Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-30
A FINANCIAL SCHEME.

To The Editor Of The Wing;
As We are involved in war in which everything is at
stake that is dear to man, the people, as general
thing, are willing to make any sacrifice that may be
necessary to secure success but the sacrifice OF
honor We are, indeed, ga people terribly in earnest"
Too much confidence cannot well BE placed in the pa
triotsm devotion and sefsacrihcing disposition Of the
people, if they can only be properly directed. The
people will sustain any measure of relief from our
financial troubles that may be necessary, Wise just and
equitable; but they cannot provide the gemedy-that,
the Government must do Voluntary associations the
action of individual counties and men, even the ndi-
viJu.l action Of State, however noble and praise
worthy, cannot result in more than limited, tempo
rarv good The golden rule if universally adopted and
scted upon would do away with the necessity for all
laws 10 restrain man's sel6shnes; but it is not thus
sdopted ana acted upon, and therefore, fails So must
individual effort fs in the present case. Any measure
10 he remedial must be radical it must be based upon
the Necessity OF removing the cause of the evil and
therefore, must be a Government measure.
If Government has Just right to call into the field if
necessary all men capable Of bearirg arms, and to
force them by CONSUMPTION law, surely 1t has an in
dspuabe right 10 take and use so much OF the pecu-
mary power of the country as may be necestary-
Money is called the sineWs OF war, and 1t Is alone in
this element of power and military strength that We
seem to be in danger Of failure aud the reason B that
il exists only on paper An army, to give security TO
ourselves and sEke terror 10 our enemies must be an
army of living active men, armed and ready to strike
whenever it IS necessary. We have not depended on
promising to raise armies but have raised them, and
the other arm of strength rested on as real basis
if there we're as substantial evidence Of ts reality,
would be as invincible the army of Lee or Bragg.
In addition the spirit Of speculation the great cause
of the depreciation Of currency is the want of CON
fdence in it. because people do not see how the Gov
eminent is to pay its debts This does not prove want
Of confidence in ultimate success, for men prefer
property Of almost any kind negro property, to
Treasury notes or Confederate bonds
How, then can confidence be restored? By contract
ing the currency and establishing it on specie basis
II Confederate bonds and Treasury notes had specie,
or definite property basis confidence would be restored.
The Government has neither, and though it cannot OBJ
tain the SPECIE can obtain that which Of equal value
in the form of individual bonds obgaionsOf the p0o
pie TO pay forced loan Of Treasury bank from
tbe people, would be beneficial only by contracting the
currency, and remeiyng for time, the evils growing
out Of its Redundancy What want is not OILY 10
contract the currency, but to establish it upon firm
basis. Let government then by forced loan, not Of
mODey-e1cept specie when any one prefers to pay
it-but of the obligations or bonds Of all property
holders, raise sufficient amount to place the currency