The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-01-11
Communication.
FOr The spirit OF Democracy
M0naV and Currency.

u communication.
For the Spirit of Democracy.
Money and Currency.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Our currency is now as
base as any that ever circulated amongst
a civilized people. Small bills Of the de-
nomination of one, two and three dollars,
rom Pequonnock, Cohocksink, Musquash.
Nesquam. and other places in Yankee
land, too insignificant to be placed on any
map, or noticed in any Gazetteer, and
with names TOO hideous to be endured by
the ears of any but savages, together with
our own delectable small Bank notes,
swarm upon us and form the bulk Of our
currency. Personal frugality, the parent
of all durable prosperity. is nearly a, its
last gasp; for man with such base trash
in his pocket. must get rid OF it. although
he spends it for objects Of little or no in.
trinsic value. Hence the baser the cur
rency the brisker the circulation. We
boast Of being a selcgoverning people!!!
sad commentary on our nation al saga
city. that we cannot guard ourselves from
evils so glaring and so enormous as those
which we now suffer from base, depre-
ciated. currency.
But we have been told by whig editors.
whig stumpers aud whig leaders. for halt
a century past, that gold and silver are
not plenty enough for currency. that it we
abolish small bank bills. money will be
scarce!H And large portion of the hon
est Yeomanry Of the country have been
led to believe those glozing tales,-false
as the Alcoran, false AS the book Of Nor
mons. What are. the actual facts OF the
case? good horse will at present sell
tor about one hundred ounces of silver, a
weight very inconvenient to carry abou,
mans person. The price OF good
wagon and team Of six horses, paid in
silver. would requirea pack horse 10 carry
I it, aud no pack-horse is strong enough to
carry the price, in silver, Of good farm.
sold for six thousand dollars. Does this
great weight, required to amount to the
value Of such common pieces Of property,
signify that silver is really scarce. that it
| is too scarce for the purposes Of circula-
ton? Just the reverse. Again the hum
dred ounces Of silver. for which we sup.
pose the above mentioned horse to be sold,
would now command about one hundred
bushels OF wheat, or twenty yards oi good
broadcloth, or twenty hundred weight oi
pork. or four COWS. But suppose silver
coin wero twice as abundant as at present,
SO that the horse would sell for two hun
dred ounces Of silver, instead Of one hun
dred; other things would rise in proper.
ton, SO that the owner Of the horse could
, only exchange him for one hundred bush
els of wheat, or twenty yards OF broad
cloth, or twenty hundred weight OF pork
or four cows. Would he be any better of
than he is? lie would be little worse
He must carry twice the weight TO market
Or If silver were found in less abundance
in the mines, so that coin would become
twice as valuable as il is, the horse, would
then sell for only fiftv ounces Of silver, but
those fifty ounces would then buy the same
amount of wheat. Of broad cloth, of pork
! Of cattle, OF any and Of all other com
modities; then how would the owner Of the
horse be the worse off! He would simply
have less weight TO carry. Amongst many
doubtful and uncertain propositions. one
truth is plsin and certain, that as users o.
metallic money the community is in nc
wav interested in the abundance or scar
city Of the metallic medium, except thai
when il is very abundant It becomes
weighty and cumbersome, and therefore
linconvenient. Friend, neighbor. is no
this so? Do you still want very abun
dani metal for money? Then why not use
copper, which is more abundant than sill
yer, or even lead or iron, which ere more
abundant stlll An, bu. you will say these
metals are too heavy and cumbersome fol
money, their value is too small in proper
ton to their bulk. Rest assured that sill
YER, and even gold. labor under the same
Inconvenience, but in an inferior degree
Then is not metal money some times
scarce? Yes, but ALWAYS by artificial
means. II is scarce when it is forced ou
OF circulation by worthless paper.trash-
never otherwise. While the old continen
ttal money circulated, no metal money was
tseen, even when the continental bills pass
ed at the rate Of thousand for one; bu
4 when that trash sunk absolutely out Of cir.
9fculation, ..gold and silver re-appeared moi
soon but instantly" So now silver and
gold are known to be abundant. but they
will not circulate in company with the foul
{. greasy. worthless trash from Pickhonock
and Knave.sink and Rogueslap. and Vii.
lains. camp. and Jewit-city, with which the
country is flooded. Rest assured. neigh
Dor, that the old story which you have
heard so often about the precious metals
being too scarce for the purposes Of money
is not TRUE but is the reverse OF the TRUTH
l shall return to this subject in my nex'
communication. ONO.
Maritime News.
New YoaK, Jan. 5.-The Illinois did
/ not bring the mails Of the Winfield Scott
! Thsssteamer Sen Francisco, hence for
/ San francisco, was fallen in with, Dec.