Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-09-10
A Patriotic Letter.

friend has furnished US the iOloNing ex racts from
q private letter;
The writer is a wealthy planter in one of the cotton
States, and tho extracts show that be is not only
patriot but man of talents, ard possesses clear and
sound views on the subject upon which he writes:
"The condition of our currency and the suicidal
course of the farmers and planters and dealers in ex-
change in C1acDg the most enormous prices from Pur
chasers are well calculated TO excite the most painful
apprehensions for the future OF Young Oonederscy
make no pretentons to 6aaHcia knowledge but there
seems TO be general impression hat to restore conf
dsHes would be to improve the currency In our Sac
am sorry to say the people not alive to their true
interests but entirely blind 10 tNe late enlightened and
patriotic action of the noble Vrgnians The demon
Of eccunula ion rules the hour ard too many seem in
tent on Ortstrppipg their nsighbOrs in the race oil
eupdity aud pelE 10 the upper districts especially,
.bere the wheat crop is made sItOr:On has full sway,
and hst grain has been advanced TO the cruel rate oil
sos psr bushel These misguided people are hurryng
the Government on with headIong precipitation to
bankruptcy and ruin entirely needless Of the fact that
they themselves will be among the victims.
Where are our men Of talents, virtue aud influence,
that they do not naugurAts movement through puo-
Gc meesings by which the people might be enlightened
in regard 10 their us interests and the Obligations o.
patriotic du,y1 Iysiy believe much could be done
nv following up Nj TtnhOm's late letters by public
msengS where the ear OF the people might be isVor-
ABLY invoked and the people themselves induced TO fol-
10. in the loosttp. of tue truly great people OF the
OH Dominion. Such forts would probably be follow
cd by the establishment Of reasonable rate for all
articles OF subsistence anj enate thOso not wealthy TO
nuIehase the sa OF he la default OF this oeiug done
nv Voluntary acton do hope the Legislature vii pass
law toi bidding than two or three collars TO DE
iaken per bushel Tor corn. am aware tha' such nea
snrCs have perhaps alWsJs failed III ihs e&f ehehCe o.
tue pas but anything Is better than The cruel ex 0on
o widely iu practice. speak as producer, having
surplus % dispose OF, alt lot as buyer.
II had any influence / would address a letter TO
Governor -- and invoke hun 10 say and do some
thug from hls high position toWaros checking this
vide spread spirit OF 0'pdty end eGtorton. IL the
Governor W0u receive the p5TahGn OF low lead
ing men OF character and nhuelce IN some large pro
ducing dis.rct-lhen Call public meeting aud pass
the right sort of resolutions, strongly dlsposed 10
think that many now unwilling tprts would " ial Id,
and the Wretohed exortoGeTs Wcu "hide their oiuln
iahed heads" in vsy shame. Asuccessiul movement IN
oae district would set on flo. general moVemtn I
which feel sure would procure tue hspplts results
aud secure tbs honor and CREDIT of cur people from the
cloud which oVershsdoWs thgm. CEnnot they DC IN
duced to emulate the noble example OF the FIgnis
Q. CPL 7 Think OF farmers demanding $40 per busEel
/ wheat, produ,sl by them at ccmpAranvely h1ue
cost, when they know that thousands OF widows and
orp6ans-mlny OF them made by the death Of their
protectors and providers who fell in defence OF these
very wheat fslds-must buy their bread or starv' =
& cat GOD What = Illuminating spectacle PeoPl,
dead to tbs obligations no ess o. grauIude than Of
charity Ths par OF SIN demora ID by ignobe Pei.
and they pur:uug, with such earnest eagerness, the
work OF accumulation (uoW labor of low that the
appeals OF the maryrcd soldiers bereaved widow and
helpless orphans ia' UNDECIDED on their ensI I"H'y
nee dollars BEshtl for Whsat-I Kleted aiike iIom III
class, rich aud poo " nat is this pIac icaly but
Gle ing stone When bread neededH Ny earnes'nesz
me ht imply, that if aan not buyer o. cor" su Of
,sAsa Not So, kind friend presented NE with "hta!
se lass fall and nave raised enough Tor family use.
write from deep Sense OF the meaaness which seems
20 pervads the land, and the insens billy TO the high
claims Of patriotism, gratitude and humanity which ID
almost everywhere apparent"