Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-12
Practical Suggestions for Government and
pAonle


mSn 70 orr forces in ne 6eld Time is precious We
ar outnumbered al points. We hold our present
positions with difficulty aud uncertainty The armies of
fhe enemy, according the late report Of their Seerc
tary Of War, embsase over 100000 men, and viii soon
number 100000 These ara fally armed and equipped
To meet such force as We VII have to DO In part this
Winter, and in fun strength Spring il is indspens
ale tba; We should have men, aud have them at
once s6at they NAV be prepared in tine for the great
dAy Of trial The CONSUMPTION Law must be enforced
With al possible p5omPtBess, vigor and impsrtisty.-
Men OF energy frnUes and integrity should be selected
70 act ss eO-o.ng ofi,ess and they should receive
eveEyNhers the al Of all officers both State and Con-
isdersss, Snt tee support Of the people Every CON-
maoity should to il that there are no skulSers in
Their midst Public opinion end if that should be In
slth;;en; the pose tosid.I should bring out every
man who l. IL for duty, and subject under the law
And We would recommend a. rule TO be departed from
cay eases OF obvious sdvaatagp that the enrolling
olesfs sho'l De seos 20 counties and towns dstart
i0n eir residences 80 that thew NAV have no occupa
n'n o1t the business Of gathering the cons,rp,s no
temptations TO parriay end no aurements TO neglect
oi d2'y When soldier or officer after noaths Of ab.
seoe Rom homo. arid the scenes OF var goes back to
family aud friends IL is impossible for him 10 stec! him.
ssl against the impulses OF nature and the attractions
Of MS situation so A. 10 give hi, whole time and cner
ges TO the task he has undertaken We 10 not know
Wal has been the course Of the War Department in re-
gard to this matter bu, are convinced that reflection
VII commend the plan here suggested
Next to raising and keeping in the field compe,en,
''rge the most Important question {. a. TO the means Of
s'p2.yug them With subsistence aad clothing. The
e-,'ol o. .r.- a1l -l.niaitiou !, almost wholly
''Tesau'-- t-- go which the people At large are no,
expected TO mate. Bat food and rlimsnr must he
slPPaed-the o-sr entirely, and the LASER largely bv
'ne people. Aa that these nav be no failure and that
ne 1oVeramel- may not by reason OF rs,or;io1aie
ehsFgs De compelled 20 multiply its Treasury issues as
70 make them worthless or 10 incur debt that would
leave no ALTERNATIVE, bl, the disgracefu necessity ot re-
PadAion we are Of opinion that the system Of impress
en' vii have 10 be adopted and pract,ed IN an com
nSary and quar.ermasers transactions between GOV.
'rnmeut aud people. The Government should adopt
aud publish fair aud liberal scale Of prices for every
'''og It need and sending ont discrss, ana honest
'senis provided sh such vouchers of OH ,e 4, would
"Ao" no douh' OF their aarhots--hould take rlsahly
OF TIE surplus OF each whatever required for e .ap.
port Had the efficiency Of or noble and ~ sacrificing
Se,F @s;h, su he pa,Fio i'm aud the honor and the
% aan''y % Oh. g'lu,y ara sufficient 20 keep such
'-'as'' on t'i sooa behavior l. is Idle 10 suppose
ina; such dds c4a be gassi 81 ,c,ssiuly With
'ii rs heavy sa; being it every shcrs and bv all
when ;tc P--e.pe Of coa,crptou Is applied 10 osrsous
tasre T. no rel,oa Wby should be iorborue a. to
"'"g' il ih' Government NAV 90 to the sreside Of
me family and take the fithe- the husband. the son
the ahin-aH io thousands Of helpless and ceatle
beings Il may s"ac- barns and graaaries ard fields
and factories and storehoges and take whatever {. ne
eessary 10 feed -F era,y-5ei la. brave soldiers. and
protect them from ie deadly blast Of winter No nan
Who has brains 10 L., bead aud a hear; in his bosom
viii say nay. Aud part Of this compulsory system
regard tI" imperative duty of the Legislatures
OF The different States 90 pass such laws a. will insure
The Application OF iuib'tiblv adequate amount Of
labor and meaa7 the producton Of the uecessries Of
LIE Under the temptation Of the present prices for
tobacco aat Co,,oa 20 Is no, safe to leave it TO the
choice Of planters 10 employ their lands and labor
as Sey please An alrm:ugy small crop Of wheat has
been seeded The dsdeeacy mus, be made up BY large
planting ofcorn, beans, potatoes, &c, next SPRING.
The number Of pounds OF tobacco and cotton per hand
shicb each planter ,hli be permitted to make must
be limited BY law, and penalty for di,regirding
that law, every pound tia b, produced in excess
% the number h1ed by statute, should be confscated TO
State. If the patriotism OF ti- planters could not be
relied on 10 reconcile them such a law as we are
lt might they have only bear in mind that the
les The quaDtus p.ojacsj the higher the prices they
will obtain, to make them content A small aggregate
crop will generally yield mach a. a large one. We
earnestly recommend to the Legislature of Virginia and
-. ~ Il
IS Of az importance that canlOt be over estimated.
There IS one osaer subject OF vital concern to which
the principle Of compulsory legislation vii, have be
applied. We sllule TO the currency. The circulation
Of the country has attained volume plainly excess of
The needs Of business and has therefore ceased TO be
the test and standard Of values If goes on ncress-
ing ss It will do uacss strong remedy IS applied IL
will lose al value aad the wheels Of government will
stop aud the arm Of be paralized for lack Of that
Without which governments and armies be main
tanned The puucipIa Of coDscdptou which Is sp.
pied 70 the peroas Of free citizens add which will have
ss aecsaiais % be -pped their property is ust as
Applicable aad e6sleous in operation ca their pursss
re circulation Of tue country be enlarged with.
out fatal consequences To avoid it, the government
nust have returned it. by some process or other
sufficient amount Of the currency aaOat as BY its
reissue Of another substituted for it, to answer the
demands which it (the government has for funds But
three modes exist Of attaining this result heavy tar,
forced Loan cOeTced flndsg in government bonds
Congress meets in January, and win have determine
which mode they viii adopt TheyeannO tsmporize post
pons apply paIAtives any longer. Something deci-
sire must be done al once. Aud they must act upon
thelr svn Judgment They need expect government
al aid or Illumination. They not Sickle either, on
dnon-sssental points. The tmss-cAn OR bold
aaspres and the country will NOT be safe nor sats6ed