Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-18
A "REMINISCENCES, RESPECTFULLY ADDRESSED
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATE

To the Editor Of the Whlg:--ot esls ~
| In the momentous contest we are waging for every
thing dear to freemen and to man. Of nsruc.
ton is so natural or so valuable for As the conduct
and example Of our ancestors III the glorious struggle
of united America to throw CT the oppressive yoke Of
the mother country Their trials their difficulties, their
sacrifices, as well as the rights they vndicating
and the objects they pursued in all respects den-
tical with those which now form the experience and
give character TO the heroic efforts Of the Confederate
States of the South In looking the documents OF
that memorable struggle, have been struck with CO.
incid,nce SO remarkable and, at the same time, SO fn
of ion with regard to the great question which
now e1ces universal Eolcitude-the disOrdered state
of the currency-that have thought it could not be
without advantage to recall it at the present moment
specially to the recollection Of TIE people and their re-
presentst'ves. go. 9i-'
In 1879 the third year Of the first American Revolu
tion as now in the third year OF ours, the exceeds Of
paper currency, which had been Issued for the purpose
Of meeting the expenses Of tie war began to be felt in
sentbIe and alarming depreciation of its value For
the purpose of arrestug that depreciation the Cont
mental Congress, having power Of raising revenue by
any direct action of their Gas, happily the Con-
gress of the CONFIDENT States now have called upon
of dollars to be raised within the year. in order to de-
fray the current expenses OF the war, and to aid in
conjunction with domestic loans to bring in the re-
dundant issue then in circulation. On that occasion,
they put forth solemn address, prepared by those
venerable and apostolic Of the Revolution, Dckin-
son of Delaware and DraytoD of South Carolina, and
led By john JAY President and CHARLES Thomp-
son. as Secretary of Congress- explaining the necessity
of the measure and appealing to the intelligence and
patriotism of the people and Of the States, whom
is execution depended, for their faithful co operation.
From that address, propose 10 cite few e1r;cts as
containing Lessons of wisdom Strkingy applicable to
our present situation, and suggesting considerations
which cannot fail to be felt in all their force tie
present moment by the representation and the people
of the Confederate States.
The address opens in this impressive manner:
Friends and countrymen The present ai.uition of
pubic affairs demands your nost serious attention, and
parts uarly the great and Increasing depreciation of
| YOUR currency requires the immedA. strenuous and
uaed csrs of all true friends OF the country for pre-
venting an extension OF the mschets that have already
flowed from that For deraying the eXpenss OF
this uncommon war, your representatives in Congress
| obliged 10 emit paper money-an e1pedient tha;
YOU know to have before generally and successfully
u1Scticed on this continent. They very sensible
J of the Inconvenience with which too frequent ennis
sons would be attended, and endeaVored avoid them.
For this purpose they established loan Offices early
as in October l776 and have from that time 10 tn
repeatedly and earnestly solicited you to lend them
money on tAe faith Of the Confederacy The SUMS
ceiTed loan have nevertheless proved inadequate to
the public exigeGcies."
"Your government bpirg now established and your
ability 10 contend with your invaders being asce taned,
We have on the fullest elaboration judged it indi5pen-
SADLY necessary cGll upon you for orty.hye milOns
of dollars in addition to the fifteen millions required by
resolution of the I'd of January last Though it is
manifest that moderate taxation 10 time OF peace will
recover the credit of your currency yet the encourage
nlent peh your enemies receive from its depreciation
and the present ex gencies demand great ami speedy
exer,ionI. Shsnd the raising of these sums press
heavily on some -four constituents, the obligations OF
the publ faith and veal nevertheless 81 ire
stby urge US to attempt he appreciation of your
tency tat we cannot withhold obedience to those au
thoritatvs dictates GA this subec. will only add
that as the rules Of justice most pleasing to IL
nitey good and generous Creator, aud a. adherence
10 them most likely TO obtain his favor, SO they will
ever be found the best and safest means OF human
policy"
After O touching alusion to the responsibility OF
these proceedings and the cares labors and approaches
which they say the "emolumeDts Of their unsolicited
stations" this noble body of men thus proceed
"Think not we despair Of thst Commonwealth, OF
shrink from opposing difficulties. No; your cause ia
too good your objects too sacred 10 be reinqushed.
We tell you truths because you freemen who can
bear to hear them and may profit by them; and when
they reach your enemies we tear not the const qlences
because not ignorant OF their resources or our
r own Let good sense cecide upon the comparison
LIE, even their preudiced understandings decide upon
and you need not be apprehensiye OF the determi-
| nation, Whatever supposed advantages from plans Of
rspine, projects of blood or dreams OF domination may
have amused their ilfamed aBcies IufatuAted your
enemies have been from the beginning of this contest
do you imagine they now haster themselves with
hope OF conquerng you, unless you false to your
| selves"
Adveri,g to the atrocities prsc'ed by the enemy In
the prosecution of the war, "domesics simulated Ia
the murder of their masters our brave and unhappy
brethren doomed to miserable deaths in jas and prison
ships and tHe utmost sztreDlitss Of war denounced
against youo-sll OF which horrors have marked aud
disgraced the conduct of adversary in the present
, | war-the address continues:
"Piously endeayor to derive this consolation from
their reno fury that the Father oil mercies looks
dox with Interpretation upon such audacious def4ncet
OF His holy lava and be further comtorted with recol
lectng that the assumed by you In your rgheou.
cause have not been sued by any uTjusunajle enorm
ties We well remember what you sad at the commences
ment of this You the immense diff renee be-
tween your circumstances aud those Of your enemies
and YOU knew the quarrel must decide leFs than
your lives hberts aud estStes All these you greatly put
to every hazard resolving rather to die freemen than
live slaves and justice will compel the impartial world
to confess you have uniformly acted the gen
erous principle. PerseVere and you peace free
DOM safety, glory, sovereignty, aud felicity to your
selves your children, aud your c5ildrens children
Encouraged by favors already rcs we'd from Infinite
Goodutsi; gratefully acknowledging them, earnestly
implor1g their continuance; constantly endeaVorEg to
draw than down your head, BY an amendment of
your lives, AID con ogmty 10 the Divine will huubly
confding in the protection often and wonderfully
expereI csd, vigorously employ the means placed BY
Providence ia your hands fOr completing your labors
The addres, concludes by summing up, in stirring
language the duties then incumbent on the patriots of
the Revoluton-the very duties now resting, with yet
stronger obligation if possible, upon the people aud
authc rites Of the Confederate States:
"Fill up your batalions; be prepared in every Part