Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-02-17
Vol. XXX.-No. 7.
Neutrality-suspicious..

Hoarding is to be expected in all revoiutions-
Grain aud meat and the precious metals are always
put away and sparingly used in times OF scarcity
and danger. This country was never so poor as 1t
is now in meat and breadstuds, but still We believe
supposed Too many of our people are disinclined
to sell for Confederate money. They say they have
IS much of this money already as they want and
the time has gone by when they could invest itin
lands and perfectly safe stocks and hence they are
unwilling to receive it for articles of prime ncces-
sity; but just try gold Bank notes, OF even State
treasury notes. and ef the person who had nothing
to spare when you spoke of paying in Confederate
currency, does not admit after ALL that he spare
you soms corn and a little bacon. Now, i: is use
less to get in passion and abuse the hoarder or
thA holder Of these articles for not being willing to
exchange them for current funds; for in the first
place, he acts in accordance with the ordinary
promptings 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 uncertain,
and the means relied on for agricultural productio,
are SO scarce and dear, that it is not matter fer
great surprise to the farmers holding on to their
produce with 30 tight grasp; and when to this
We add the fact that the tithing 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 td -we are inclined to con.
clude, while deprec.' sts the disposition to hoard
any thing which t::sas s soplegensray ought to have
the benefit Of r prices. H. current funds, that
those who and tsato fee fese 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 afrms, 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 os producing of In order to
stimulate production se; sseT 4 whah ao,o.u: :ely
quired by those R ;pmG lately aged in it there
must be, first mar for -sufplus, anl seconl-
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 are suffered in certa in
localities to seize and destroy the grain and forage
md cattle, and hogs, that he will be permitted to
retain and sell his surplus to the best Advantage
These things, 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 com
try and the laws of the country such as not to
incline its citizens to exert themselves Industrious
ly to add to the means of living.
Nothing would crafty us more than to see a
feeling Of confidence among our peoQ ngould
lead them to receive the currenc9 !ly for
what they can spare from their owH ia'tiNes, and
to see liberal distribution Of the cf living
by sale or exchange, instead of the system Of
boarding that nov 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.