The coupons were made receivable for taxes and other debts due the State.
The amount recognized was beyond the ability of the State to pay, and many members of both parties felt that some compromise must be made.

So many of the coupons were paid in for taxes that money to keep the Government going was found with difficulty.

Various attacks on the privilege were made, but these "coupon killers" were usually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Meanwhile the contest had split the State.

Some were in favor of paying the whole debt according to the agreement of 1871; others wished to reduce the interest rate; while the radicals wished to repudiate part of the debt and reduce the rate of interest upon the remainder.