The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-01-03

""' P'"P'e P'ePHcu 10 meet tne caIafnlty
Far be 1t from our intention to cause an un-
founded alarm, we do not pretend to pro-
phecr, but we beg our people to be more
cautious, &c" Fair crops have been made
the past year, but owing to variety of eau
ses, money is now extremely scarce, cotton
down to and cents, whilst the necessa-
ries OF life are exhorbitantly high. Hogs s
cents per pound gross, corn from IS cents
to 81 per bushel, rice S. per bushc, and
every other article propo-tiouately high
We repeat the Inquiry made eleven months
ago, Are our people prepared to meet the
calamity" Wetrust in God they are, but
it so, they are much better off than many in
other districts. While on this subject, we
take the liberty of giving few admonitory
words of advice. Put check, for con-
science sake, tc this intolerablc credit busi-
ness. How can a people prosper, when ne
gotiations arc consummated by promises to
pay! One great cause of our present EN-
barrassment in financial ;ffairs is, that the
whole country is deluged with banks. In
stitutions gotten up TO enrich n few indi-
viduals, at the expense Of the many. Bank
notes are not money. A promissory note
to pay on demand to bearer FIVE dollars, is
not gold or silver. Our currency is ruined
by the Increase of banks Had 'tnot been
for the large sui plies Of gold from Califor-
MIA, we would be now worse off than we
rnnIly oro u.a It'll L..
money had been retained within our own
borders. The United States is so entirely
dependent upon England for her supplies of
fine goods Of every description, that as fast
us we reel i've supplies Of gold from Cali
fornia, most of il is sent across the Atlantic,
in England, il docs not find "habitation or
home" Louis Napoleon, partly to in
Jnre England, and partly to revenge the in
suit given his Uncle Napoleon 3onaparte,
by the Russians in the burning of Moscow.
has used all means to progress the war
France has drawn England into it, and our
California gold goes to assist her iu meet
ing her heavy demands. We spoke Of
credit. IL as true of individuals, rs of ma
tions, that neither en- prosper when every
thing depends upon credit. We were wit
ness TO Il little circumstance the other dav !;
friend of ours paid 81 cents and interest
from date per bushcl for corn, in preference
to paying 81 cents cash. Some paid Silt
per bushcl. 1t is true he may not have had
the money, this alone then is one Of the
best reasons WHY the usury laws should be
repealed, and then he could get money
How can poor man get along when he
pays Sl.li cents per bushe for cotn with
interest from date, when ne could nave for
cash, purchased il for 80 or Mt any rate for
81 cents. Yet it is all owing to the credit
system The blacksmith, the tailor, the
shoe maker, the mason, each could pay cash
for his purchases, provided their customers
would pay them. Let us try to turn over n
new leaf in this, jas, so soon as re can.
A new year! A happy year may i. prove
to our readers. In the contemplation of a
new year, and reflection of the past, hvw
sadly do we louk around for those who
were with us year ago but, alas, we find
them not During the year Of 1851, some
Of the first citizens of our district have been
called 10 the land of their fathers. OF these
we have the names of Adams, Cureton,
Hu, y and many others. And reader, be-
fore The advent Of 1856, you or may be
called thither. Twas just tho other day,
we left II friend in Columbia in buoyant
sprits-tl'rre days subsequently, he went
to that bourne from whence no traveller
returns" And yet, it was just tho other
day that very worthy citizen Of our dis
trict, who had just returned from short
journey, was called to take longer few
minutes after his arrival home. A long
year is before us, who of us can SLY we will
sec the succeeding! The thoughts sugges-
ted by the reflection, should influence us to
pursue that course which leads to Cod
We hope you have all enjoyed merry
Christmas, and that the new year will bring
you much happiness and prosperity.