Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-08

armies may be kept full aud efficient, and 4:
ali times be prepared to meet aud repel the
enemy. Any cs you may pnss should provide
Tor the speedy and certain punishment Of ali
Tno .ail W refuse to obey lawful orders, and
prescribe some mode for the removal Of H.
competent Or untnithful officers. The expert
rurc ut the last twu years renders Legislation
anon this suhjec. necessary.
FAC time has come when it is absolutely in
Iispensabc that we should omit nothing which
promises protection to our people aud success
10 our cause. An INSCRIPTIONS enemy is pur-
suin: US with Il spirit Of maiignity aud vindic-
cYeness that respects neither the rights Of per-
sons nor Of property. We must be active and
uatiring in our efforts 10 repel him; md to
accomplish this, we must call forth oil our
..ble-DOdied men, and prepare them or tie
| most efficient service.
No army can expect continued current Of
| SUCCESS. We may, nay VIC must expect to
| meet rcver3cs, and We mnst be prepared Tor
.han.( Instead Of discoursging, they. should
only stimulate us 10 increased eilorts-Should
cali forth rcdoubled energy-should bind us
more closely together, and inspire US with Il
more determined spirit and courage. If our
iOreiathers had permitted rcverses to crush
sheir spirit or paralyze their energies and
4 Efforts, the American revolution never would
nave proved a SUCCESS, and the indepepd-
ence Of our country would never have
been achieved They passed through
storms and trials far greater than any that
| lave fallen to us in this contest. The men,
old and young, sustained and supported the
cause with hearty good VAL and Us the clouds
gathered and the prospect of success seemed
70 grow more desperate and hopeless, they
became more and more resolved and deter
mined Tito noble women Of that day. while
| tlcir fathers, shusbands and sons were en-
| ;aged in fighting the battles and driving
back the invader, planted and gathered tho
crops by which the army was sustained. We
have hot been reduced to such straits yet,
nur is it probable We shall be. But the wo-
men Of the present day have shown Il self
sacrificing spirit, induanS them necessarily
10 work, and showing that they arc read y to
emulate such IN example. They nave dis
| p!aved a generous devotion, which should
awake the suggards, and animate and cheer
the gloomy amt Responding.
There are in all communities some people
whose eyes always fall upon the dark side 81
every picture, and who are disposed Ia sue
curnj at.cvcn the Indications Of disaster. Ii
would be remarkable il we had not some
such amongst us: but it is gratifying
% knox that the number is very small.
even in those portions OF our State which
haze been overrun by tho enemy. The
spirit and courage of the large mass Of
the people has never Jagged. Each new
wrong has inspired new resolution. Each
n.w outrage has but nerved them for more
determined and desperate struggle in behalf
ui tie cause. Virginia went into this contest
az or the must serious and calm consideration
with Il firm resolve IL do her Whole duty tn
| herself a:,l her Confederate sisters-tU take
| Ill ;hc consequences, however horrible they
mi.,hy be. ller people never Guailcd-n,r
| nave they mGrmured under the repeated
wrongs and aSgrcsSions tncy haze sutlbToi.-
| She was not tho first to enter this struggle,
nor will she be the first to sue for peace, un.
less that peace shall be accompanied by an ull-
qualified recognition Of the independence OF
the Southern C0ntcderacy.
The report Of the ALjutanr General nc
cuulpaned by bill, is herewith submitted,
and 70 it your attention is respectfully invited.
Gen. Richardson's intelligence and experience
IN all military matters entities his views 10
treat resucct, and L confidently commend
! lien. to your favorable consideration.
! The General Assembly, at its last session.
| prescribed that no Confederate issues of u
date anterior to April fifth, 1863, should he re-
cciyeI in payment OF State taxes. | an I'M
able to comprehend either the wisdom or poll
cv of this Legislation. 1t is calculated to i'm
nair coldencc in the currency Of the Confede-
rate Government, and indeed In almost the
ONLY currench in circulation in the greater
portion of the State. If these issues are not
! T. Le receivable in payment VI State taxes. il
| is inEerablc, 1T least by those who arc not
| fully informed in regard to such questions
! tumC il is because those issues arc not as valu
able as subsequent issues by the Government
or for some cause OF other they have not been
Considered safe OF reliable circulating me-
,iirun. No matter what caused the exclusion
it is perfectly plain that the effect has been Il
,lerrLci;,t: the currency, and 10 arouse in tho
/ public mind the suspicion that it will not ul
!Iu.atcly he redeemed. Very few persons il
ordinary business transactions stop TO exam
inc the particular date Of n note which they
are about to receive. Very few can remem
berthe particular date Of the note dlscredted
| hv the law The consequence is, as soon u,
tey ;scortaia that notes of some dates arc
no, receivable in payment Of taxes and they
do not Know which, they become shy - re
ceiving any. and all arc discredited. Wher
thav are told that some of the banks will not
receive them on deposit, and that some OF The
railroad and other transportation cUmpane;
will not receive them for fare or freight, they
of course refuse to receive them, and q gene
raj depreciation cnsues, which it will be founr
next t. impossible thereafter t. prevent.
In very many cases this money has beer
paid to our soldiers, and By them sent home t(
rav their taxes Some such cases have beer
Brought to my knowledge; and the persons
vino were in this situation, en- finding that !;
was not receivable in payment of State taxes
have very naturally complained. IF the money
was good enough tn pay the soldier, who re-
cc;rcs but eleven dollars per month, why is i
not good enough to satisfy the claim of thu
State whcniler agent applies for State dues
We have 10 State hank circulation, we har'
no State treasury note circulation both Of thas'
descriptions of notes having been hoarde1 q
fast as they could be collected by moneyec
mon. The consequence, therefore, is that tht
holders Of the rcpudiated Confederate issue
are driven to the necessity of shaving OFT those
thew have, in order to procure snch az vii
enable them to meet the demands Of the State
While it was not the intention Of the legisla
i ture 20 place the taxpayers in this condition
such is inevitably its effect. They must have
such money as will answer the purpose, ant
to obtain it they must apply to such persons Il:
have it, and must pay them such price in these
rejected Confederate issues as will command
it.
The only reason have over heard assigned
in justification of this legislation is, that i
was designed to force persons holding this
currency to fund in Confederate bonds, ant
thus retro it from circulation. This woult
all be very we'll if every man who had thes'
issues in hand had no use for them either fol
the support of his family or the payment o
debts. 1t unfortunately, happens, however
C,r this theory, that four-ffths of the commu
nifty have no money to invest. All they re
cciyc they have present and pressing use for
| 70 rnl;ntn thnir dnily wants and the wants O