The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-18
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE

laws convened by order of the Secretary OF War,
at the instance of the Secretary of the Treasury, at
Montgomery on the Goth instant, for mutual con-
ference, with view to uniformity of prices be-
tween the several States, and by a reduction of
prices just to the government aud the people, to
sustain the credit of the country, the undersigned
were appointed committee to address you On this
important subject and to appeal to you, who Of all
have it most in your power to bring about this de-
sired result, come to the aid of the Secretary of
the Treasury, to the aid of the commissioners, and
to the aid of your country upon this question, vital
to her life, and to your own future interest aud
| welfare.
| 1t is your own government we ask you to sustain
your own appeal to you to support
your credit we wish you to uphold. But two
things are required on your part to do this. One
is to furnish your supplies to the government at
low rates. the other to invest your surplus money
| in the government securities But two things are
| necessary to bring the to a successful close.
Men and money. Men to fight our battles, and
money to provide the means to support our armies
| in the field. The patriotism of the country has
supplied the men, and We appeal to that same pat
rotism on the part of those at home cheerfully to
supply the means.
| 1t must be known to you that in proportion
the government expenses reduced, SO in pro-
portion will its burdens upon you by taxation be
| reduced. To reduce its expenses you must give
value to its currency; that its purchasing power
may be increased, and the largest amount of sup
plies secured with the least amount of money.
There are two ways to give value to our currency.
The first is to diminish its volume; the second to
have confidence in our government securities.
Both these depend upon yourselves.
There are two ways to diminish the volume of
currency. One is, to furnish the government with
your surplus supplies at a low rate; the other, to
invest your surplus money in government securi-
ties. 1t mus: be plain to you that this will sustain
the government credit, and that it is in your pow
er to accomplish it. 1t must also be plain to you
that this is to your best interest, as you will
then hold yourselves the government Indebtedness
which will be returned to you in interest upon her
securities, and in your diminished burdens of taxa
ton. But do you distrust the government securi-
ties? If you do, you distrust your own cause, and
by SO doing impede the progress of your indepen-
dence.
Each one of your States represented ia the
Convention, and the Commissioners, after the most
mature consideration, determined upon uniform
schedule of maximum prices for the several States,
| reducing the average prices heretofore about
third, or perhaps slightly more. An extract from
the closing remarks of the President will inform
you of the spirit of the deliberations of the ConveD
ton;
"Never, in all my experience in deberatve bodies,
have seen manifested more harmony, more courtesy,
and more Cancellation between the members and be-
tween them and the Chair than have been exhibited in
your entire proceedings and each member of the Cons
vention has, with earnest and conscientious faithful
ness endeavored to discharge his duty to the govern
ment and the people.
1--WE have unitedy taken advanced step in the
duction of prices, by the establishment of uniform
MAY mum schedule, to sustain the credit of the curren
cy the responsibility of which each of has deep
~ elt but which necessity compelled us to take in the
e1igencies of the country.
THE people think, will appreciate our action, and
approve what duty required and patriotism demanded;
but whether approved by all not is the respon
siblity and leave it to the calm judgment of that
public opinion which it goes out to meet and which
filled with just appreciation of the success of our
struggling cause will determine justly upon the mea-
which We have taken, financially, to sustain it,
Congress has provided that the expenses of the
government are to be paid in Treasury notes, and
certificates Of Indebtedness bearing six per cent In
terest, payable two years after the ratification OF
treaty of peace, and free from taxaton.-Those
certificates are intended to reduce the volume of
the currency, and are the most valuable means of
payment offered by the government. We cannot
too strongly urge upon all creditors of the govern
ment as measure for their interest. and 20
sustain the credit of the currency, to take these
certificates for all SURPRISES beyond what their ne
cessities may require in Treasury notes accumula-
! ting in the hands of the capitalists and others
| being invested in the purchase of the non-taxable
six per cent bonds provided to be sold for the
demption of these notes, the currency will be re-
duced to the actual business wants of the country,
its credit restored prices lowered the expenses OF
the government economical, taxes diminished and
the blessing of financial system realized in time
of war such as we have been accustomed to in
| times of peace May We not with reason, conf
dence and hope, appeal to each individual, and to
all classes of the community, to unite In accom-
| plishing this most desirable result.
! AS part of this address, append letter from
the Secretary of the Treasury, addressed to the
Commissioners, giving the most concise view of the
condition of the government, and the best exposi-
ton OF the reasons which Influenced the action of
the Convention:
TREASURY Dept, g. s. AMERICA, ]
Richmond, Sept 8, 1864.
To the Commissioners of Prices for the several
States assembled in Convention at Montgome-
ry, Ala
The Secretary of War having requested gene
raj convention of the Commissioners OF the several
States, to consider the praeticabiity and expedien-
cy of uniform Schedules of prices, avail myself
of the occasion to offer you, with great respect and
Difference, some remarks upon the important SUBJ
ject that is to engage your attention.
The condition of the currency, and the embar-
easements resulting from its arrangement, we'll
Known to all. When gold sells at twenty for one
as compared with Treasury notes. everybody un-
derstands that the currency is depreciated; and
when it is said that the government supplies are
purchased with this deprecated currency, We all
understand as we'll that the expenditures must me-