The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-05-13
He il good ohcer and is very popular in
his company. More anon.
"l.OcAI"
lroR rux LANCASTER LEDGER. |

District, ana the scale oi prices liked by the
Central Committee have just attracted my
notice. The insignificant flct that | nd
dressed the people IN that occasion is men.
toned; while the subject whose Importance
induced me to intrude my rcmark- ut the
close of the meeting, because no other m ore
worthy Of attention had introduced it is no
the subject Of observation For the par.
pose of presenting to the consideration OF
the community the matter which, If anv
consequence, must be more so than TIE in
dIvidual proposing it. Permit mc to re
quest the publication of the preamble and
resolutions, which were proposed rather for
consideration than with any anxiety for
their immediate adoption. The principal
objec. OF the assembly seemed 10 have been
the present supply Of adequate provision
for the army and the proceedings were ev
idensly prepared by its chief promoters, and
it might have been deemed obtrusive to
press any topics of discussion which had
not been previously reflected upon. A.
WAS anticipated the voting was very nncer
tain and the chairman fluctuat.d 10 his de.
cision. Ii appeared TO the mover that there
was more earnestness than NUN bers in the
opposition, while the large ma iority seemed
Indifferent or unprepnred to decide. Under
these circumstances it may be of interest to
your readers to have an opportunity Of con.
sidcring the subject II; leisure.
II may be prudent after providing for n
pressing exigency to reflect upon its causes,
and guard against it's recurrence. The
wants of the army, on which the South de-
pends, were represented as being so serious
and urgent, that the government was under
ha M Ify nf -,
most expeditions manner : and the body of
the people, whom it represents. were, at the
iuercy Of the few, who could furnish them
II therefore appealed TO their patriotism,
aud generosity-to their avarice, bv refer
ring prices 10 be fixed by the scIlcrs-with
n significant threat Of force, il neither the
soothiugs Of their self esteem, nur.-the Al
cred hunger Of gold" could unlock their
granarIes, and smoke.houses for the relief
of their fello w.citizens in camp, on march,
and upon battle fields.
This might be endured, but after such a
submission of the whole country to innu
merabie local tribunals, it was time to turn
the attention of the people again to Iegis
ln.ive relief Oh general principles; and with
earnest sympathy TO the devoted soldiers
who were exhibited ut the feet of thos.
whose property they We're defending They
were away from home, and their families
were to be provided fur-not as dep.nd.nts
on personal charity, Tor by Legislative
amendments of poor laws; but by seine
system, under which the soldier could main
lain his wife and children, as the family Of
Il freeman. la word there should no, be
II Legislative preference shewn 10 the flesh
OF dead hogs, and the grain whicl, fed them,
over the labor. md health and lives Of our
patriotic and heroica army.
The cause is one over the whole country,
the Confederate money is the debt Of the
whole for which cash and all are uIiimat.
ly responsible. The debt is the money
price Of our Independence Hence it is the
interest OF all that il should be- Of the least
amount. In other words, that it's exchanc-
able value should be Of the highest rank
1t Is n substitute for gold and silver; and
within the sphere Of its Legitimate opera
ton it should be matter Of moral and legal
obligation that it be so represented aud
employed. The true cause Of the alarming
scarcity which has brought he Government
and the army and the people at the feet Of
The retentive producers and acrumulaling
spectators is the constant ex xpansion of the
currency and the unfluctuating, but con
stant rising Of prices. There may hav.
been extravagance which economy might
retrench. There may have been fraudulent
agencies, which might be corrected. There
may have been honest mistakes which ex.
Perience may enEghten. The system of
yielding to the spirit OF extOrlion; indeed
OF promoting it by raising prices AZ t.mpta.
lion or encouragement before the increase
Is demanded seems un~ise 10 say the least
IL was not proposed, nor is ii now, to do
more than TO call public attention TO the
consideration Of the evil; to the ;nconsis
tency Of public measures by which their
own credit and resources are impaired, aud
a fragrant injustice aud inequality 10 s.sadi.
lv manifesting itself. between those who
hold their property until bribed by sxorbi.
tant prices; snd those who are allowed no
choice 10 dsvotIpg thsir lives to tho CON-
mon cause.
All this may be ineurable evil but there