CHAPTER XXVII. MY CONFIDENCE IN THE SUCCESS OF RESUMPTION. Tendency of Democratic Members of Both Houses to Exaggerate the Evil Times--Debate Over the Bill to Provide for Issuing Silver Coin in Place of Fractional Currency--The Coinage Laws of the United States and Other Countries--Joint Resolution for the Issue of Silver Coins--The "Trade Dollar" Declared Not to Be a Legal Tender--My Views on the Free Coinage of Silver--Bill to Provide for the Completion of the Washington Monument--Resolution Written by Me on the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence--Unanimously Passed in a Day by Both Houses--Completion of the Structure Under the Act. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE HAYES-TILDEN PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST. Nomination of R. B. Hayes for President--His Fitness for the Responsible Office--Political Shrewdness of Samuel J. Tilden, His Opponent--I Enter Actively Into the Canvass in Ohio and Other States --Frauds in the South--Requested by General Grant to Go to New Orleans and Witness the Canvassing of the Vote of Louisiana-- Departure for the South--Personnel of the Republican and Democratic "Visitors"--Report of the Returning Board--My Letter to Governor Hayes from New Orleans--President Grant's Last Message to Congress --Letter from President Hayes--Request to Become his Secretary of the Treasury. CHAPTER XXIX. I BEGIN MY DUTIES AS SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. Legislative Training of Great Advantage to Me in My New Position-- Loan Contract in Force When I Took the Portfolio--Appointment of Charles F. Conant as Funding Agent of the Treasury Department in London--Redeeming Called Bonds--Sale of Four Per Cent. Bonds Instead of Four and a Half Per Cents.--Popularity of the New Loan--Great Saving in Interest--On a Tour of Inspection Along the Northern Atlantic Coast--Value of Information Received on This Trip--Effect of the Baltimore and Pittsburg Railroad Strikes in 1877 Upon Our Public Credit. CHAPTER XXX. POLICY OF THE HAYES ADMINISTRATION. Reception at My Home in Mansfield--Given by Friends Irrespective of Party--Introduced by My Old Friend and Partner, Henry C. Hedges --I Reply by Giving a Resume of the Contests in South Carolina and Louisiana to Decide Who Was Governor--Positions Taken by Presidents Grant and Hayes in These Contests--My Plans to Secure the Resumption of Specie Payments--Effects of a Depreciated Currency--Duties of the Secretary of the Treasury--Two Modes of Resuming--My Mansfield Speech Printed Throughout the Country and in England--Letters to Stanley Matthews and General Robinson--Our Defeat in Ohio--An Extra Session of Congress--Bills Introduced to Repeal the Act Providing for the Resumption of Specie Payments--They All Fail of Passage-- Popular Subscription of Bonds All Paid for.