The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-06

really little more than mob. At the first
onset it may be something more, but not at
the second-especially when the cause is the
maintenance Of human slavery. Such
cause is not the parent of sublime sacrifices
or Deeds.
We have only to look at the contest be.
tween the two sections of the country in the
light OF common sense to see how it must
speedily result. There is no magic or acci-
dent about these things. We may assume
both parties to be equally brave, and equally
devoted and sincere. Equally matched in
these respects, it is mass, both in men and
money, that decides the contest. In the
former, the North has four to one of the
South; in the latter, ten to one. More than
this, the North has halter around the neck
of every Southern industry which it is al
ready throttling in its coils. In the North,
every industry is as free, and may be as ac-
tive as it has been for years. In short
time the South must succumb from sheer
exhaustion. If our people will look at all
the elements in the great contest as they
really are, and not as they often appear
through an excited imagination, they will
save themselves a great deal of needless
pain and anxiety.
CURRENCY IN THE soUTH-THE SOUTHERN
BANKS THE ALLIES OF THE NORTH.
Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirer.
Gold and silver are now selling in the
Southern States at from ten to fifteen per
cent for current bank bills. A sound and
uniform currency is as essential to the health
and vigor of the Confederacy and the Gov
ernment, as healthy red blood is to the
power and endurance of the body. This
thing of deprecated currency is Just now
more to be feared than all of Lincon's
legions. 1t is what ought not to be done,
and cannot be submitted to by Southern
people. 1t is intolerable that the banks
should be exempt by law from the obliga
ton to redeem their currency in specie, and
at the same time sell the very gold and sill
yer with which it ought to be redeemed for
ten to fifteen per cent. in exchange for their
own bills. 1t is all the same whether they
DO this at their own counter directly, or in,
directly through the agency of brokers'
True to their soulless character and sordid
instincts the banks are ready for a few vile
dollars, to crush the Government and the
people together.
Are these institutions really the friends
OF Lincoln? Just SO soon as it appears
that the banks are to be allowed to prev
upon the people at this time, when they are
loyalty and periodically pouring into the
pnblic treasury every dollar they can spare,
and bravely looking debt and taxation in
the face, we shall find an abatement of zeal
and discomfort perilous to our great cause.
Whatever circulates as money low, must
circulate at par, and if the bills of the sus-
pended banks are really declining in value,
and are, in fact, worth ten or fifteen per
cent. less than gold, it is time to crush them
out. Ii this evil should be allowed to
progress, we shall soon have universal bank.
ruptcy. We are willing to give our last
dollar and last drop of blood to support the
existing laws and expe the invaders of our
soil. We have solemnly consecrated our
lives to this holy work, but we are not will.
ling to be taxed ten per cent, even on the
whole currency, for the benefit of selfish and
unpatriotic money mongers. Cast the mon
ey changers out of our holy temples
Scourge them away from our patriotic al
tiers. Congress is now in session, l propose
a scheme for its consideration. It is as
follows:
l. Let Congress declare, by solemn acts,
that whoever shall ask or receive per
cent, in consideration of the exchange of
one sort OF money for another, whether it
shall be specie for paper money, or one sort
OF pap money for another, shall be guilty
of treason, and punished with death.
2. Let it be instantly provided that each
State shall receive at its own Treasury, at
par, any paper money which may be law.
fully issued by any bank, corporation or in
divi lual within its jurisdiction.
3 Let it be provided that any such money
shall be received at par in payment of all
taxes and dues to the Confederate State
Treasury.
8. Require each bank in the Confederacy
to redeem the bills of any other bank. Let
Congress be warned and wake up to the
financial periIs which beset US. The banks
are the allies of Lincoln.