Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-12-13
OIL a r. KS WILLIE
Friday, December 18th, 1861.

"
administration Of public affairs, especially
when there is an even chance that such
Complaints tnpy be heard by the enemy
But thereis point at which silence ceases
to be prudence and that point has been
reached when the tndttsrings of disoon-
tent are heard on every hand, and grow
louder as the evil presses heavier upon
that class which il is the duty Of the Gov
ernment to protect-the poor and unem-
ployed. Never, in the history of the
South has there been sueh an abundance
of meat and. bread as at this moment, and
it is subject of grave enquiry why, just
at this time, when the families of the poor
are deprived of the SUPPORT of husbands,
fathers, brothers and sons, the Goverh-
ment has bid against them for meat and
bread and fixed the price of pork at teh
dollars and -four almost as high. These
pricss, the poor can not pay-it is an sx-
toftion FOR which those in authority are
responsible, and yet they are charged with
want of patriotism if they hesitate to
volunteer in defense of their country and
leave their defenseless gatniliss to the ten
der mereies of the selfish speculator or to
an unequal competition with Government
agents. These hardships are severely felt
and every hour 5f endurance lessons the
Interest Of those who bear them in a con
test which promises nothing but ruin, end
as it may. Every day we see and hear
evidences of the dangerous influence these
things are having upon the popular
heart--an influence which nothing can
counteract so long as the agent and spec
ulator are permitted to oppress them by
placing the staff of life beyond the reach
Of their humble means.
But we shall probably be told that the
Government has no right to fix the price
a of meat and bread-that its interference
y would be an unauthorized assault up6h the
rights of individuals--an obstruction Of
the legitimate course of trade. IF this be
true, by what right does it take his gun
- value it at half price and give him re-
+ ceipt for the gun, but pays no money!
o By what right does it take possession OF
man s lot, tear down his houses and fel
his timber2 Oh, but these are military
necessities, and the power implied is eve
!, rywhere conceded Granted But the
poor volunteer or DIilitiamah will argue
r with equal Justice and force, that his ser
r vices are a military necessity, and, tha
whilst the government exacts them at iti
own price, it is bound bysevery considera
p tion of right and humanity to protect hi
family against its own agents as we'll a
d against sharpers The fhiller's -four, thr
ia farmers corn and pork, the speculator'
" salt and the citizens gun are equally pri
i. tdte property, and it is gross injustice t.
seize the latter at half price and then dis
,e claim the right to interfere with the pric
nd of the other articles. The soldier view
the subject in this light and when he see
70 the wealthy and influential enjoying tn
fat places under the Government and tn
!" greedy capitalists, with impunity. extort
-. ing the last dime from his defenseless fam
Iily,is it tny wonder that he shoulders hi
&C gun with reluctance, and looks with indii
ference, If not disgust, upon country an
a cause that deeply wrong, instead of pro
tecting him In his dearest interests? Pa
triOtism withers under the blghting t0uc
l. Of injustice and ingfatitude, and tn
as GOvetumsht that will not protect the sol
IN dier's Wife when he is perilling his life i
as its defense, sewers every tie--crushes ever
sympathy that shOtld endcar IL to III
: popular heart.
IL is in no qderulois spirit that "
of make these remarks but the evils upo
he which they are based cry aloud for a rem
to edy, aud sound policy, no less than hu
;" manity, demands their correction. Iii Ii
camps and on the streets, growing discor
tent is manifestiHg itself, and the onl
Sontented parties are those whose fat of
ees and heavy profits make them look NJ
of on the war as blessing, aud the suffc
file ings that attend it as none Of their bus
to ness. There isnoreason why pork shoul
md he worth more than six dollars per huuc
red, or -four more than six dollars per ba
rel, except that Rgehts and millers an
p mouopolists have so Tilled IT and Il
-, Government conuives at the iniquity.-