The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-01-20
tFrofu oar owe CorFe.popdent.l
Washington, ID. c., }
Ja uary l4th, 1868. |

lencr, as ! assure you could assign
at least ten reasons for my delay in
writing, each one Of which would be a
sofiiciept Justification,
Everything here is jogging along
pretty much after the usual style
Strangers in town are little more
plenty noe than during the fall, ow-
/ ing the session Of Congress, ah9 the
proximity ofthe army ofthe Potomac ;
as usual there is the same aTldily fol-
the very latest news, the same cease
less store Of absurd rumors which
scarcely appear before they are gone
I for ever.
Congress is now fairly at work
The appropl iaiion bill already passed
the House; il fools up at very snua
little figure, about nine hundred mil
lions | believe. Immense rs his sum
is, yet there is every reason to be.
heve that by proper management
there will be 10 difficulty in bringing
il into Tie natioaal Treasury.
The country may vel congratulate
itself upon The sagacily and ability Of
Secretary Chase; should his plan in
regard TO the State banks be carried
out, there would il is thought, be no
need of borrowing Il dollar fer the
year to conc the capital Of these
banks would be- en- massc loaned TO
the Government. This plan would
not only relieve the country in thi.
hour of need, but would also provide
the country with reliable and uni
form currency. | 20 not see how II
would inJure the banks his plan
seems TO have many Of The benefits
and few Of the evils OF the old United
States bank system. The main diff
Guilty would be in eiecting so radi-
cal change in these unsettled lines,
There seems 10 be a strong desire
in Congress to diminish The inflated
circulation of the State banks. II is
claimed that il is this circulation
mainly which has caused The deprc-
citation in the screen backs" or the
high premium on coin,
The proclamation Of course is the
theme oil much discussion here as well
as elsewhere. 1t i claimed by many
that il is merely theoretical and will
produce no practical elects; like
western city ii is all son papeF." But
it is evidently good deal more il il
were a trife as some claim, why is il
the subject Of constant and growing
interest in every quarler1 What
will be lis effect is Of course matter
OF speculation. It, opposers say that
it will exasperaie The South 10 such
pitch OF phren.y that they will never
yield; but with all due Difference,
that point Was reached long ago the
highe-t mark on tie thermometer
that measures the human passions has
alteady been gained. Again, where
does the proclamation hat; upon
whose head does the fore Of the blow
fall! Surely, upon the shareholders,
who, il will be rem mbered, are but
an Insignificant part Of the people oi
the South. Ii does not injure, but
rather benefits the great mas Of The
Southern people, the poor whites.
Let this latter class see the matter as
II really is, let them understand that
this war il strife between a slave
oligarchy and freedom loving de-
moerscy. and the proclamation will be
as popular Sonth Of Mason's aud DIX
ons line rs j, Is North OF il. although
we may hope that lis favor will large
" increase q, the North in due time
after one reflection. The great ar
gument in favor Of the proclamation.
Viz: that il deprives the rebels, -
far as il is executed. Of one Of the
main sources OF their strength, that i,
slave labor, is onc shleh can readily
be seen as II is certainly rather difhcuil
70 BE- eonfuled ; judging from is 81
fleets IN Norh Eastern Virginia, il i
something more than a theory Oh pa
leff Tie eonirabands have never
come 70 this city "a such nuII5eF. a.
siace tbs Let january Iasl.d iLas
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