The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-04-01

nc Farmers dna f>tdnteTS hotd IN hetr
hands the destiny of this Confederaey.-
Reflect for moment: The Atlantic and
Gulf States, owing to the blockade and
the progress Of the arms Of the enemy,
made by means Of the navigsble waters
Of the Great West; have been cut of from
the supplies heretofore received from that
quarter, and are now driven in upon their
own resources-upon their own means Of
raising supplies for home consumption,
and the support Of our armies. Corn and
bacon are no longer brought TO your doors
from iEexbsustiLle grSnares and packing
houses Of the West. You must not only
raise these necessary articles but you must
bring them into market for sale, to tue
Government and to the poor-to those
whose fathers aud husbands are battling
for our rights and Liberties. You must
open your cribs and meat hosses and sell
the las. bushel Of corn, and the last pouhd
Of bacon you can spare-not to vile spec
ulators, but to the agents Of the Govern.
ment and to soldiers families. What il
you do not get the high prices which ex.
tor,ioners ask : You will get fair, rsa.
sonable price, and contribute to your
countrys cause, ave, save your country,
and thus lay the foundation Of your own
and your chlldren's wealth and prosperity.
Suppose you hoard your surplus supplies
for higher prices; you will gain nothing
and infict a grievous injury upon the
country. The Government is now sus-
tanned by credit. High prices will neces.
state further issues of treasury no,es-a
still greater expansion and consequent
depreciation Of the currency-and, there.
fore, il you should get higher prices, the
money you get will buy no more In re.
turn. Thus you will perceive while NO
real gain or advantage will accrue to you
the credit Of the Government will be i'm.
paired, and If that fails. where is the hope
Of our independence Armies must be
fed and clothed. These armies have
Withdrawn the larger part Of the white
labor Of the South from its grsir fields,
and the owners Of slaves must supply the
vacuum by converting their cotton fields
into fields OF corn. In this way alone can
our armies be fed, aud the families Of sol
diers, whom you stand pledged to pro-
vide for, supplied with the necesssries Of
life.
The scarcity Of supplies for the army
has become so great, that IL has been
ound necessary to send out impressinp
officers 70 make seizures Of provisions.-
The exercise Of this extraordinary power
Of impressmeut should be avoided, il pos
sible, II for no o.ner reason, because it
will operate partially. These officers will
necessarily act upon the information Civ.
en- them which will be imperfect. and Of
tentimes false and interested. You have
the power in great measure TO do away
With the necessity Of these impress,nent.,
except Of supplies in the hands Of specu-
Iators Cbsy are fair game) by bringing
forward for sale to the Government what.
ever you can spare. You should reflect
that it will be much better to shorten
your home allowance than to pinch with
hunger those who are fighting your bs.
ties. There is large quantity Of provi
sions in this State which can he spared
from home consumption. Let them be
offered for sale at fair prices, and the ne.
Of our soldiers in the field, and
their families at home will be supplied.
We propose to say a word hereafter
On the subject ef planting cotton tbi.
year, the restrictions imposed upon it BY
he Act Of the General Assembly, and the
patriotic appeal Of His Excellency Cover.
nor Bonham, on the same subject, in bis
late Proclamation.
AGRTCOLA.