The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-12
8eopenfng az Tradc-An ExceIIen
OppO raunatY.

Esecpenfug os Tradc-An ExceiIent
Opportunity.
On The ID Of December last, the rebel
Congress enacted Law prohibiting, I'M
der severe penalties, the circulation of
any Of the currency Of the United States,
within the dominions of Jefferson Davis.
In this respect, st least, we lock upon
the commercial policy Of the rebels as
dictated by greater foresight than that
of the Washington Cabinet. JEFF. Da-
Wis knows that the moment tho South is
flooded with United States securities
that moment it becomes the interest Of
the note holders TO resume their rels-
tons in the old Union, and accept
the amnesty offered by the President;
indeed, the Law was not PASSED, until
after the latter had been promulgated
and obtained circulation in the South.
The passions and prejudiees Of men
are strong, and overcome all other con-
sideratiOns for the moment; but interest,
when contravening no moral obligation,
and even often when these obligations
sre contravened-is almost sure TO tri
umph in the end. The rebellion was be-
gun through passion; but the frenzy OF
the moment has subsidized, and an appeal
to interest would be indeed q powerful
one, with the wearied sOldiery and citi-
zens of the revolving States.
The easiest method of making that ap.
peal is to purchase everything for sale
and pay for it in greenbacks, whether Of
the National issue or the issue Of banks
based upon Government bonds. The
men who holds these, will hardly desire
to see the return of an authority that
would cOnfscate them, and prosecute him
as criminal beside; but would rather
long for the day when commerce would
be unrestricted. Every dollar held
would be dollar invested in the enter
prize of restoring the Union.
But will the Southern people within
our lines accept these National promises
to pay in return for their products? Ask
any soldier, who has spent the last two
years in Dixie, and he will answer with
what greatness they will grab at q
greenbsck, and with what care they
hoard it up. Those beyond our lines,
if they can get through, are as anxious
to get them IS those il the rear of our
armies, even in defiance of the law of the
rebel Congress; and if the privilege Of
selling freely, and without restriction
were allowed at any point within ouI
lines, our army would be invited to move
forward, that q substantial currency
might be substituted for the fiction Of
that name, which has SO long been i'm
posed upon the people of the South.
What would be the effect of the circula-
ton of $3.50 900 900 in greenbacks in the
Southern States, either partially or wholly
reclaimed? The penal act of the rebel
Congress is the best answer we can give
to this question. If it would not be
frightfully detrimental to the Richmond
junta, the prohibition would never have
been promulgated.
With reference to the selling of arti-
cles within our lines, restrictions are re-
cossary to prevent the shipping of con-
traband goods to the enemy all pack
ages sent away should be shown to con-
tain legitimate articles, and under such 8
system, we do not believe the contrabanC
trade would be greater than it is to-day
But the circulation of greenbackt
could do no harm we should get value
received for every dollar; the widened
area of the circulation, snd the fact that
they could be made to purchase cotton
would materially enhance their value, or
in financial parlance, cause q heavy de-
cline in gold. The experiment ia worth
trying.