Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-27
FARMERS READ THIS.

iarner to support the war policy of the
Administration, while the soil under hi.
teet IS sliding impcrcep,ibly away, and
carrying him to irretrievahle ruin. II
may starIIo farmer to tell him that hall
Of his farm now belongs to the Govern.
ments but it Is nevertheless true. Even
admitting that the Southern States will
be compelled to return 10 their allegiance
still the half Of every farm in the Union,
at the cash value, according to the census
of 1860, il sold, and the money paid over,
would not pay the present National debt.
The cash value of all the farms in the
United States, is sixty hundred millions
OF dollars. Thirty goes into sixty twice.
II every farm in the thirty-lou States.
was sold and The money received, it would
take one half Of it to pay the National
debt.
But suppose the war goes on wear or
two more, then it will take the tall price
OF every farm to pay the debt-tbat
IS, the country put up At auction would
pay the debt provided the land brought
its cash value.
Suppose, again, that the war will imme-
dlaiely close with the recognition OF the
Southern Coniederacy, then the North
"ould have to pay the debt, and it would
take every farm at cash value, TO pay the
debt incurred during the last three years.
But ii is argued that the immense re.
sources Of the North are amply sufficient
for the debt. We'll, where are the re,orr-
ces? All the money arising rom duties,
income tax, and tho sale Of la1ds, will not
Jay half OF The interest on this d.jt and
deilay the civil expenses Of tie General
Government, while jhe other part Of the
interest will, annually 20 to increase the
debt. How then will it be paid
Why, the Aboliiionists say, "let pos
lcuty pay the debt" But posterty can
not DO 1t, as the resources OF the entire
Government are inadequate to pay half Of
the interest. Besides, posterity may have
wars and expenses of its own; so that if
left entirely unencumJered, il would re-
qaire all the economy possible to keep
out Of debt.
Three years ago we were out of debt
now we owe thirty hundred millions, be-
sides unlqudated damages for losses Of
steamboats,, railroads, cars, bridges, ships,
goods and chattels and .hree years
might cucumber posterity as much as
three years has encumbered us Then
posterity cannot pay it, Well, how will
it be paid?
Another plan is 10 repudiate, hut, repu-
diation is bankruptcy. So take it as you
will the inevitable negro has upset the
titles of all our lands and involved US in
eternal bankruptcy and disgrace. Here
are the statistics
Number of scres in the 81 States, AO7OOO,OOO
Cash value of the land, $4,000 OGO,O 600
Present National debt, $500 600, 600
Interest on the National debt, Sl9S 900 600
Assess menl Of interest per capHl-six
dollars per head for man, woman and
child, black and white, every year. If
put on the land it is fraction of fifty
cents per acre, there being two hundred
millions OF interest and four hundred
millions Of acres.
Now, as our Government has never
done more than barely sustain itself in
the most prosperous periods, it is fair to
argue that it will always take its ordinary
revenues to pay its ordinary expenses.
If this position be correct, the Nation
must resort 10 taxation to pay the inter
est on debt it can never pay, and with /.
the other enormous rates Of tax, the bur
den becomes too great to bear.
Why, then, we may ask, DO the rollers ,
continue the war; why do the people sus-
tain it? 1t is entirely owing to the
phrensied excitement OF the people. 1t
requires the srcngth of six men to man
age one man under the excitement Of |
fever or fits, but when the paroxysm is
over and the senses recover he relapses .
with utter helplesness. So it is with the .
Government now, ahd SO il will be when
the ievered excitement Of elemental |
strife is over and the country restored to
Us former quietude Then the Judgment
of the people will awaken, reason will be
restored, reaction will commence bank !
'uptcy viii follow, and all will end in
hopeless ruin.
That's what's the matter now