The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-01-08
Letter from Duncan Stewart, of De-
troit, to the Farmers Of
Michipan.

Michigan.
The purchasers Of Western Produce, in
New York, are making strong efforts TO
run down the price Of articles Of food
raised by your industry and toll. Men Of
supposed sense and patriotism are infu-
encing the minds of the people on both
sides of the Atlantic for base and selfish
ends. Tn Canada the war feeling is ramp
ant and unreasoniug. The result is 10
run down the prices of your grain, hogs
and cattle, much below their actual value.
and also to force upon YOU payment in
Canada funds, that in case of war would
not be worth twenty-five cents on the dol
lar. Give the Canada banks pretext to
suspend specie payment on account OF
war and every dollar now ahoat in Michi-
gan would be good as lost. Under these
circumstances let farmers refuse all Cana
da money and keep their produce, that
they are not compelled to sell, at home,
until the present troubles are settled, ell
ther by declaration Of war, or an ami
cable adjustment. ~
If war should come, The hope of the
country and It's strength are the tillers OF
the soil. Robbery and corruption are ev-
rywhcre in tho ascendant. You must
unite and keep the rulers of the land to
strict account for the mode and manner
in which they manage the affairs of the
nation. We have reached point where
playing soldiers and stealing from the
Treasury must come TO an end. This
present war spirit is mostly cherished by
men who trust TO steal so much wealth
out of war with England as they have
done out of rebellion in the South;
men who desire TO live at the expense of
the nation, having never been able TO earn
an honest living for themselves.
Farmers of Michigan, it is time We
were done with Quartermaster-Generals,
like Fountain, who lets contracts and then
adyerlses for proposals, to rob you and
rob me, for we are the parties who mus:
pay all the bills, honest and dishonest.
Farmers Of Michigan, it is time we
were done with a Governor like Blair, who
has net got the moral courage to dismiss
q Quarlermaster, like Fountain.
Farmers of Michigan, it is time We
were done allowing Colonels Of Regiments
TO let contracts to any one they choose,
to furnish men with clothing and other
articles. 1t is time that Field Officers,
and all other Officers, were compelled to
live in tents, and in cold board buildings,
as the men do, instead of feasting in ho-
tells, and sleeping in warm beds, as is tho
case nearly all over the country.
Farmers of Michigan, it is time that
officers of the volunteers should be forced
at once into the duties that pertain to
them, and not be allowed for months af-
ter their appointment, to attend to their
own private business. In short, it is time
that, as tax payers and patriots, you rose
as one man, and demanded of The Gov
ernment, u vigorous and determined pros
ecuton Of the war-a law to hang dis
honest contractors aud quartermasters-
and an honest expenditure of all the mon
ey borrowed, and all the taxes raised.
Unless you do this, the sooner the
South is acknowledged an independent
nation the better. This country will new
or subdue the South, and carry on sue
cessful war with England, while the
shameful frauds being daily perpetrated
on the Government go unpunished, and
their authors are looked upon gentlemen,
instead of rs mean, swindling common
thieves.
Let clubs be formed all over the Ncrth
to net as vigilance committees on con-
tracts, and as soon as contractor or
quartermaster is proved TO have defraud-
cd the government, let their names be nj
once published, and let these committees
hang such villains wherever found. Let
the action of the committee be also retro
? spcctive, and let us hang every man al
ready proved guilty of fraud bv the In
vestigating Committee appointed by the
Goyernment-let us swing the base, mean
swindIers in our midst who would reap
and have rcaped golden harvest out of
the hearts blood of the people.
DUNCAN STEWART.