American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-03
The Confederate Loan.
Fsll0,0 Citizens or Madison Cosaty. !.

The Confederate Loan.
Fsll0so Citizens Of Madison Coanty.
Having been appointed by the Governs
ment of the Confederate States Commits
sioner TO bring before the people of this
county the subject of the Confederate Loan,
and to receive subscriptions therefor, take
this method of again calling your attention
to this important subject.
1t is proposed, as most of you are aware,
that the Government will now take tie
pledge of the planter for such part of the
proceeds of his crop as the planter may. be
willing to subscribe; and when the crop is
sold and the proceeds placed to the credit Of
the Government, the subscriber will receive
the bonds of the Government bearing per
cent interest for the amount subscribed.
The planter can select his own merchant to
sell his cotton, and take such time to deliver
and sell it as will enable him to get an av
erage price.
Subscriptions in money will also be re-
cleveland should the planter prefer, he
may subscribe cotton, or other produce, or
money in the alternative.
Many of you have already subscribed to
this loan literally; many others have sub
scribed less amounts in view of the drought,
and the prospect of light crop; while some
have not yet manifested the amount which
they intend to loan the Government.
Now, the reasons for delay and particular
caution in this respect, have ceased. Prov
idence has smiled upon US, with genial show
ers, throughout the county; and we have the
promise of an abundant harvest-more abun-
dant, it is believed, than any during the last
ten Yeas. Now is the time for those who
have hitherto delayed their subscriptions,
and those who have not yet come up to the
full measure OF their ability, to manifest
their patriotism by promptly coming for
ward to sustain the Government Of their
choice,
Remember that thi. proposed subscription
is not a gift--it is a LOAN; and, in every
point of view, 1t Is the best Investment that
ever a0as offered IN the shape Of a Gorernaaeat
loan The rate of interest allowed is higher
than was ever known in snch cases; and the
security upon which it rests is precisely the
same as that on which is based all your
property of every kind whatsoever. The
taking of these bonds, therefore, is one OF
those enterprises in which you cannot posi-
bly, lose. You loan money to your neighbor;
be fails, and you lose the investment. You
purchase property; it depreciates on your
hands-is lost amid confagrations or the de-
vastations of war, and you lose the invest
ment. But these bonds will stand as long
as your Government stands. When that
fails, your all is gone-lands, negroes, mer-
chandise, notes and bills Of exchange-ALL
are worthless.
But is there not higher motive for this
investment than its mere proft2 The war
must be prosecuted-the Government must
be sustained-with money, as well as men
or it fails-is overthrown--we are subju-
gated-and are in worse condition of vas
salage than the meanest serf in the Russian
Empire.
Our Government is yet only five months
old. With Government thus in its infan-
cy, we cannot, for obvious reasons, go into
the markets of foreign nations for a loan; and
rejoice that it is SO. The people of the
Confederate States are able to sustain their
Government without foreign ad-and they
will do it. Let this war continue one, five,
ten, or twenty years, and our brave sons,
with the products of the teeming fields,
which kind Providence has given US, will
amply furnish the sinews of war. While
the people--the SOVEREIGN people--the
source of all power in the Government-will
hold these bonds and preserve inviolate the
security on which they are based.
1 repeat, the war must be prosecuted, and
the Government must be sustained Madi-
son county has already furnished five COM
panies, and other individual soldiers, for the
defence of our country. Two other compa-
MES are in forward state of preparation for
the field. Nearly every family in the coun-
ty is represented by one or more loved ones,
now ready to bear their breasts to the foe
Are these brave men to be unclothed and
unfed and unfinished with proper arms,
while engaged in the defence of all you hold
dear and valuable in tkis life Z Is the blood
of your sons, your brothers and your fathers
less valuable to you than your cotton bales2
This is the time when trre patriotism will
manifest itself-when the ring of the true
metal will be heard and known, and the
base alloy will be exposed.
It is true, there are some among Us whose
situation and circumstances arc such that
they cannot now contribute any aid to the
Government, simply because they have not
the means at their command. Such persons
should be excused and we should regret
with them their inability to participate in
the glorious privilege of sustaining those
brave men who are at this moment fighting
for our liberties. But of those, if there be
any such, who have the means, and, regard
less of ali the inducements and appeals that
passing events present to their view, WILL
NOT set apart portion Of their abundance
to aid their country in this its hour of trial.