The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-05-19
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1924.

ference is now requested. 1t may be-
proper, however, to remark, here, that
throughout the western country, gene
raj and severe distress had followed the
resumption OF specie payments. On the
part of the treasury, every disposition
had been entertained TO make the de
mands OF the government press lightly
On suffering people With this view
the receivers and collectors had been
authorized, generally, to receive in pay
ments to the U. States all the specie pay
ing bank notes in circulation and the
bank OF the U. 5. had literally seconded
the views of the treasury, by authorizing
the reception of these funds from the re.
ceivers and collectors. This expert
meDt, though il gave relief to the public
debtors, had been found injurious 10 the
7Delfare OF the bank and, by proper
regard for its own safety, that institution
I considered itself constrained 10 decline
the reception OF almost all those funds
which form the currency of that portion
OF the country, and of those which alone
1t could prudently take, scarcely any
were in circulation. What effect this
change had upon the state of things may
be inferred from few extracts from
! some OF the communications which were
! about that time made to the secretary in
relation to the subject.
The debtors OF the United States say
the directors ofthe bank of Vincennes, in
their memorial OF The 9th Jan. 1919, Sin
the western country, labor under distress
sing and almost insuperable difficulties in
meeting their engagements; not so much
from the want of means, as from the
scarcity OF such funds as are receivable in
payment Of public lands. Should the
country continue in its present situation
with respect to these funds, many an ho-
nest citizeD5 many an industrious farmer,
who has migrated to this country, and
has paid his last eighty dollars as first
lnstalment on his quarter section of land,
VIII be compelled, at the end of FIVE y ears
to leave his favorite spot, his cabin, and
all the comfortable improvements, which
the labor OF his own hands has acquitted,
and, with his wife and children, seek
new home, without money 10 procure it,
AND why! Because the produce of his
farm,although he may have an abundance
government demand for the completion
OF his payments Other representations,
which are herewith transmitted, from
senators and representatives, whose char.
acter is sufficient TO guarantee for the
truth of their statements, corroborate
these views. The hon. Mr.. Helrick, in
letter of the 1lth March, 1918, consi.
ders the adoption of some measures on
the subject as desirable, as well with
view to relieve the people, as to preserve
their affections for the present admins.
tratIon ofthe general government. The
hon. Walter Taylor, In a letter of the
Slst March, 1918, encloses letter from
respectable source, stating that 90 per !
cent. bad been given by those who had |
payments to make in the land Offices. to |
OBTAIN such money as would be received;
that few entries of land were made and
that many who had come from distance
to enter land, had gone away without do.
Ing so, because the money they had
brought, though consisting Of the notes of
banks OF established character, could not
be received. And Mr.. Taylor concurs
IN opinion, that the operation of the exist
ing system was prejudiciai ID the purcha-
sers OF public lands, as well IS the citizens
OF The state. In a joint letter addressed
TO the secretary, on the I8ihApril, 1918. il
oy fourteen western membersof congress,
VIZ. the hon. Joseph Desia, William
RI Harrison, Robert Moore, Henry Bald,
wild, William Hendricks, Jmes Noble, II
Waller Taylor, Richard 6 Anderson,
Levi Barber, Thomas Sped, John w.
Campbell, Samuel Rerrick, letter Hitch.
cock, and Philemon Beecher these ger.
tlemen all concur in stating, hat seVery
mail from the west brings biings Us the 9
complaints and requests of the people,
on the subject of the pscunary state &C
our country ) and they conclude, by re-
commenting as a measure of vital irnpor. /,
lance, the reception of such western
paper of specie paying banks, as were in
good credit. The ho. J. Mclean, of
Illinois, in letter ofIhe 9Th June, 1919. |,
speaking Of one of he districts in that
state, makes the folio ing representation:
am well assured, tom my own know,
ledge, and the letteI Of respectable gen.
tlemen in that parbf the country, that |,
1t every note that WI be received in paw. :
ment of land, and very dollar of specie
that is ~ the county, were in the hands Il
OF those iDdebIedo the government for
land, it would beinsufficient to enable
morR Than one 18th man &c -, .-..t- I