The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-02-09
sascaLIY CURRENCY.

hascaily is term that We nave frequently
! had occasion t, use when speaking of the cur
rency now in circulation among us. 1t is sig
nificant word understood by everybody and APP
propriatey describes the trash which has usur-
ned the place of money 1t is appropriate,
because this currency was invited to swlndle
the community and actually accompanies the
purpose for which it was designed. How could
any different consequence result from crcula-
ting medium chiefly composed of irresponsible
promises to pay, illegal checks, tickets, certifi
Gates of deposit and rotten SHIN plasters, OF ev-
erv conceivable form and device' fit was in
tended to be an honest currency, WHY'S 1t ma
nufactured here and made payable at distance
Why is it made in the form OF CHECKS and ceftl'
ficates of deposit, in which the responsibility is
divided among different persons? Every one
can understand that these arc mere inventions
to depreciate the paper in The hands of the com
munity, in order that brokers and bankers may
shave offa certain portion Of the nominal value
for their own use, in consideration CT receiving
it in exchange for better currency. specie,
which the rotten paper has driven out OF clrcu
lation and enabled these bankers to monopollze.
When we speak Of rascally currency, we
do not mean to accuse this inanmate combina-
ton OF lampblack and rags that constitute it, of
any guilt. 1tdid not design itself, nor create
itself, nor put itself in circulation However
mischieyeons that combination may be in its
effects, it is not responsible for the original SIN
of its existence, nor for the bad motives which
gave it being. But is not the act of creating
rascaly currency rascaly act And are not
the men who commit a rascally act rascally
men? Such conclusion is unavoidable.
We stigmatze the ordinary gambler as infa-
nous, and the fellow who contents himself with
swinding a single individual we send to the pc
nitentiary, branded with the crime OF felony.
But the men who, by gambling at the expense
of the people, or by creating and circulating
false and fraudulent currency, swlndle whole
community, we permit to go unwhlpt OF justice
lnaeed; these enormous crimes, instead oil OIL
mnishng appear to add to their responsibility
They walk among their victims with uno ush-
ing ilnpudence and instead Of pointing the fin
Ger OF scorn at them, we humblv take our hats
off as they pass. They, like their rag money,
circulate for more than they are worth.
Whilst such public opinion exists, it is use
less to indict bankers and brokers for their ha-
bitual and fragrant violation OF the law for the
restriction of illegal currency, or to attempt to
protect ourselves by the enactment OF more
stringent statutes. Until the whole community
unite and act in concert against them, these pc
culators will be more powerful than the people,
and continue their respectable robberies, in de
fiance Of all laws to the contrary
Livery man IN Tue IL III
The question of sound currency, and those
most, through whose hands the least OF it pas
ses, because they can least afford to lose by |
depreciation OF the little they have Whenever
here is a serious arrangement in the currency,
he masses OF mechanics and laborers are sure
% be the sufferers, or if there is any portion OF
t liable to q greater share than the rest, it goes
nto their hands. They should, therefore, in
unite and make war upon it until /
very shinplaster is banished from the State
fthe paper be expelled, we shall have heal
by circulating medium of gold ard silver
Then labor will receive full and reliable eaui
TALENT; speculation will be kept within reason
bile limits, and the community will not suffer
rom unnatural contractions and expansions OF
he currency.
The time has come when some positive acti'
N should be taken on this vital quesio
There is disposition on the part of spectators
nd money dealers TO increase the evil by re-
moving all existing restraints upon making and
REGULATING paper money. Their movements
nust be watched and their designs frustrated.
The people of this State do not wish paper
urrency at all, for they will be safer and richer
,ithort