Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-06-09
CURRENCY.

the Legislature OF MISSISSIPPI, lhSle ID
none more so than the law to prohibit the
issuance, tender, or reception of shiaPlas-
iers as they arc Familiarity called, and
Post Notes by individuals and the banks
in this State, which at the same time left
the door open for our citizens to be flood
cd with the worthless trash of other
sections. Why in the name OF common
sense did not that august locofoco body
attend to this also if they sincerely wished
TO do the people a service-why deny to
our own citizens, privileges, which others
are left to exercise to any extent? Was it
r:hat they thought Mississippians did not
possess as much honor and integrity as the
citizens Of other States Was it that they
thought Mississippians are not entitled to
rs many privileges as the citizens Of other
States Whatever may be the reply to
these interrogatorics by those who did this,
1t is plain that either knavery or ignorance,
we will not pretend TO say which, was at
the bottom Of il! What do we now see
as the consc 1ucnco of this species of Le-
pislation--our State flooded with all man.
ner oftrash--shinplasters and post notes
that the corporations or individuals ofother
States may deem TO their interest to put
forth; and our citizens doomed to the
Penitcntiary if they exercise a similar
privilege. Is there a man in the State,
other than those who made the law crel-
ting these odious distinctions, that can ap.
probate this We think the answer is on
every ones lip-NO! But this is the law
and it must be obeyed--thesc are the con.
sequences and they must be endured un-
less the people will take the thing into
their own hands and secure the operation
of justice in some shape or other, either
by setting the law at defiance, or, by much
inconvenience, though with perhaps great
or permanent good adopt the firm res
olution not TO give currency by receiving
and paying out, trash, which they have
every reason 10 believe is as worthless, in
trin'ically, as any bank paper or individu-
al shinplasters issued in Mississippi. The
latter we consider to be the proper course
And we do think that every well wishel
of the public good should act upon Il {
suggestion. We think apart from every
other consideration his State pride
should prompt him TO do it, audi bovC
all it should be done that the odiou
deception which locofocoism has beef
practising upon the country so long ma,
be more manifest. Let the eyes Of III
people be opened that they may sec it
true character. Let them see that all tn
promises and professions which have fror
time to time been made ard sounded j
their cars by these upstairs of patriotism
and spurious compound of nothing, ar
false--that with them to promise is on
thing, but to full is another. AT frs
they promised "better currency"-the
specie currency, but where are they
Has any man seen eitherl IF so, brin
him forth. Who can lay his hand upo
his heart and say that we have had eithe
or that there is the slightest prospect Of
in the present locofoco policy. Instead
a "better currency" we have the wor
currency in the world And instead of
''sPecie currency" we have no currenc
at all!'-ayc, we are literally without
currcncy-dependent upon others for
piece of one; made up of counterfeit
broken bank noes, and loqfers' GcketsH
The following on this subject we col
from the Vicksburg Wing, with the fl
thcr remark that zoe are similarly situat
in regard to alabama and Georgia mon,
none of which do we believe whit bet,
than Mississippi currency:
The rapid and almost total chan
which has lately taken place in the CHI;
actcr Of the currency of our State c
scarcely have escaped the notice of a
one: Within very few months alm
all Of our spurious money has gone out
circulation, and its place has been suppl
by the notes OF the banks Of other Stat
which, although little below specie at
brokers Offices, are received at par in
the ordinary business transactions of {
country. The change has been as co
plote as it was sudden; for we have lit
ally money Of our own in circulation
currency, even our shinplasters hav
given way 10 those of the various mum
palities of New Orleans, which now 70
our only small change, if we except
bits in silver, which occasionally vent
out into the world from the comforta
rocesses of some antique stocking, but
instantly swallowed up by the post Off
Believing, as we do, that all sud'
revolutions are dangerous, but more +
aicuIarly those in commercial and mon'
nv affairs, we think it well worthy of
curry, whether we are to be benefited
injured by the one to which we are a
ding. We know that the great majo
look upon il as an evidence Of return
prosperity, that we have among us