Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-04-09
From The Lexington Union.
GBY REQUEST
PUBLIC MEETING

The committee nominated to draft suita-
BILE preamble and resolutions for this meet
ling ask leave to report the following:
Whereas, the citizens Of our county have
become embarrassed by debts contracted under
a paper currency according tothe customs of
our country, custom which has existed ever
since our national existence; and which has
grown with our growth, and strengthened with
our strength. And, Whereas the State of Mis-
sissippi after the manner of the older States of
the Union, has assumed the right Of charter
ing Banks, and thereby creating currency
within her limits, a fact well known to all for
eign as we'll as domestic creditors.
And Whereas, great many Of those cred
ltors are now refusing toltake the currency Of
the State, and demanding specie;o its equiva-
lent, in the liquidation of their claims. The
committee have endeavoured to investigate the
nature of these circumstances, and their uti-
mate consequences.
We know ofno law making specie, alone, a
lawful tender, in defiance Of the custom of the
country, except an absolete clause of the con-
sttution Of the United States, which has never
been practically respected by any ofthe States,
nor, until very recently, by the general Gov
lernment. Therefore, to admit that all credit
ors have right under such a rule to enforce
the collection Of SPECIE would be in effect; adj
hitting that our Government has fixed dead
fall for the crafty and cunning to entrap the
Iunsuspectng productive classes, who generally
contract debts according to the usages Of the
country.
Notwithstanding we feel great solcitude for
the establishment ofa sound and uniform cur
rency---and though we would be glad TO see
the people put on guard by enactments pro-
hibiting the collection ofany other kind, by le-
gal process, on all debts hereafter contracted,
lyet we cannot but view with adherence and
indignation the demands for specie, or its equiv
alent on claims contracted under the most au-
4sPieioas cireumsiances-by which the de0tOr
would lose from three to ten times the consid-
Grafton that he received. the ultimate conse-
quences ofwhich would be that man who has
by long course of honest industry and econo-
my accumulated an estate worth $4,000, and
should owe adebt Of or So 900 would be re-
duced to beggary-their family stript Of their
home and property--the hard earnings of ma
ny years sweat aud toll, And what makes
such demand at this time, still more aggra-
yating, is that the cotton crop of the country
has been exchanged for Mississippi funds.
AT the time those debts were contracted,
there was little or no specie in circulation,
and has not been since, it was impossible to OBJ
tain gold and silver then, inquantties sufficient
to pay debts, and so it has remained over
snce,--And that specie was anticipated by the
creditors, and promised by the debtors, express,
ed or implied, atthe time the debts were con-
tracted, is, we conclude, what none but liars
tell and fools believe.
We do not wish to be understood as advo-
Gates of an unsound CURRENCY, but ofequity, be-
tween man and man--that the creditor should
receive consideration equivalent to that
which the debtor received.
We believe that the sale ofproperty for gold
and silver, under existing circumstances, would
open a wide spring door for bank swinding-
whereby bank agents would buy the property
Of our citizens for one fourth Of its value, for
eigh creditors would carry off the specie, and
bank paper, for which we have exchan-
ged our cotton crop, left to die on our hands.
As to the comparative value of the current
money of our State we can see little or no diff
ference between il and that Of other States when
tried by fair and honest rule. Negroes sell
in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Ten
nessee, at about the same prices, which is Ger
tainly amuch more equitable standard to try
the comparative value Of money, than,that es-
tablished by the infamous brokers, horde Of
reprobate money changers, who put money
down one day, and buy it up another, and sell,
and SO ON alternately by which they accumu-
late princely fortunes at the expense Of the pro-
ductive classes.
Therefore in view ofthese circumstances the
committee recommend to the consideration Of
this meeting the ado pon ofthe following reso-
utions:
Resolved, That the demand fore gold and
silver at this time in payment Of executions is
must and oppressive and ought not tobe sub
nitted to- .
ResOtced, That we pledge ourselves to en-
courage the payment ofall just debts in the cur
cht money Of our State, and that we will use
I'll lawful means in our power toprohibt their
payment in any other kind. a&
ResolveG, That any citizen who, may have
property offered for specie, ought to protect il
rom sacrifice, and the people oughtto protect
Tim.
RESOLVED, That any man who may bid for
property offered for gold and silver, Is an enc
~ 10 Justice and good order in society, and
ught forthwith 10 be dealt with by those con-
erned according to his merits.
j. M MOORE, Chairman,
a L. G. GALLOWAY, Secretary.
GREAT AGE.w Mrs Susan Brown died al North.
nlcm, Westminster co. atthe ago Of l0s years