Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15
TIE DECIMAL sY5rEN FOR rae o0NFEDkRATf
srAlES--CURRHNOY, WEIGHTS AND hEAs-
rpEs nv n VERNON,


CHARACTERIZATION, WEIGHTS AND hEAs-
UREs, BY J. 4. VERNON.
To The Editor Of the Whis:
The decimal System Is Q method OF computing, apoa
the scale of lem. and 10 constitutes the bass of the pure
arithmetic Of the whole civlEJd world. The pfnepss
consists 10 srbang to every figure In series, great
or value By snfod than would have been assgned TO
II had |. held the next place to the right Position gu
essential element Of value. The economy OF SYMBOLS
simplicity Of principle, and the psreotness OF order are
strangely and beautifully combined
BIZ means Of ten characters, varied only In reative
position We are able TO express higher numbers than tho
mind can adequately conceive and BY the sama chsrsc.
tsrs decimay decreasing, can indicate numbers In
6ni,ismaily smaller than thought can pursue.
Il Is remarkable illustration Of the force OF habit,
that the civilized and commercial world should hold on TO
tho bsrbirous customs with such tenacity Il Is sup
posed that an intelligent people will conform no longer
TO these babayous than the surrounding crcum
stances will permit and in the course OF our Idepen'
dent progress the time TO have arrived when tie
people Of the Confederate States will be expected to ho
o a,e themselves from the pressure OF an Incubus,
which they have already too long injured upon this
continent and that they will insugurass and perfect tho
Decimal 81 stem in currency, vsiehh and msdsHrt'.
The system ewith proposed, II sdop:ed, will net
interfere In the slightest degree with the standard yard
p;und gallon or in us The standard amt IN
e.ch table will remain the same on It's corresponding
Decimal Scale, both il aud in quantity The Ia.
bic Of currency will be entirely changed in value and In
denomination.
We are q separate and Distinct people, IL alenoed BY
diff. interests and sentiments than the vandas that
would sui agate Our manners and customs dif
erent; cur and talents are derenti our laws
aud institutions are different our social and public pol.
lev arc dG rcnt geographical position Is different
a,d In conformity with natural laws and natures 10
stincs, our currency Wighs AID msaiWes must be dt.
| ferent
The adoption Of the Decimsl System for currency,
Ueiohts and msasvss will mark lie epoch o. tie
centur, Il will teach the commercial world
.szE soamsreial progrsn. Il will teach
the civilized word who are and what are. Twill
teach those dealing With u the d;6frsnes between
| Yankee and a Southerner.
| CONFEDERATE STATES cuRsxxor.
The basis integral unit of value proposed for our
currency Is the srAR which Is to be divided into one
hundred equal parts, each part to be called esntims
TABLE CUaREScY.
10 cen,imes - I tropio
10 tropics - star.
10 stars - SOL
These denominations for currency have been ss.
ected for three Fnt. They are appropriate
to ourselves as . people. Second They are the en-.
bems Of cheerfuness, honor honesty Of purpose solid.
y and stability. Third. The words used are simple,
esily remembered, and arc common to several lar.
su.ges.
The mel used BY our mint to be the same degree Of
neness that used BY Great Britain and the alloy 10
be in the same proportion aad qasty-our STAR to 30
one-tenth the weight Of metal contained In Two pour
sterling.
II We adopt this as standard Of currency We vi
hsvea complete harmony betseen the currencies of Great
Britain and our own, down to shilling the demon.
nations b,lo~ this will interfere materially With our
commercial relations because standard unit Of value
will be exactly oneth Of the standard unit Of Rut
and v bear proportional relation 70 the currency Of
the world that Of Grea. Britain. The currency Il
Great Britain will circulate with Us without any irse
tiona discount, sad vice vrsa because there 10 rel
tive value existing in whole numbers, and 10 equality,
and purity Of metal The standard Anensss Of tho ORE.
cous metal AIed the British Mint therefore We
shall have trouble 10 fixing the weigh. and pstity
for own.
The comparison Of the two currsnces will stand thus
GOLD cUaRisoY.
sci - 2 soyereigns or 3 pounds starting.
stare go do or pound do.
~ stars - do or 10 shalings do.
sILvsR crRKEscY.
star - shillngs sterling 4
ts;sr-2 do. do
s.ar-l do. do
tropc - 80 pence do.
ceutne - as penny sterling.
Tar bapg tha t.hI If
ures into decimal systen, the f4nil srly oaa
IA the Old Tables have been retained and OCCUPY the
corresponding Il,ce Of ys1. a. ne.ly as possible 70
the decimal syst. will admit No new .cris haze
been introduced they all simple, easily remembe,
ed and have b,en used heretofore In this country aud
in Europe represent nearly the same value given
TO them in their respective ,c,les The standard Of
w,ghis and measures now. used remain unchanged
both in naue and quantity. The denominations sbovs
and below the standard unit change In value, and IN
some instances In name.
We h,ve no lees than Ave dr.rent orders Of weight
viz: Troy, Avoirdupois, Apo:hecaries, Wool, ssSl
The grain Of wheat was tho ffst ms:s:s
in England and consisted of 80 Anu Afterwards Of "A
gaias Of wheat which vas decided 10 tquaa p,nn,ytgh
of silver. !
In the Reign Of Eiz ,beth standard weight was usd,
Of Brass, and contained 7so grains aud this vas he
uniof weight and Is the Troy and Apotheoays pound
of the present day.
The Troy grain has been the measuring xnf In con-
pairing weights with each other, and the order of 10
weights stand thus;
The pound Foil <eos e,irs(
The Tower pound $500
The Troy pound $50
The Apotheosriss pound $3.50 "1 :