Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-07
Extortion.

A Roman writer hasa phrase VIRUS post Hammos-
which is usually interpreted I'll your fObs with mOneyAn
all the virtues will adorn you. Vast numbers of our
population have become converts to the wisdom Of this
philosophy perfect fury is raging for instant and
vast accumulation Get rich and do il in hurry is the
principle of action, which betrays itself all Sides 1t
would be beneath the dignity of the phiIOsOphc historian
to indulge epithes in view of such state fittings All
great civil commissions have been attended by like re-
suits. Horace rdicules jobber, who having amassed
wealth BY plumber in the civil war and emerged from
Obscurity paraded the display his newly
quired magnifeence. Henry VII. had his Empsons
and Dudens Many OF the noblest Houses now
existing in England date their rise from the plumber of
the Abbeys in the times of Henry VIII The House of
Bedford of which Lord John Russell is eadet--with
Woburn Abbey for its headquarters is perhaps the
more shining instance of them. The founder par
asite and sharper but Of his descendants have
been among the most iustriOus champions of English
freedom. -
knowing what had been, and aware that like causes
produce like results, we were prepared to see many
aud strange sights In these eonvusive times That the
Princely House of - would monopOize Eastern, and
the Ducal House Of Western Virginia was altogetl-
er within the range of probability. That SolomOns
Temple might reappear upon of the hills Of
Richmond, was by no means an impOssibility. What
therefore was inevitable it was vain to rail against
1t is the part Of wisdom submit patiently to what
not be prevented
But wisdom is plant Of slow and stunted growth
while folly bourgeons like the Green Bay tree. Conse
quenty hear so many wrathfu oucries against the
rapacOus e1tOrtOners of this day, That these out
cries have had or can have any other effect than to az
gravate the evil we are yet toearn But notwithstand
ing the accelerated increase of the evil with the increased
complaint, We hear that there is one member of the
Legislature who is sanguine and bold enough to believe
that he can throttle the monster and subdue him by
simple act of legislation. The expedent proposed
reported US is neither less than declare
BY law that the prices Of all articles shall be the
that they in April May 1861. The act of legis-
ation easy enough but the carrying it into effect
would task the energies of a dozen Hercules Where
would you begin and how would you proceed? Itwoud
require an army larger than Gen Lees scattered through
out the land to regulate the tracs of every individual
in every neighborhood- their failure would be in
evtable.
We regret to see the idea so prevalent thatsl evils
be cured by legislation. Circumstances are more
poSerfa than human effort Every is now in self
defence compelled to be eEtOrtioner. The evil grows
ont Of tharedundan currency. Ths must be corrected
before you can prevent its legitimate and inevitable
suits.
But even this state Of things Is not unattended with
some good effects An expanding currency operates
general gao delivery to the debtor class which
hon r otbar bannans IN constituta fnv nina tanths of
every community The remaining tenth, who live upon
salaries and the income of money capital undesery-
ing sufferers. But there must be limit to the expan
son or general bankruptcy will be the result That
limit the wisdom of our Congress must speedily devise