Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-02-12
Observation-Disclosures.

Hoardng is to be expected in all revolutions
Grain and meat and the precious metals arc always
put away and sparingly used in times of scarcity
and danger. This country was never so poor as it
is now in meat and breadstufs but still we believe
that there is Of these articles on hand than is
supposed. Too many of our people are disincned
to sell for Confederate money. They say they have
as much Of this money already as they want, and
the time has gone by when they could invest it in
lands apd perfectly safe stocks and hence they are
unwilling TO receive it for articles of prime neces
sy; but just try gold or Bank notes, or State
treasury notes. and seeif the person who had nothing
to spare when you spoke of paying in Confederate
currency, does not admit after all that he spare
you some corn and little bacon. Now, i: is use
less to get in a passion and abuse the oarder or
the holder Of these articles for not being willing to
EXCHANGE them for current funds; for in the first
place, he acts in accordance with tue ordinary
pronptings of human sel6shness, and in the second
place, abuse will only irritate him and make him
hold the tighter to his corn and meat Not merely
the price Of labor, but labor itself is SO uncertain
and the means relied for agricultural production
are so scarce and dear, that It is not matter for
great surprise to the farmers holding on to their
produce with so tight grasp; and when to this
we add the fact that the tthing law and the i'm
pressment law have to be satis6ed--the latter as
often, frequently, as the government officer may
think proper to resort to tive are inclined to con-
clude while deprecatng the disposition to hoard
any thing which the people generally ought to have
the benefit Of at fair prices current funds that
those who condemn and berate the farmers for such
conduct would pursue the same course themselves
if they were in their places. The buyer complains
of prices as they continue to get higher, while the
seller arms, as an excuse for the advance in price,
that Confederate money is rapidly going down in
value
But the quantity produced does not depend alto
gether on the means of producing. In order to
stimulate production beyond what is absolutely re-
quired by those Immediately engaged in it there
must be, first a market for a surplus, aud second
ly, an assurance that the producer will be permit
ted to sell the surplus. We have home market
it is true, but the seller is embarrassed by the
character of the currency he is expected to receive
and then he has no assurance, as long as the i'm
pressment laws exist and as long as rowing bands
of cavalry and other troops suffered in certa in
localities to seize and destroy the gran and forage
and cattle and hogs, that he will be permitted to
retain and sell his surplus to the best advantage.
These things we fear, will operate to restrict pro-
duction during the present year. Producers will
be disposed to make only enough for themselves.
1t is sad reflection that the condition OF the coun-
try and the laws of the country such as not to
incline its citizens to exert themselves Industrious
IL to add to the means of living.
Nothing would crafty US more than TO see
feeling of confidence among our people, which would
lead them to receive the currency cheerfully for
what they can spare from their own families, and
to see liberal distribution of the means of living,
by sale or exchange, instead Of the system Of
boarding that now prevails. Such feeling would
not only encourage our brave troops in the field,
but it would produce greater unity and harmony
at home, and lay the foundations Of renewed hope
for the final triumph of the Southern cause.