The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1864-06-04

cre0 right of asylum was supposed to be
secure while one Of these governments
has contented itself by simply deprecating
by deferential presentations, the conduct
Of our enemy in the constantly recurring
instances of his contemptuous disregard of
neutral rights and fragrant violations Of
public law. 1t may be that foreign govern
ments, like our enemies, have mistaken
our desire for peace, unreservedly express
ed, for evidence of exhaustion, and have
thence Inferred the probability of success
in the effort to suljugate or eztermiuate
the millions of human beings who, in these
States, prefer any fate to submission to
their savage assaiiants | see no prospect
of an early changein the course heretofore
pursued by these governments but when
the delusion slAll hive been dispelled, and
when our independence, by the valor and
fortitude of our people, shall have been won
against all the hostile influences combined
against US, and can no longer be ignored
by open foesor professed neatrals, this war
will have left viii. its proud memories a
record Of many Wrongs, which it may not
lnisbeeome us teforgive -some for which
VIC may Dot properly forbear from demand !
ing redress. In the meantime, it is enough
for us to know that every avenue of nego-
tiation is closed against us; that our enemy
is making renewed and strenuous efforts
fur our destruction, and that the sole reli-
ance for us, as people secure in the justice
of our cause, and holding our liberties to be
more precious than all other earthly pos
sessions is to combine and apply every a.
vfDable element of power for their defence
-aM preservation.
On thsssesect of the exchange of prison
ers, | greatly regret to be unable to give
you satisfactory information. The govern
ment of the q. S. while persisting is failing
to execute the terms of the cartel, make
occasional deliveries Of prisoners and then
suspend action without apparent cause. l
confess my inability to comprehend their
policy Or purpose. The prisoners held by
us, in spite of human care, are perishing
from the inevitable effects Of imprisonment
and the homesickness produced by the hope
lcssness ofrelease from confinement The
spectacle of their suffering augment our
longing desire to relieve from similar trials
cur own brave men, who have spent 50 ma.
ny weary months in a cruel and useless i'm.
prisonment, endured with heroic eonstancy.
The delivery, after suspension of some
Wseks. has jast been resumed by the enc
r1y; but as they give no assurance of intent
to carry out the cartel. an interruption of
the exchange may recur at any moment
The report of the Departments, herewith
are referred to for full iaforrna-
ton in relation to the matters arpertaiaiug
70 each. There are two od which I deem
it necessary to make special remark.
The report of the Secretary ofthe Treas
ury states facts iastifying the conclusions
that the law passed at the last session for |
the purpose of Withdrawing from circulation
the large excess oftreasury notes heretofore
issued, has had the desired effect; and that
By the 1st of July, the amount III eireala-
ton will have been reduced to SUN not
exceeding $3.50, 900, 000 It is believed
to be Of primary Importance that no further
issue Of netes should take place, and that
the use Of the credit of the Government
should be restricted to the two other modes |
provided by Congress, viz: the sale of bonds |
and the issue of certificates bearing interest
for the price of supplies purchased within
our lines. The law. as it now stands. author
Ises the issue. By the treasury, Of new notes
tothe extent of tNo.thirds of the amount
under its provisions. The estim-
ate of the amount funded under the law is
shown to be sso0, 100000, q il twe-thirds
ofthis sum be re-issued we shall have al (
addition ofS200 000, 600 to our circulation, I
believed to be already ample for the bust
ness of the country. The addition of this
arge sum to the value of the currency
would be attended by disastrous effects, and
would produce the speedy recurrence Of the
evils from which the funding law has res.
,ued the country.
Ii our arms are crowned with the sue
'ess which We have so much reason to
lope, We may we'll expect that this war.
'annot be prolonged beyond the current
1ear. end nothing would SO much retaTdi
be benedeent influence Of peace on ali the=|s
interests of our country, as the existence
t great mass Of currency not redeema-
lie in coin With our vast resources the
If restricted to its present
olume, would be easily manageable, and
y a gradual absorption in payment Of pub
% dues, would give place to the precious
otcVn 4 I IL Il 4