Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-09-09
For the Democrat.
ILLEGAL c TRRENCY.--No. !

some a matter Of as,oulshnent that YOU have not,
through the columns Of your paper endeavored
to establish the character and give US universal
circulation as practicable to the admirable change
currency with which Columbus, its vicinity and
many other places al the present time arc indn-
dated. As ii Is, the legitimate office, the origin
al design, acknowledged duty, and avowcd inten-
ton OF all public Journals to disseminate general
and useful intelligence, It may perhaps be your
duty as the conductors Of one OF those journals TO
write series OF essays on the subject, setting
forth at length the utility Of shin plascrs--the
necessity for them, the oylisto be cured, and the
Ultimate good to be obtained by their circulation;
N order that all parts Of the country and all midi
yidiais may avail themselves Of the advantages
to be derived from so profitable and Convenient
transaction as that Of printing, signing aud pat
ting ia circulation just such an amount Of currcn-
cY as the necessity, or convenience Of individuals
may seem to dictate. But since you, from
want Of leisure, from your presuming that the in
;cDigence of the present generation will at all
times enabled them to see, and their acknow!-
edged energy prompt them 10 pursue thel own
interest, or from some other cause have omitted
to render this important service, you viii perhaps
have no objection to re-elvin9 from subscriber
tOeiollowing communication.
Taen FIRST, | wish 10 direct your attention 70
the utilty o. shin plasters, and the necessity
Which at present induces the issue and use Of
them. You are per ccty aware that III order to
ascertain the real utility Of any thing, wc mast
frs, determine 10 what extent such thing may
have been reno, red NC ssary by the asccrtaaed
wants or necessities Of the individuals to be ben
Gifted by such thiag, for where there IS no want,
there can be no benefit derived from the fact Of
receiving, for instance, suppose that man should
I've placed on an isolated spot OF earth where he
should not again be permitted to see the human
face or ever have another opportunity OF eXchang-
lug one article Tor another--What advantage
could ii be to that man to find himself possessed
Of mountains OF gold Certainly none, because
he would not be in want of such an article, which
though valuable, undcr certain circumstances
would to him in that condition be perfectly valu-
less and rs a matter Of course, utterly useless.
Again, if it be found from the ordinary transac-
tons OF men, hat some one important item IN the
sum total of Their convenlences be wanting, then
it depends entilely on the adaptation Of the thing
proposed to supply the deficiency 10 the object
which is designed to be effected by II, and If 1t
should to considerable extent supply such ascer-
tanned deficiency; bat should it produce countre-
balance or propondorance of mischief, such thing
would be declared to be badly adapted to the OBJ
ject and consequently useless. Then let US con-
slider whether there exists any real want OF change
throughout the country, and if there is, whether
the circulation Of change tickets will supply the
deficiency in such manner az to render any per-
manout good.
There is no doubt but if the question be asked,
We should hear from thousands Of tongues, yes,
yes, and would at once hear offered as the rca-
son OF so great a calamity that the President by the
Treasury Circular had called all the specie gu, of
the country, and compelled the banks to suspend
specie payments, and consequently il is mpoSsl-
bic TO get change, AID that these circumstances
had created an absolute necessity for issuing
change bills; and they will go farther and say
that the bills have supplied the place of specie
change, and consequently are really usclu-
There are persons who honestly believe these
things to be iactS there are others who think
Just the reverse, and wish to be considered as
one q The latter class. That specie change may
be rather scarccr than it was II months ago, per.
haps may be the fact, but that the want is lound to
be SO great as to render necessary or indispensa-
bic, the resort to change tickets is thing which
believe to be wholly inadmissabe. And in or.
der to ascertain the correctness of this position
let Us examine the actual state of things as they
existed July 1896, and follow them down 10 the
present time.
Was there any manifest want Of change in
July 1896 No, there was an abundance 10
answer all ordinary purposes; then what has
since that time operated such change IN affairs
ana rendered so iraerious the necessity fof
change bills. Has tht sccretarys order in regard
to collecting the revenue OF the country in specie
drained any Of The specie from the interior no.
because the collections are only made through the
custom houses, the Land and Post Offices, then
IN consequence Of tho customs being collected
q Polhts generally on our borders, either on the
Atlantic coast or our northern DO Indary, the spe.
go could net hes readily and shortly drawn
Eom the interior to those extreme points, anc
again every man of ordinary observation mus
Naow that there ls no mode by which such c
result could take place under present circumstan
Ces' toF the specie change Of the country has
oeoA Tor years held ii small amounts by indiyid
uals and BY the banks in larger amounts. Anc
mat since that time the ordinary debts Of tht
country have not been pad in specie to any ex
NH'' and that II merchants in the interior haC
neeh disposed u make their remittances in spe
Go ("iilca is not the fact) they could rot have
eoae so then the interior 'oL the country ha!
idFalsaed little or none Of the specie which ha'
cesa since July 1895 paid into the custom hous
6 Well have The reofie paid their debts e