The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-07
How TO Pay the National Debt

1
How TO Pay the National Debt
MEssRs EDITORS TELEGRAPH We are &C
cumulating an immense debt. That is very
evident. Sometime, of course, it must be
paid. The Government of the United States
never expects to repudiate one dollar of its
honest obligations, as it never has.
But how this debt shall be paid is ques
ton for the financiers. We have an inn
nense territory, and immense capabilities
and vast future, and we are all satisfied
that there are abundant possibilities, in our
hands, to wipe out, in due time, all this ac
count against us, though it were vastly larg-
er.
1t is this conviction which makes our peo-
pie, to the establishment of Europe, SO easy
under an expenditure which seems to Euro
peans frightful. For them it would be fight
full. Their resources are all developed. They
live solely on their yearly production.
We have immense latent capital In our
mountains, in our prairies, in our broad
plains, and all along our hillsdes, wealth
lies in millions, for the plough, the spade, the
reaper and the mill wheel, to convert to hard
cash. We are sure that burdens which
would crush the breath out of an old Euro
) pean nation will be easily carried by the
young stalwart giant, when he has time to
turn from his fighting to his honest work
again, in which to his regret scoundrels have
disturbed him.
There will be ways enough, l doubt not
to square the National books. l will suggest
one very feasible and practical one-here:
How much goddard glittering gold, lies
concealed in the mountain ranges of Neva-
! da, California, Idaho? How much lies yet,
in regions undiscovered by the most adven-
turous miner? Idaho has just suggested
the extent of her latent treasures. Califor-
MIA has given US mere hint. A,friend writes
me that from one silver mine in Idaho, A
; QUARTER OF MILLION is taken weekly y
That TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS IN GOLD have
been carried from Virginia City in the last
: year.
Now, the only difficulty about this i'm
mense mineral region, whose surface be-
believe, we have just scratched, is the dis
tance from supplies, and the consequent ex-
pense of working.
Suppose now we adopt a well known law
principle Of Europe, and that the Govern
ment hereafter RESERVES its right to the
precious minerals ? In the hands of the
Government, transportation to and from the
Mines is easily arranged, and with ma
tional Rail Road to the centre Of the region,
either from the east or west coast, the ex-
pense of living is at once made compare
tive trifle. Then let the Government itself
take charge of all future mining. Let it
employ biologists, explorers, Swans and
practical miners, to direct explorations and
operations, and dig its own gold and silver
by the million
The LABoRERs are at hand. We can't hang
all the traitors of course. DEATH for treas
on, except on the battle field, is out of fash
ion. We could only DANISH JEFF. DAVIS
and his gang, but that would do no one any
good. There is no country wants them
Let the government send them to PENAL La
Dor for life in the mines and make them use
| full. There are admirable territories for
Siberia beyond the Rocky mountains. AS
fast as they are caught and tried, let them
be packed off in gangs, to the gold wash
ings and the silver diggings, and with a ball
and chain at their heels, dig out Uncle
Sans bullion from his western hills, that the
Old Fellow may pay those debts, like an
honest man as he is, which he incurred to
do them justice.
Two purposes are subserved by the pro-
posed plan. The production of al immense
revenue and the making the traitors of use,
for the rest Of their lives. Would it not be
an edifying sight to see MEsiMINeER study
ing the value of gold at the other end of
ball and chain! He would get some new
ideas ON finance which might enlighten
him!
Seriously, l think the plan very plausible
and very feasible. The bullion is there, on
Uncle Sans land. He OWNS IT. All he
needs is to get it dug up. The rebels, as fast
as he catches them are just the men to dig
it. 1t is an admirable use to put them to-
Let them have good living, good loyal
newspapers and books to read, give each of
them Bible, and ''the stated preaching of
the gospel" and with chain on the ANGLE
ana! half dozen stout NEGRO REGIMENTS,
scattered over the mineral region. to guard
them, and l am sure they would largely pay
back what they have cost us, and perhaps,
get such glimmering of true religion as to
give us toIerable hope for their salvation
IN The OTHER WORLD. In this of course, there
is no salvation possible ~
Sleigh Riding iGs Georgia.
NEAR RIE6GoLD Gro :
March 90. 1864
Ed. Ter FGPAPH .-YeStardov morning q +