Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-29

Mr.. DEDMAN Il am sorry to a certain class
of our newspapers filled with charges against the
producers of bread and meat for the high prices CT
those articles AS class, the farmer has had less
sympathy and protection, and more abuse and OPP
preston than any other class of people in the gov
eminent, both By the press and government to say
nothing of the soldiers, which of late seems TO have
been leyeling their last and most fatal blow ut the
profession. From the commencement of this
fortunate war; there was scarcely statesman or
Editor not even village politician, that ever
seemed 10 think about the necessity of increasing
our agricultural productions to meet the demands
of the increased consumption. So far from making
some provision to increase the production, almost
every imaginable obstruction has been thrown in
the way, (Save that of statute p-OhibtiCns) Four
iiths of the soldiers are withdrawn from aGricul-
ture, with exemptions for almost every occupation
of lie except the farmer, if agricultural prOduc
tions was tie only articles We should have use
for. Again. the same Congress that refuse any eX-
emptions to farmers levied what they call ttheS or
taxes in kind on agricultural production more than
a hundred per cent. higher tr,an any tax ever be-
fore known In this country, and in some instances,
more than thousand per cent higher than any
tax ever paid IN this country, and every cent or
1.-THE Of it levied OF the farmer. What tax do 9TH
er professions pay in lieu Of the farmers tthes,
wherein are other men taxed that the farmer is not
also taxed, Independent Of his tithes, mo Won
der that the people refuse to return such men to
ct to other grievances that farmers have right 10
complain OF the Coniederacy-gr if persis.
ted in another year, will bring the whole COnfci-
Cracy to the very brink Of starvation, where the
pr0digal son stood, spoken OF in the Scriptures,
where he would have gladly eaten the husks that
came off the grain fed to swine; nor need VIC be
surprised if many CT cur people should, when the
time orrives, make about the election. How
are farmers treated now al this Con!cderacy?
How can they catry on 4 farm without hC:'ses and
cows, and might say, hogs and oxen? Who has
Lhem, and those that have them, how 60 they keep
them? hat are they 70 them ? Whore is
the farmer that has horse fit for service that is
not afraid to use him? Hundreds and thousands
Of horses and mules that ought now to be engaged
in sowing small grain, or gathering the wasting
corn crops, now hid out or sent Off to bc
hidden from the soldiers who are forcibly Selling
them vhcT"vcr found? How can men make cTorS
without horses OF mules? The oxen are mostly all
used UP, whilst the cows and hogs are passing rap
idly away. At the present rates. we will soon be
thr"igh with all and those that farm next year
will have to do Ike the M.SsissppianS and Ala
bsGiians-punch out the eyes of their horses and
mules and work them blind. Most men seem to
he what the noys CALI going it blind"
Tue real cause y, the igh prices is the currency
ord scarcity Of tie a:ic!as and the aimest inpos-
shility of replacing them when without. There is
not to day more than halfas much good sound corn
and fat pork and beef west Of the Blue Ridge. in
North Carolina as there was this time last year.
We could scarcely live then with no army here
What We to do now, and support large and
waStefol army? Next May will tell the tale for
these inat live to see it. There is not one farmer
in ten th2t can snare one dollars worth of grain or
meat, and do justice 10 his own family, after ex-
changing FOR such articles as he - compelled to
have, that ne cannot get for the money he has Yet
tue army and the w0.nan and chirea mist DC fed
50 long it can be had but what is TO be done when
81 is gone to have entered The Leads Of
onr rulers. Whist the army officers arc allowed to
seize aHd destroy anything that farmer has from
. chicken to his borSc and himself placed under
arrest and cnard for the amu>eaent OF a drunken
o'icer if he chooses and his fences burned down and
crops turned cut 10 waste as if the world had 10
use for agricultural products. Then abuse the
farncrs fer NIGH prices provisions in this country
will soon nc without price. L.