Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-04

torials. local intelligence, SC. " 20
THE Sentinel Of yesterday states on authority
Il that the Secretary of the Treasury will be
,,tiaed T. receive dcnatonsoi money, bonds, plate
ar other valuable articles with view OF relieving
the Treasury and enabling It to pay some Of the
roaritorious claims outstanding against the Gov
.r,r,eDt The Ssat.ae calls 10 mind III at mary Of
fsrs of contributions have already been made
through the public prints ana otherwise, sons Of
th,r, OF tine most liberal character, and ali inticG
ting the existence Of very general disposition TO
come 10 the assistance Of the Government in this
oraeticahls and acceptable manner. For instance
ont gentleman proposes 10 be one Of twenty-five
81. Give each two hundred thousand dollars IN cur
rsnev the sam thus raised 10 go toNards paying
General L es's army. Many other offers OF asmi-
kind lave been made and we doubt not that
y.~v large sum could be raised were earnest aud
yi-crous efforts made 70 Turn TO proper account
the generous disposition v the people. The 'nVe
millions % be raised under the tender above re
rrc6 %, would be very acceptable 10 the soldiers
Of the Army OF Northern Virginia, aud We believe
that the sun thus acquired could sOon be Increased
5, as TO cover all deHcencies IA the pay OF that ga
iant and noble army. Il i, known that large ar
rears are due 70 the soldiers, aud there has been
som. disposition to cen5Ore the Secre tery o. the
Treasury for not discharging thIs sacred obligation
Bat. afjsr all, Mr.. Trenholm Is not 20 blame. The
IaS authorizes him 10 issue only definite amount
Of Treasury notes. This sum exhausted, he IS per
r,ctIv powerlcss. he cannot issue dollar beyond
the sum TO which he j, limited By law. For
some ZINE past the Treasury has been on
rn.uF ia. uf.1
LuteIv NECESSARY current expenses of the war
c ud only be met by having recourse 70 extraordi-
u-ry exreiieuts which must ii persisted IN prSve
even more hurtful hereafter than IN ey beneficial
at present. This point being under TODD, the pub
dc has been tempted 20 believe that Congress might
furnish al least a temporary remedy, BY authOrir-
the issue ol more Treasury notes. But the remed,
would iGdeed be euly temporary This system.
tie rUi,iul source OF ali financial troubles, ha
eulminGtci. whatever strength II might have had
las been exhausted. II has no longer any influence
s&cep, tor evil. The state Of our currency is such
that large additional issue OF Treasury note,
would cause al almost instantaneous explosion. Il
would he absurd to continue the system any longer
ana It would be cruel 70 pay our soldiers in cur
rency which sufficiently DEPRECATED already
would then become absolutely valueless. Never
tsslesi the army must be paid and certain other
necessary expenditures must in some way be pro
yidsI Tor. Treasury notes are worth little enough
now it is True bat they are yet worth something
and the soldiers would be glad enough to get Wha:
is due 10 them even IN paper At its present value
The Government has struggled along for year o.
more with this deprecated currency; sld Il could
60 Gu Tor some tune longer With the money in it.
existing condition. To D. sure, Congress ought t.
do something, and may DO sometblRg. by means OF
tax acts otherwise, 10 strengthen tho currency.
But thi, is a question outside OF that which are
now discussing The effect of such measures would
not be Immediately felt, nor could they by posi-
tlhty provide for tue q. 5charge, al once, of the
pressing Obligations OF the GoNor umeRt. new is
sue o. Treasury notes would, as we have
said, be oUly nominal payment, and We
have no ideS that Congress i going 10 commit the
folly aud the wic6eduess Of resorting to any sue
expedicUt The only practicable way to accom-
plish the object . by getting money enough back
into The Treasury O. pay on the pressing claim,
and supply the necessities OF the Government. and
this eau he done only b. taking advantage Of the
liberal and PATRIOTS spirit which undoubtedly ex-
lists among the people. We Slad TO see mae
Mr. Trenholm Is DESTROYS Of ayaing himself OF this
resource. We have no doubt that prompt aGd
generous response viii be elected in this city, and
the example viii be at once and effectively follow
ed throughout the country. Contributions in any
form viii be recsiyed-cojG, plate, bonds, eeEt
Gates Of Indebtedness currsncybut for the present
purpose, currency first, and then bonds ars prefer
able.
7, 5 intended TO acknowledge these donations,
from time to time, through the public prints com
luenciug with those already received. We do not
suppose that any will require such stimulus TO
bis Hberality, or that the vanity Of seeing his
name in the newspapers would quicken or enlarge
his contributions But jt would ALWAYS Be source
Of just pride 10 a 20 know that his name 10
enrolled in a lasting record Of those who came to
the assistance Oftheir country in its hour OF need
We hope that no time VIII be lost ia the natter
Much may DO done by detached and spontaneous
eIort, but much more by proper system OF or
ganiza,ion. Committees Of collection shouId Ins-
ediately be torrsed IN every town aud county, and
every one, we are conyiHce5s would aid in the good
work. Let the thing be done at once, and thor
oughly done.