Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14
EsIats for the Use of the Government.
of. or tr.,Ir O tLant IaInaI q Lis Hi nd

Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend
X The plate that is 10 cur country, and its
value to Government if the people be induced
to relinqush it, has doubtless occurred to many minds
been, perhaps, weighed and repudated-but you,
presume to think might be made to act if not prin
cipa, valuable subsidiary part, in any we'll digesed
scheme to restore the credit of the treasury, to give
stability to any system of finance to arrest depreciation
of Confederate notes and stock by furnishing that in
kind, which is the'bass of all creds-god and silver.
think we have it, and in large amount. We have in
the possession OF people, in the form of gold and
silver plate vast and unproductve und-evey house
hold more or less OF it. Was there better time
to bring it forward ?? even greater need for itever
stronger inducements to tender it to the Government
Tor the common good? have no means of ascertain
ing the amount of value In the Conederacy, bat it must
be very great. Can it be had Two years ago this
would admit of no question. 1t would have been flung
into the Treasurya gratuitous Offering to the cause
of independence. But l fearh here will be found
bargaining temper, and it dst be purchased and
paid for in the bonds of the Government If this can
be done land there ought to be reasonable doubt
about it, then with this large nnd OF actual money
bul!ion-you may buy up, or otherwise suppant an
indefinite amount Of our deprecated currencyand by
diminishing the circulation reduce prices, and enable
US to supply armies and conquer peace. We
have great and glorious presidents of the efficacy OF
this very measure, in the history of ancestors in
the civil of Charles the First and bis Parliament
in almost all its features analogous TO ours. When
in that civil strife SAYS the historian the advantage in
cined to the RoyaIists "orders were issued for bring
ing in loans of money and plate, 10 order to maintain
the forces. Within ten days vast quantities OF plate
brought to their treasury hardly were there men
enough to receive it, sufficient to stow 1t, and
many with regret obliged TO carry back the offer
ings and wait until the reasurers could find leisure to
receive them such zeal animated the plous partl9aus
of the Parliament. The wome0 gave up ell the plate
and ornaments of their HOUSES and their silver
thimbes and bodkins, in order to support the good
cause against the Malignants." This was IN 1912
when the Sun of Liberty had just begun to dawn
when the people had just begun to understand aud as
sert their rights How should it be Lere now, in 1868
when greater Magnants assail us-when the cause is
as good and holy that for which they gave all their
plate and the ornaments of their houses? We have
now than double the population, and many times
more money and plate than the England OF that day
In the preceding reign the first carriage intro
duced in the kingdom and perhaps there not
feather bed to be found in the whole realm. And jet
the petriots OF England gave all their treasure OF money
and plate to the support Of the good cause against The
MagDants." They seem to have known the value o
their rights, and how to support them Shall We fol
low their example, or acknowledge our degeneracy
The gold ard silver plate might, all told, be seventy
FIVE to one hundred millions dollars; add all the orns
ments and eYeery of the ladies' gold anu silver watches
and we should have to make bureau to count 1t an'
build house to stow 1t.
If have not greatly over-estimated the amount O
gold and silver plate in the country, then it must
: manifest to every mind what so great fund could &C
complsh, if judicousTy employed. 1t might be mad
auxiliary to any plan of taxation and reduce the bun
den it would make our purchases abroad uhere go1
and silver is Indispensable. But do not presume
, premise how it shcul1 be employed More enlightened
minds will dispose of it. l only feel that it might
greatly ben fcal--not itself panaccabut, IN cor
junction with other measures furnish means ii relic
, the more to be commended because it will fall nanl
on those alone able to bear It, think too, with goo
and skiIfu approaches, it may be reached and reaz
i by the Government The great public heart thoug
If it beats more family is not yet exhausted 1t is IL
l. of treasure when the key is found to unlock it.
>, gives without price voluntary free will oterIas-
1t would be the best investment Strengthened pet
pie ever made it would almost, in future insure OF
success in the good cause and our honor Al
y property animate and dePrtss the spirit OF Oh
a enemy The very spectacle of entire people, nt
y and women, coming up and laying such all oterir
upon the affairs of the country would to all me-
that we not only determined but deserved to be free
! Yours truly, D. F. 8.