Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-04-21
REMARKS, OF MR. ADAMS,
Or GUILFoRD,

On The bill authorizing the Treasurer to issue -
. AaLiOnsQf Treasury Notes, detioeredtn tho Senate
Of North, Carolina on the 18Th Of December, 1867.
Mr. SPEAKER: While am always.as willing and
ready as any Senator the floor to vote supplies
to carry on the gar that are now in if it takes
the last man and the last dollar, am opposed to
part of the bill under consideration. l am opposed,
Mr.. Speaker, to that part of it which makes the
Treasuary notes authorized to be issued, iundaole
the first day Of January, 1861 Sir 1t IS only
three years, from this date, and will be only little,
if any, over two years by the time they are ready
to 60 out | can see no necessity to have them fund
able at so early day. | am willing to vote for the
BILL if these notes not made fhndable before the
year 1870. That as too soon. Yet. i am. ready to
vote for the bill if SO amended.
Why, Mr.. Speaker, you will see by reference to
the revenue bill that have now to raise thirteen
hundred thousand dollars to meet the necessary
expenses this current year, andit Is the funding
everything that swes up our debt so fast BY fund
ing the notes to be issued by this BILL it will cost
the people by way of taxation, unnecessarily, the
first four years. about and half millions Of dol
lars. In addition, it will create standIng deot OF
between four and five millions of dollars, bearing
interest twenty years, whereas, If they are notfun-
dable until 1870, the whole amount or nearly so,
will have been paid in by the Sheris Of the several
!, Counties by way'of taxation, thereby saving not
only the one and ahalf millions of the first four
years, but some ten millions, which the people will
have pay if this bill passes in its present shape.
Mr.. Speaker, should the bill be amended, as before
stated the notes will make a circulating medium
which we now lack. All we now have, or nearly
SO, is Confederate notes, which at this time some
ten per cent. under par in this city, and some
twenty five per cent in the city Of Richmond below
North Carolina bank noLeS
Sir, pass this bill, and am certain large portion
of the notes will never see the sun. They will go
the others have gone and be retained, until they
are fundable in the hands of those spectators and
extortioners who have shaved this and the Conled-
crate Government out of more money than they
know what to do with Sir, large portion of the
notes already issued never got further than the
banking houses of j. G. Williams & Co., or other
banks, before they were funded In fact, learn
that large portion Of them were hardly count
ell second time, but returned to the Treasurer, and
certificates taken for the bonds soon as they could
be issued
Mr.. Speaker, large portion of our debt created
since this war commenced, was caused by eight per
cent iRterestpaying bonds, but think, much
larger part vas caused by the Quarter Masters and
COmmisSarieS and others, sent out from this city
and the city of Richmond Virginia who should have
been sent TO the army, and who had regard as to
what price what amount they paid for any article
(SOme few men appointed the Interior | am
pleased to say, were of the right sort Iostead Of
getting men Of age and experience, practical bust
hess men, seems that the appointing powers took
mostly young men, without any regard to their
qualifications, for the express purpose of keeping
them out of the army, when there were plenty OF
men over the age OF forty-fiye we'll Qualified and
willing to do the business. And l think, after
seeing number Of the appointees and their mode
Of doing business they have tried how much mon
ey they could spend, and how much money they
could pass through their hands in the shortest given
time. More than one hundred millions dollars have
IN this way been Squandercd already.
Mr.. Speaker, will give you a few instances Of
their mode ard manner of doing business. Instead
Of purchasing articles at as low prices
tomary, one of them went 10 large shoe establish
ment, as am informed, and paid over double what
others were paying for the same kind Of shoes One
OF them went to Concord and learned that he could
get shceting at twenty cents per yard but was too
lazy to go half mile or from other cause did
not see the manufacturer, but paid another person
twenty-five cents per yard to go and get it for him.
thereby paying twenty five per cent more than he
could have purchased the Sheeting at had he attend
cd to the purchase himself. This agent went into a
aure and 4 large quantity Of common jeans
cloth. lie asked the merchant the price, when he
was told that they Tetdited it at seventy cents per
yard lie then told the merchant that he weuld
take 1t all at one dollar per yard-thus giving nearly
h!ty per cent more than the retEl price, showing
great financial tIlent Sir learn that one of these
same close listed agents went to Charlotte and after
enqnlrng of the owner Of large quantity OF jeans
about ten thousand yardS-which the owner was
selling at from SiXty-tive cents to one dollar per
yard, the Government pet told the manufacturer
tHdL nc houlu take all he nau on nanQ ana all he
could make, at two dollars per yard, thus giving
more than double the price asked for the goods
Inc owner tod me that by this transaction he put
into his pocket more than ten thousand dollars over
and above what he would have received had he sold
the goods as they were made.
Mr.. Speaker could name number of such cases
In buying bacon, mules, &c, but | think those
named are sufficient to give you and the Senate some
idea of how the money has gone
Sir, tried as one of the Committee on Finance to
nave this and other amendments made to the bill
out failed, being out voted then, and am well
aware that similar result awaits me here in the
Senate.
am well aware, Mr.. Speaker, that my friend, the
honorable Senator from Orange who sits near me- is
opposed to my amendment, fearing that it may in
jure the credit Of North Carolina. | do not profess
to be as great 6nancier as he is, yet with all his
knowledge, his opposition does not satisfy my mind.
shall vote as think right with all due respect to
him and the Senate.
Mr.. Speaker know it has been said on this floor
that to let the notes longer than three years,
might weaken the credit of the State. l cannot
believe it could have any such effect am the last
man that would give any VOTE do any act to les
sen the credit of the good old North State, well
knoTing that State in the Confederacy for purity
of purpose and patriotism stands higher than North
Carolina
Mr.. Speaker, now move that the bill be amend
ed by striking our 1885, and inserting 1870, as
cannot see how any Senator this floor can vote
in the negative, and thus tax his constituents and
the people of North Carolina million and half of
dollars 10 go into the pockets of spectators and
extortionerS.
MCCLELLAN AND SCOTT.-A correspondent Of the
New York Tribune states circumstantially that Nc
Clellans reason for not reporting his plans, &C. to
Scott that he had discovered that SCOTS office
was not safe place to report to; that he had found
out that SCOTS sOnin.law, Col. Henry L. Scott had
exposed them to the Confederates that the latter
on being summoned to the White House. confessed
it. and instead Of being punished was placed on the
retired list with the pay and emoluments Of Colonel
of cavalry, and immediately went to Europe, where
he is doing all he can for Recession All this the