The Washington union., 1857-11-26

who cannot afford 70 be troubled with receiving,
counting, and keeping and paying out real money.
1t will cost but trihe, and those who have much
to be unwilling to be troubled with it can easily
and well pay whatever such cost may be. But COM
mon people have no such troubles. They should be
provided with the means Of having good reliable
and legal currency the fruits of their tolls availa
BILE at all times, for all purposes and everywhere.
No government, State or national should contribute
to the means of pushing upon them poorer curren-
cy than the fathers and patriots Of the revolution
provided for the whole community. This is the real
sentiment of the people, and we trust that they will
pursue all legitimate means of rendering il pract
cally effective, now and in all time to come. We
before readers letter written by wise and un-
selfish man seventy years since. II is full of truth
and wisdom, present experience most strikingy
proves
MouSr yERsos, Feb. "a, 1887.
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 30th ult came duly to
hand To give opinion in cause of 30 much import
that which has warmly agated the two branches
of your legislature and which, from the appeal that is
made, is likely to create great, and perhaps dangerous,
divisions is rather delicate matter but, this diver
sty of opinion is subject which has believe,
thereon have been fully and decidedly expressed long be-
fore the assembly either of Maryland this State
convened do not scruple to declare that If had
voice in your legislature it would have been given de-
cdedly against paper emission upon the general prnc
pie of utility representative and the necessity of it
medium To assign for this opinion would be
unnecessary tedious the ground has been often
trod that place hardly remains untouched in a word,
the necessity arising from want of specie represented
greater than it really is contend that it is by the
substance not the shadow of things that to be
benefited. The wisdom of man, in my humble opn-
ion cannot, at this time, devise plan by which the
credit of paper money would be long supported
sequenty depreciation keeps pace with the quantity Of
emission and articles for which it is exchanged rise in
greater ratio than the sinking value of the money.
Wherein then, is the farmer the planter and artisan
benefited The debtor may be, because, as have OBJ
served he gives the shadow in lieu of the substance and
in proportion to his gain the creditor or body poitic suf
fer Whether it be legal tender not it will has
been observed very truly leave alternative 1t must
be that nothing An evil equally great is the door it
Immediately opens for speculation by which the least de-
signing, and perhaps most valuable, part Of the commu
nifty preyed upon by the more knowing and crafty
specuators But, contrary to my intention and declaa
tion am offering reasons in support of my opinion
reasons too, which, of all Others least pleasing to
the advocates for paper money. SHALL therefore, only
observe generally many people have suffered by former
emissions that like burnt child who breads the fire,
person will touch it who possibly avoid it the
natural consequence of which will be, that the specie
which remains unsupported will be instantly locked up
With great esteem and regard,
am, dear sir, &C.,
GEORGE WASHINGTON