiser and Tribune stated some weeks ago, as an interesting fact, that one of the most enterprising and extensive merchants of this city had given the results of an interesting calculation made by him. He had discovered that all the taxes imposed upon him by the war, and current payments for exchange, are not equal to the tax upon him for exchange growing out of the disordered system of Western currency for a corresponding number of years prior to the rebellion. This results wholly from the fact that the uniform Government currency coming into such universal use has reduced exchange to mere nothing; while in 1859-60 it frequently rose to 10 per cent for Western funds. The fact disclosed by our fellow-citizen is interesting, and plainly points out one of the great advantages of a uniform National currency.

The Prayer Meeting.

Since the first week in January, in addition to the customary early morning prayer meeting, there has been a Union prayer meeting every Thursday afternoon a half past 2 o'clock.

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The first afternoon prayer meeting was held at the Scotch church, Rev. S. Balmer. This was a very precious season of spiritual refreshing. The second meeting was held at the Jef ferson Avenue Presbyterian church, Rev. Dr. Hogarth,-well attended and profitable. The third gathering was at Central

Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. J. M. Buckley,—a delight to all the children of God who attended it. The fourth meeting was at the Congregational church, Rev. Mr. Freeland. The fifth at the First Baptist church, Rev. J. H. Griffith; and it is to be hoped they will be continued from week to week, until there shall be a call for a daily afternoon meeting. From memory we will record some of the incidents which were related by different speakers.

"MY SON WILL BE CONVERTED." A sweet instance of faith was related by the Rev. Mr. Day at the Union prayer meeting, January 19th, 1865. A minister of Cleveland had an ungodly neighbor who seldom attended church and seemed disposed to scoff at divine things. The minister on going East, called upon the mother of his irreligious neighbor. The good woman inquired, "Do you think my son will be converted?" To which he replied: "I can not say; he has passed through several revivals and has remained throughout unaffected." "But he will be," exclaimed the faithful mother. "My son will be converted, and that too before I die, I have prayed for him these fifty years, and I know he will be converted." And true enough the Lord answered her prayer, her son was brought into the fold three years before her own departure to the presence of the Good Shepherd. What encouragement to pray for the unconverted of our families. Blessed assurance! "Ask in faith, nothing wavering."

A minister stated that having seven brothers out of the kingdom, he resolved to devote one day of each week to special prayer for their conversion. "I have lived," said he, "to see some of them rejoicing in the Savior's love, and the rest will assuredly yet come in."

ADVANTAGES OF EXTEMPORANEOUS PRAYER. What child would think of writing down what he wished to say to his parent, and then come before him and read the paper? What loving father is there that would not be chilled by such utterances. Shall we come before our Father in heaven with stereotyped speech, or from the fulness of the heart speak out in reverence and love our soul needs.

Bishop Richardson once heard Rev. Thomas Watson preach, and was much pleased with the sermon, but particularly with the prayer which followed. After the service, he followed Mr. Watson home and requested a copy of the prayer. "Alas,"

said Mr. Watson, "that is what I cannot give; for I do not use to pen my prayers; it was no studied thing, but uttered as God enabled me from the abundance of my heart and affections." So should we ever address our Father in heaven. How blessed that soul who lives in an atmosphere of prayer. "Praying without ceasing,"-ready at any moment for an inter view with the highest, walking and talking with God all the day, not from the book but from the heart. Such a life is the privilege of the Christian. Far be it from us to say that there is no use in the printed prayer or liturgy, not at all; but the higher sphere of spiritual life is the privilege of the Christian and should be cherished and cultivated.

We should not only be always ready to pray ourselves, but ready to lead others in prayer, if requested. How does a physician appear who professes christianity, and when asked by a patient to stay a moment to pray, says: "I can't now, I am not prepared" -or "I hav'nt my book." Two ministers went out as delegates of the Christian Commission, one was called upon to pray with a soldier, and he had'nt his book-he appealed to his companion "Oh, go and pray with the man." He did so; he had never prayed with the sick without his book before. Next day the soldier was dying and sent for the delegate "That man who taught you to pray yesterday wants to see you." Would to God that hundreds of others were thus taught to pray; the Episcopal clergy would not then stay away from the Union prayer meetings. And a time comes with many when the printed prayer does not meet the craving of the sanctified soul. When Archbishop Secker was near to death he was visited by Mr. Talbot of Reading, an intimate friend. Before leaving, the bishop asked him to pray with him. Mr. Talbot looked for a prayer book. "That is not what I want now," said the dying prelate, "kneel down and pray for me as you are wont to do."

Emancipation.

MISSOURI AND TENNESSEE FREE.-On the 11th January, the Constitutional Convention of Missouri passed an ordinance abolishing slavery throughout that state, and Gov. Fletcher has issued a proclamation to that effect. Missouri thus becomes a free

state, and the friends of liberty everywhere will rejoice. On the reception of the news at St. Louis, hundreds of business houses and private residences were illuminated, the streets were thronged, fireworks displayed, and the enthusiasm of the people was very great. It seems hardly credible that the State which so recently attempted, by fraud and force, to fasten slavery upon Kansas, should herself so soon be emancipated from the accursed thraldom, but such is the progress of the logic of events. To show the feeling with which the news was received at the East, we quote the replies sent to Gov. Fletcher's announcement by three of our Governors:

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Maine welcomes her twin-sister Missouri to the blessings of free institutions after forty years' wandering in the wilderSAMUEL CONY, Governor of Maine. Massachusetts salutes Missouri with grateful joy, commending her to the highest rewards of happiness and honor as a commonwealth of freemen.

JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor of Massachusetts.

Pennsylvania, first born of freedom, welcomes her disenthralled sister State of Missouri, redeemed in the agony of the nation, and amid the throes of wanton rebellion. Her offering to liberty comes baptized in her richest blood, and will be accepted by a faithful and free people as one of the crowning tributes to their matchless heroism, and their sacrifices to preserve and perpetuate our common nationality.

A. G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania. Resolution passed by the Michigan State Senate, January 12, 1865:

Resolved, That with unfeigned delight we hail the acts by which Missouri and Maryland have reconstructed their State governments, and now stand redeemed from the withering curse of chattel slavery; we joyfully welcome them to the sisterhood of free States; and we rejoice that in other loyal States where slavery still exists, measures are now in progress, soon we trust to be consummated, by which, through the action of the people therein, human bondage will be totally abolished, and we pray that this good work may go on until every State shall come to be a free State, and the Union, without spot or blemish, shall be restored to more than its former greatness and glory.

TENNESSEE TO FOLLOW.

-The Tennessee State Convention,