Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-09

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ground for atdss Their losses by an attempted adj
hererce to the e.ter "a vic alton OF tie spirit Of tn
Instrument No such purpose cDud have been enter
tanned and such resu coliemp sed Gy tie frsmeTs
of tho Constitution. L. may a6d weight TO tcese
considerations If se reflect, tfst although The Con-
stituton provided that It should 60 in operation with
representation Temporarily dis Iibuted among tie
Slater 1t expressly ordans after p'oEidog for
within three years. thai this temp rary dstr ution Of
representative COVER s to endure Gs sUeh
alton shall b. made" Would any one eIgg.tha be-
cause the cannot be made 60 the 751 20 iOd,
TIE government mutt at the exp ration OF that per cd,
perish fer of representative body! Ia fny aspect
in nheh the subject BE- Vestd, en led 10 the
culion already announced and which is understood 10
be in accordance with vote taken in or both
Houses at your last session. sbs therefore, until we
are abe TO pursue tie prec mode required by the
Constitution, deem il my duty to approve any law levy
ing the taxation which you are bound 10 impose for the
defence OF the county, in any other practicable mode
which sha distribute the burthen uniformly and Impair
| italy on the Wooe property OF the people.
In your former legslat you have sought to avoid
the increase in The volume of noes in circulation, by
Offering inducements 70 voluntary funding. The Ees-
adopted for that purpose have been but partially
ssfu and the evil has reached such nsgui-
tude to permit other remedy than the compulsory
red OF the currency 10 the amount required by tie
business Of the currency. This reduction should DO
accompanied by pledge tina. under stress OF cir
cumstsnces Wl that amount be exceeded. No possible
| mode OF ing the credit OF the government can be
disastrous VII CT dsurbs the basis OF all exchaI
ges, reIdersfmposioe all calcuat of fu yalus
augmsnts in constantly increasing proportions the price
OF all commodities, and Gepreeiatss ell 6xed wages
salaries and incomes TO render them inadequate 10
bare subsistence. Il these be added the sill mere
fatal influence the morals and character Of the peo-
pie, to which Lave already edverted an persuaded
you will in the conclusion that irhexble i'd
herercs to limitation Of ths currency at fixed sum ia
ndispen able elemen. OF any system Of finance Low
| to be adop.ed.
Tho holders Of the currency outstanding can
only be protected in the recovery Of their just claims by
substituting for their other security. If The
currency is greatly and promptly reduced the pres
en-. scale Of inflated prices will not only continue to
exist but by the very fact OF the large amounts thus
made requisite in tho conduct of The war; those prices
will reach rates etl more eItravagant, and the whole
| system will fall under il, weight, thus re derng
the redemption of The deb. impossible and destroying
s whole value 10 the hands the holder; IT. on the
contrary, funded debt with interest secured by ade
quate taxation be substituted Tor TIE outstanding
currency its entire will be made available to Tie
holder, aud the goverImeo: will be in a condition
abng it, beyond he reach Of any probable Contingency
10 prosecute the 70 successful isfue IL is there
fore, demanded well BY the Interest OF tue creditor
as o; the country :: large, that the evidences OF the
public deb. outstanding in the shape of treasury
notes. he converted into bonds bearing sd quate inter-
est, with a provision for taxation suficea, TO ensure
p1nclual payment, ard final redemption Of tn, w0oIe
/ debt.
TIE report of the Secretary of the Treasury presents
the outlines o: system CHI in conjulcticn with ex-
isrg legislation is Intended to the several OBJ
ects Of reduction CT the circulation within fixed rea-
sonatle mit; of providing for the future wants Of the
government; of furnishing security fer the punetual
payment Of hterest ard fra eItirctGn of tne prin-
cipa OF the publ, debt and Of placing the whole bus.
meas Of the country basis relra specie standard
| as ia possible during the CO. nualce of the war |
earnestly recommends TO your consideration and that
delay be permitted to intervene before Your action
on this vial subject trust that it will be suffered ~
eDgros your attention ua, you shall have disposed of
IL in the manner best sdapet TO ATTN the important
results which your country anticipates from your legs
letion.
It may he added ta in considering this subject, the
people ought steadily to keep in view that the govern
meni in contracting debt, but their sgent that its
debt Is their debt. AS the currency held exclusively
by Ourselves it il obvious thzt If tach person held
Treasure notes in exact proportion the value OF Ls
whole means, each would in fact himself the
| amount of the 1895 held by him, aad were il POS
tbie 10 dis rbute tee currency among the people in this
exact p oporop, tax levied the currency alone TO
a. amount sufEc en 10 reduce It proper limits Wtud
| afford the best Of all remedies. Under such crcum.
staIcel, the nctes remaining. in the nds of each
holder after the payment Of his taxes would be worth
quite as much as the vhce previously held for il
would pu,chase at eas! an equal amour. OF commodi.
ties This result cannot be perfectly affirmed by any
device of legistion, bu. il Can be spproxnaed ytI.
aol tax on all values has for it effects rot Only 10
impoee due share OF the burden on tie note holder
bu. force those who have few or none Of the noes
to part With share Of their possessions 10 those who
hold ths notes in ss in order ID obtain the mans
OF 50 isfyng the demands OF the tax gsther,r. This s
the only mode by which it is practicable to make ell
conr butte as equally possible the burden which all
are bound TO re- and is for this reason that taxa
ton adequate the public e1gercies u der our pres.
ent crcums ance NUT be the basis of any funding SYs.
TEN or other remedy for restoring stability to cur
finances.
THE ARMY.
To the report Of the Secretary OF War you are re-
ieIred for details relsTe TO the condition OF the army
and the measures Of legislation required for maintain
ing its efficiency recruiting its numbers and furnishing
the supplies necessary for us support
Though we have lost many of the best of sold
and most pltr Ole of citizens 1.-THE sad out unayod
able result OF the battles AID tolls of such campaign
as that whch will render tie year 1868 ever memorable
In our aoras the army is believed To be in all respects
in better condition than a. any previous period Of the
war. Or gala defenders, now veterans familiar
with danger, bGrdeled ~ exposure, and confident in
themselves aud their oficera endure piivlOuI with
cheerful fortitude and welcome battle With alacrity TIE
ocera BY experience in field SERVES aud the scion of
examining boards in relieving The incompetent are now
greatly more efficient than the commencement OF the
war; The assertion j; believed to be fully ut6 d. that,
regarded a whole, for scter, vlor ni,ency ana
stiiotc devotion, army has not bsen Cqlaed by
any Like number OF troops in the history Of ar.
In view of the large conscrpon receady ordered by
the enemy, and their sabseque call for volunteers TO
be folloSed If ineffecu., oy stlI further draft We
are a6monshed that no effort must be tparCd TO add
largely to cur Elective force promptly pos be.--
The sources o. supply TO be found by res orrg TO
the amy all .ho are improperly absent putting an end
to substitution, modify ng the exemption law, restricting
details and pacing in the ranks such of the ebod cd
men noE smpoyed as wsgonerS, nurses. cooks and
other employees are do rg service for which tire ms
grOe6 may be found cumpe. cit.
TIE act If 10 April, 1862. provides that p,rscns
not liable for duty may be received substitutes for
those who are, under such regulations MAJ be pre-
scrbej By the Secretary Of War The policy OF gIaut.
ing priv egs h,s 10. been sIsaned by eKpere ce.
Not only has the numerical strength Of the army been
seriously impaired By tho 'quent deseIons for which