Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-19


" i'm ports in 1912, 24,637 ,527
" exports " 26,68l, 7Ol
" imports in 1913, 2l,99S,094
exports 25,O42, 1876
These returns are made IN a currency
of gold and silver only. Here we have the
view of a commerce far exceeding that OF
our boosted emporium of the west, inclu-
ding the whole of Louisiana besides, car
ried on much more safely than ours, with
out any of those enormous fluctuations and
disastrous revulsions TO which paper mo-
ney subjects our own, and this too with
specie currency. Yet we are told tha:iwe
cannot d. that which is accomplished with
in three days sail of US.
EVILS AND VIRTUES OF A PAPER
CURRENCY. the Devil himself call
cd upon for a plan which would the most
efiectually make the many subservient to
the few--were ne called upon TO devise
system by which the liberties and prospe-
rity OF the great mass, or majority, were
TO be destroyed, he would recommend
paper currency. 1t is the greatest curse
that could possibly aiflict society and bring
so many millions within its grasp. The
paper system fills poor houses and prisons
and currupis the morals of whole nations.
1t begets vice, misery and wretchedness,
and banishes virtue, independence and
happiness. Its tendency is to produce ex-
travagance, idleness, and finally, swarms
of thieves, dissolutes and beggers, who go
down TO a premature grave. Paper mo-
ney is the DEVILS own plan TO damn our
race. When that was introduced and es-
| tabhshed, he was triumphant; and well
may he recline behind the laurels he has
won; for never, since he has been an ac-
tor on this worlds stage has he prompted
a more foul and fiendish machination--
never has he accomplished an object that
so well suited his purposes, or which has
been more destructive to the morals of the
world.
If men could abandon their stubborn
prejudices, and draw their ideas from prin-
Clples in nature, in relation to a currency,
they would readily discover that art could
not possibly furnish substitute, that COM
bines all the properties requisite, to so
great an extent, as gold and silver. The
simple voice of nature and Of reason de-
clare, that no article that art may substi-
tue can combine the value of the precious
metals. Gold, the dearness of which, ad.
mits of its being conveniently transported
with little expense, being fitted for the lar
! ger transactions of business, while silver
will answer the smaller tranactions of ev.
cry day occurrence. The properties which
these articles combine cannot be possessed
by paper money. Coin can be adjusted
to the value of any article that we may
purchase; it can be kept for any length of
time, or answer for the wants of future
years with perfect safety, whilst paper
money may fail TO the injury of the hol-
der. The precious metals possess the
same value at all times and places, and
this is property that no article which art
may substitute can possibly possess. Va
rious are the qualities which are possessed
by gold and silver which should hold them
in the highest esteem over all paper mo-
ney; and how fortunate would it have been
for mankind had paper money never gain.
ed the ascendaucy. We repeat, that nc
greater curse has ever afflicted the world
than the issuance of paper money. II
must have been an evil spirit who. first in
stigated men to supplant a currency which
nature and reason declares in favor off,
Had it been otherwise, mankind would
have progressed sobery, and at the same
time, adhered to those principles which
are sure 10 establish universal prosperity
and true greatness.
The paper system not only begets ex'
travagance, idleness, vice &c. but il
leads people to neglect all the great OBJ
lects in nature, such as cleaning out rivers
which ought to be navigated. There are
many streams which might be improved
but which are neglected for schemes ant
roads which can last only a few years
and which, if built at all, should be bull
when our country becomes more popu
/ lous. Thus we neglect all the gifts of ma
ture for our own ariifice, and go to specu
lating and gambling to crowd the bust
ness of an age into single year.
When will the friends of banking ant
paper money, who have been deluded int
its support by artful and designing men
learn that the system entices but to des
f troy2 When will they learn that it mo
nopolizes all property-houses, lands
debts and credits, thus rendering the grea
Ter portion of the community dependen
upon it? When will they learn that tn
} system holds the purse strings of society
+ and forces them to bow like menials to it
footstool? When, we will ask, will homes
freemen learn, that by the support of sucl
systems they make idiots and slaves Q
! themselves?
r 1t appears to us that barrier or a rem
edy should be imposed against system S
Go III hi with dnstrn.,tinn 10 the morals an