Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-09-27
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER q, 1862.
How we may aid the Government in put
ting down Rebellion more effectually
. than by risking our Lives on the Battle

ting down Rebellion more effectually
than by risking our Lives on the Battle
Field.
1t is an old axiom that money is the
sinews of war, and it is also well under
stood that the confidence reposed i'll the
perpetuity of government, and its
ability to ultimately meet all its pecu-
MARY liabilities regulates and controls
the value of its bonds or "promises to
pay" Hence the great solicitude now
manifested by the Government to in
spire the people with confidence in its
ability to crush out the rebellion as the
only means of keeping its securities,
now the only means of prosecuting the
war to successful termination, equal
to gold and silver in every part of the
country.
There is but one way to do this, and
this way only needs to be suggested
to be appreciated by the most obtuse
intellect among us, and that is to cr-
ceive these notes in all of our business
transactions the same as gold and silver
coin, the value of which has been fixed
under the Constitution by Congress,
the same power which, has declared by
law that certain drafts drawn by the
proper officer of the Government upon
the Treasury Of the United States, shalt
be considered by all citizens as equal in
ra'ue to the coinage Of the United States,
and that it shall be received in the pay
mcnt of all dues, the same as gold and
silver.
The question very naturally suggests
itself to every inquiring mind, why this
is not now being done in this and every
otlerportion of the United States where
the people profess to acknowledge the
obligation resting with them to obey
implicitly every law enacted by the
Constitutional authorities ofthcir Gov
eminent? And why is it that we find
mon who exert q widespread influence
in their respective communities, daily
violating this most important law by
refusing to receive these bonds; and
why is j: that our marshals and other
officers of the Government, who are
sworn to see that the laws are o5eyed,
fail to punish those who endeavor to
derreciate the value ofthese bonds! Is
it right that one class of laws shall be
enforced while another is violated
with impunity? Will our Govern.
mcnt imprison those "giving aid and
comfort to the enemy" by merely adj
vising their neigbbors not to shoulder
the rife and aid in suppressing the re-
bcllion, while it permits bankers and
merchants to violate the law which re-
quires them to regard the bonds of the
Government as equal to her coin, and
thus compel the Government, BY the
depreciation Of her credit, to acknowledge
the independence of Rebellion, and
thus bring about the very thing for
which the more honest sympathizer
had been taken to prison? Will hon.
est loyal men, who regard their Gov
crnmcnt as Of more value than "that
which perishes with the using, ">and
who, like our lamented Stevens, are
willing to yield their lives in its de.
fence, be so glaringly inconsistent as to
,lcnounce the one, a sympathizer with
the rebellion, and to defend the other,
who strikes the more stealthily and ef-
fectively at the very life Of the Govern
ment? I'VE think not.
'@' We hold that a mans patriotism
should be estimated by the extent Of
sacrifice he is willing to make for the
support Of the Government. Men who
sacrifice their lives in their country's
defence are entitled to more credit than
those who contribute money for that
purpose, and who make pecuniary sac-
rifices for maintaining ito credit; but
who will contend that those who refuse
TO do either, and refuse to receive treas
ury notes except at . large discount, in
order to put into their pockets ten or
fifteen per cent. additional profit on
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