New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-13
POLITICAL ECONOMY In JEFFDoa

POLITICAL ECONOMY I'm JEFFDoM
How to eat your cake and save ito make
something out of nothing-to render shadows
and realities interchapgeable-tO cause noto-
riOusly false and illusory promise to be gen
orally regarded and accepted as true and hon.
est-bas been justly regarded as the tOuchstOne
of genius-the acme of financial and political
achievement. They are hard at work on the
problem 10 Secessia, but with success not yet
parallel to the boldness of the conception they
seek TO realize. For instance, here 10 a bit OF
Confederate Solonism' which BeOtla never yet
ryaled:
'Ths Legislature of GeOrE. has passed bill to prevent,
during the exiting war monopoes and specustions Ia bread
articles of general use and consumption Tho
bill enumeses salt wheat -four bacon, lard cotton, osna
burgs keseys leather Shoes card, wool csrds as
the articles witch be sold at speculative prices
allow, the owners any Of these articles to sell them at an ad
vance Of sixty per cent upon their price last APRIL
Let ne illustrate ,he wisdom of this act:
The revolted States produce no Salt save in
Western Virginia, which adheres 70 the Union
and il inaccessible to traitor commerce. Oh
course, Salt has become very scarce throughout
Jeffdom-so scarce that the poor cannot buy it,
and the pork which should be cured about these
days for the next seasons use, cannot be for
want of salt. Its current price is ten to twenty
fold what it usually is and would now be ii
peace were restored. Dear as the article IL,
a L H. LIT Rv
ing and using domestic Salt Springs II such
there be; OF 2. BY egapOrating sea-water; or
3. BY running it through the blockade at great
risk of capture. To each OF these resorts, tue
stimulus of high prices is indispensable. None
but natural fool will send vessel from So
vannah or Brunswick to the West Indies or
elsewhere for salt, Drawing the risks OF capture
and confiscation, unless the venture promises to
pay well if successful. But the act above noted
forbds this expectation, by limiting the price
of salt to a point miseraby inadequate. III
the merchants of Savannah were 10 combine
and send ten ships TO different neutral ports for
salt. and eight of the ten should be captured in
running out or in, the cargoes Of the two that
eyaded the blockade must be sold at prices that
would render the speculation ruinous. The le-
Qally established reward Of a benehcent enter
prise, greatly conducive to the public veal, and
even necessary to the support of the rebellion,
is bankruptcy. In other words, the Legislature
of Georgia, finding the deficiency Of salt very
great and grevous, enacts that no one but a
natural fool shall attempt to supply it
- But the Currency OF Jef.'s dominions
consists of all manner of shinplssters--Conied-
crate, State County, City, Corporate and in
diyidual-baving but one characteristic in CON-
mon-the dollars they speak of are only visible
to the eye of the most lively faith. They differ
mainly in this, that the smaller and privately
issued varieties only promise TO pay their fye
ten, twenty-five or fifty cents in Confederate
bonds or current Bank notes; which not being
a difficult feat, we presume they usually stand
ready to perform; while their fellows OF loitier
parentage that talk roundy of paying so many
dollars" are not swindles, only because the
falsehood of their promise is universally under
stood. No man who should barter stick OF
candy for pauper chds promise to pay a
million dollars at six months could truly atlivm
fraud on the part OF the promiser.
Now, il will not answer in Jeidom to refuse
any of these multiiarious sLinplasters--you must
take them when offered you, or expect to be
spitted on the most convenient bowie-an'ie or
hung with the nearest grapevine as one
of " Lncoln's minions," aud deadly foe t.
Southern independence. The worst that it is
safe to do is to hide your gold, if you have
any, and decline to exchange it AZ par for prom
ises which are but confessions of bankruptcy
Hereupon The Richmond Dispatch makes the
following vigorous propositions:
LIST. lie. Congress IJefsl declare by solemn acts that
whoever shall ask receive cent In consideration of the
exchange of sort Of for another whether 1t shall
be specie for paper money of pspor money for
another, ,aaH be gully Of treason, and puafssd rh death
I'd Lot be instantly provided that each shs
ceive It's Treasury par any paper money which
may be- lawfully Issued by any bank corporation, individual
within Its jurisdiction.
I'D Let DO provided that any such money shall be re
ceyed par In payment Of all and dues TO the Con-
fedeiss States Treasury.
18th Authorize the Treasury DEPARTMENT to he pubit
fund.- and securities for The redemption Of ag Hape,
10 the Confederate States.
sth Require each bank in tie Con eency 10 redeem Il
bills OF every other bank. Let Congress DO warned and wake
up the financial pcds which bese Ths 5aass
allies II Lincoln"
The drift of these more comprehensive
propositions is precisely the same with that OF
the Georgia act aforesad-to suppress all ex-
ternal commerce whatever. A merchant or
ship-owner runs a cargo through the blockade
and sells it [nof in Georgia. at good prices.
But his pay is all Of the Confederate ,,
nrler--ihnt is il consists of broken nrnnisas.