Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-01-05

tenn of measures hest calculated to provide tt
the exigeacy which is upon us, and to p7'
mote the tr;ie Interests Of our country, pro
raed 10 suggest what duty. in my Judsmen
requires, and what. Il generous pntrlotisI
will chccr[ully accord.
First, then, il ia Of the greatest momen
that our minds should be trained to allow tba
tav entire manhood and property of the cour
try, f,r .bc purpose OF this war. belongs {
the Sca.c. The men VINO are called into tn
field 70 i0in IN battle with our enemies, tn
taxes which are levied ard ihe impressment
which arc made, fo7 their support, ere hu
modes Of appropriatiDg the resources OF tn
country. aid sllauld neither excite murmur
nor discomfort. The man who, by tricks
erasions or subtoe.ugcs. seeks TO ayoit
the taxes intended "a I've collected from
him, il in heart both kDaTe and traitor. i
is the duty of the law-maser to provide the
ampiest punishment for suoh maietactlons
aud Of avery good r:t;.en TO bring them te
fns!ioe, end to ho.d them Ito public Rcorl
and contempt. hnd wbat should be thought
Of those who grumble about the prices paid
for articles impressed, to feed and clotlo the
arrny--:hn array which stands between them
and rn;n--tbat army. composed, as 1t IS, 0l
their oyn Sous and Of their own kith and
kin. and which may be disbanded for want
Of the necessary supplies, while they are
'hisslins- with the Government agents for
higher prizes !hnn those established by. the
Commissioners chosen equally by the State
and Confederate authorities and actually
appealing 10 the Courts Of Justice for pros
lection against the ailege wrong and injury
of which they complain? They are not con-
sen1 with prices fixed by citizen farmers;
chosen for each State of sound Judgment and
lofty PATRIOTISM they must have u jury OF tue
7ieinacc. COMPOSED cf men, ike thensel YES.
all anxinus-l will not say willing-but anx
ions, to wiring frcm .heir bleeding end suffer-
in. country the last dollar which can be OBJ
tanned DO not hesitate to say that such a
mode of assessment wou!i. within six months,
drive our armies from the field and utterly an.
nihilate public credit. unless we established
Il most enormous system OF taHatlnn, or the
Confederate Government should prosla' NJ mar
tial lew. The country must not he rulneI by
the r.pacity Of the people, aEd ;Lc Govern
ment will not hesitate. all sure, to exercise
ali their constitutional powers, when nece.-
sarv f,r our safety am pleased to say that
the people Of Virginia have. with some e1cep
lions, chcerful'y accepted the maximum,
while 10. one has been hardy enough TO brave
Iuhlic opinion lY demanding any other rule
ri assessment.
While. however, the peopl" of the State
haTa scquicsced in the prices fixed ny The
public commissioners, others lIave been un'
viilrg tn accept thom. in consequence OF
higher prices being offered by specumtors ard
other. This very naturally produces discon"
tent on the part # the more liberal and patrl
nt;c portion of the people, while others resort
70 boarding, hiding, and other disreputable
shifts and cyasi"na tn avoid their contribution
20 rhe support Of our gallant army. This state
ii things is very demora'iziIg. mn'l Iney,
:ink. be easily corrected hy the eatai'iiehmen'
nl = State maximum, which, taking the Con
tolerate maximum, ~ a basis, shall be extend
ci 20 nj! thc productions uf human industry.
know that hi proposition has always
met with tie most !sCrmired opposition, and
yet it has always prevailed in times Of public
trouble knew it is sairl that France tried
aud France gave ~, tIis policy. And yet she
!trEy tried l1-nrnn com, lneH en!3rg;ap II, pu'
never made it general; adhered 10 it through
All the dark h0ur. Of her revolution, when
rhr Was rent ly Intestine dissansi0ns and en-
cage. in war with tic whole "f Europe, and
never ahand0nrd II until she had resumed Il
sprir currency. rmnir"t2d her intestine feu,l5,
and hrouaht continental l.urope Ia her feet
Wha. occaaina lad France TO adhere to rais
pDlirv when she led her armies from the stores
III o,h.r nations. and repieniahed her treasury
l." contributors npon thcrn?
Bit is the duty Of wisdom TO comprehend
.hr force OF circumstances. What is onr sit
ua;iUn? We arc cut off from the world by
our enemies, insulated as completely as if we
rye-c Gc an island in mi'!.o"ean, and no pre-
.luc,ons from abroad. like those raised by us,
are allowed 10 come in competition with our
own.
Gao !; be conten1rl. with any propriety,
,hat facre ruu '.e. IN sur!. Il piate OF things, O
market price Tor commodities in tue sense OF
liz. ecanomists gain. the supply Of our
own productions is inadequate for d liberal
c,rnspmpti5... Tread. meat. shoes, cotton and
moolen cloths. aro painfrl illustrations of this
stern fact: ard ask where l. che competition
20 he found which IL tn put these articles
,7ithin easy reach Of the naked and tho hun
CRY? |: is sometimes said that it is the cur.
rcncy which causes this great exaggeration Of
prices. Iu some extern, this may be So
Int, where the supply Of actual necessaries
;s deficient, and the price of them is fixed by
IA, roascienec Of he scltrr nl6ne, the currency
il uf hut little significance: the hungry mnst
Ii, led, and the seller knows it: and the price
must lie paid, in whatever currency required.
Nor is Inc m0rimum unknown in daily life
II was the .la% that the person who took ou
a License ~ tarern-keeper, should keeI
rropcr accommodations for the traveller, ano
iaan should not charge him for meals a.
n.easurc. but only the ratcs fixed Ivy the county
r,mrts. So in rhc cases Of bridges and ferries
where the prices are fixed hy law. But there
i :. very remarkable oise IF 0.drimnnfwhlct
,,a.na 70 have escaped general observation
mean interest mon money. No lender sbal
tax. more than six dollars for the l0sn of On,
hundred dollars iar one year. Should tl'
lender bargain for more, the contract is void
If he takes moro, he forfets double the sun
eancd. Here is Rorimnm Of great antlqui
ty, on money, the token or representative
all proncrsy and yet it is not proper TO SET {
a.q;iaUm IN the property 50 represented.
1hat the law Of ma simu,n will be difficult t
en- forcc, re,uliiY m,ltnit So il the whole crimi
nal code. SO is Tho law which fo!bids the LOAF
Of money at more than legal interest. So is tfia
bright, hopeful aud glorious plan Of salvatIc.
Tor which a Sariour died. Eut shall we, for SUE
REASONS, abandon orr ei:o:t, to reform, boneii
and save mankind
But tn. maximum would 'Hve other impor
tan. advantages. It wnuil put an end ia dis
content among the peopls it would e1iingnis
ir- practice If boarding aud hhinr. Witholl
| any hope Of .irciaa-;ng prices. prfSlueers woul
| ,hle,imly furnish to consppcrz their surplus =
Uniformity OF piice, and the application OF th
e1imum to all things would, am persuaded
inspire gorera satisfaction and relieve the lie
resssry duty OF collecting supplies for the arm
ii thnt irritation. which, has. heretofore, in man
rascs. ,1;ls The dnty NEST unpleasant, aud re
soye those kind and agreeable relations whic
shonld always exist between the people and the
(iovcrnmant. Surely. when such mus. be tn
| happy consequence Of this measure, the State
| win speedily alop: i.
As An auxiliary tn the maximum, it is
great Importance that the common law ofencf
Of forestalling, regrating and ensrossln
Ghould bs made effective. ForestollinS Ii d
fined t. be "tLo ACT Of buyin. provisions b
lore they are offered iu market, with intent