Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-19
Tho "Permit Systems" In West VIr.
KInIa. -


Next to the rebellion, the most uuuoDu-
lar thing in West Virginia, is the SO called
Permit system. The Cincinnati Commercial
in an editorial published some weekssince:
strikingly illustrated the popular appreci-
alton ofthe Institution, by saying that its
only friends were the employees of the
Treasury Department.
Restrictions upon trade and commerce
are always unpopular, and in direct oppo-
sitton to the instincts of commercial enter
prise. The wisest statesmen of all coun.
tries have ever recognized this fact, and
have been always unwilling, even under
the most urgent necessity, to venture upon
restrictions upon trade.
Henry Ward Beecher in his Liverpool
speech, with admirable tact, (which Mr..
Chase would do well to imitate) appealed
directly TO the most powerful instincts of
English merchants and manufacturers.
when he told them that they wanted three
things: The first was, Liberty the second,
LIBERTY and the third, LIBERTY liber-
ty to buy; liberty to produce or manufac-
ture liberty to sell
The conviction has become universal
among the people of the border, on both
sides of the Ohio and Mississippi, that the
permit system is useless as a preventive of
contraband trade. The truth of this con-
Viction is daily demonstrated to those who
are 10 position to watch its practical op-
eralions. @
The Impression is also gaining ground
rapidly and with good reason, that the
permit system is kept-up, not so much to
prevent smuggling, as to raise revenue.
Some its advocates have been SO indfscreet
AS to aVOw such au object, aud to com
mend it. The injustice and illegaIity of
such course is so apparent that it is not
strange that the people should rise in op-
position to il.
The memorial appended to this article
will show. TO some extent. how the system
is regarded in the neighborhood of the
Ohio river.
The people of Kentucky are moving in
the matter, aud if the dispatches are re.
liable, the Missouri Senators at Washing
ton have succeeded in removing the re-
strictions in that State. ...-...
The Cincinnati Gazette, in speaking of
new batch of "regulations"-jus issued
says;
'sIn view of the amount of corruption
which has grown up under the permit
system, and the abuses practiced by per
sons charged with the execution of the
rules adopted by the Secretary of the
Treasury, it is frighIful to contemplate the
great army of officers provided for :" and
that there can be no donbt that there will
be under these new regulations, as under
the old, the same siokeuing mass of cor
ruptiou which has penetrated every nook
aud corner Ufthe insurrectionary Districts
and that General Grant will have no rea.
son to change the opinion formerly ex-
pressed that there can be no honest trade
carried on in military dis. ricts under any
permit system" ..sl.l..s..s .'.s 4
We might fill columns with similar ex-
tracts from western papers
The people of West Virginia will expect
some action By their Legislature upon this
subject.
They should assist heartily and vigor-
ouely the effort now being made to abol-
ish the system. They can do this by
sending such an expression ou the subject
to our Congressmeu at Washington, as
will enable them to cooperate with mem
ers of other States. now laboring for the
same object. T. H. LOGAN,
WILLIAH TALLANT,
rH... HENRY E LIST,
S. MCCLELLAN,
..l-s-E. GRo. K. WHEAT,
Central Committee, WhceLtng.