The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-03-19

|
Confederate war tax bill does indeed i'm
pose n tax upon all cash in h II on
certain day; but that is found d on the
notion that money should produce inter
est; whereas il money were conf ed to
its legitimate use, simply rs medium Of
exchanging property and lahour, it would
not he considered. of itself productive and
Fl, subject Of taxation. The aper mon
ey, now unfortunately Y in use throughout
the Confederacy, already costs the peop'e
enough and it is worse tha" idle to pre-
tend, IEai, in the present condition Of the
country, any one can emplov money with
profit, beyond obtaining maintainance,
except in brokerage with the government.
When the government shall take. as it
ought TO do, at fixed prices, over its Ell
tire sphere Of operation, whatever may be
necessary for the public service there will
be an end Of all such employ ment-as
unpatrio,ic, AS it may be prof abb.
The Government g., uld not need gold
and silver, for the purpose Of paving in.
tercst on the public debt; for that is I'M
quit us, and it is unsla,es,nanlike in our
rulers to submit to such An imposition in
the present situation Of pubic affairs. II,
would no longer he thought OF, If the
course now proposed be adopted. Its
Scrip should, and would he the only true
measure OF value Of everything in the
country, amoLg our own people of all
the gold and silver in the hands Of everv
patriotic citizen, as Of every other com.
modify. II then the Government really
need specie, for any purpose, for which
its Scrip would not be sufficient. let it ap,
propriate specie also, wherever il may he;
on the same terms, that j. takes the fight.
ing man. or his provisions.
Can anything he more inconsis,en, with
the realities Of the present situati than
to talk Of gold aud silver being "necessa.
~ to constitute the hasis OF future circu.
la'ion, to provide meals Tor the public
defence T. Does not every one know
that the currency OF the country rests not
now on any such basis bot upon the
credit Of the banks; which leans on the
government loans, and the deb:s Of ind.
,idual borrowers and lha, these supports
depend, entirely, on the ability Of the
Southern States to MAINTAIN their md.
pendence Instead OF ransackng all
the cupboards Of tie ladies Of the coun.
try, and melting up the SILVER cups and
papspoons. that children have received
from their godfslhers and godmohers
or disbonoring the relics Of family vene,
ration, 10y rudely breaking the cords Of
sentiment, which bind our hearts to the
old plate Of our ancestors; in orde, to sat
isiv the usurer's demands, for the. preten.
ded basis Of irredeeamble paper money {;
let the government devise u masculine
sta,esmanlike scheme. developing all the
physical and material force OF the couu.
try. IL the precious metals are absolute
ly necessary for the Government, 10 pur.
chase arms, or other war material, which
can only ne procured beyond our own do
main. and in exchange for specie then
will our people, most cheerfully, sacrifice
every sentiment, and elegance, on the al
| IT
spoons, and forks of every household; the
cups and tankards Of our EIrefa,hers
and the State shall also have the ca,
rings, and bracelets Of our fair ladies
even their thimbles, and wedding ring,
shall be coined. to buy cannon and ball
but as tribute to paper money broker.
"the basis OF further circula,ion"-ihei
instrument Of more extended imposition
upon the people, and dishonour Of thei
Government forbid it Truth, Justice
Patriotism ! The simplest bsa,ted girl
and the "gude wife At hame" will ask ou
sapient rolers, whether cotton and tobac
| Gu TICS CouIu not Oe sent HOfOAO, ~
safely as their je~elry and spoons
Away with such PueriIty. IL nigh, dc
for trashy romance. depicting the exag
perated beroism Of the Southern chival
~, and their self sacrificing patriotism
Just to think Of their giving ~
their silver spoons and forks, for tbei
countryl II becomes not history. A.
Spartans we can hgh, wi,rno money bn
iron. We will conquer the bsrbariar
with steel. We can war without col,
and silver. or lying mammon The OIL,
real difficulty is in accommodating a sys
tenn, founded on common sense, and pa
triotisp,. to the imperfect aLd onerous ano
perp'exing contrivances. which have i'm
paired The power u the State. and de
graded the tone and spirit Of the people