Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-23

Il
President and the accompanying reports OF the sec
retary of War and Lieut.. General Hardee be re-
ferIed to the Committee Military affairs and
printed.
Mr.. HARTRIDGE said he made this motion that
he might have Me opportunity of saying few words
In reference to the subjcc-matter OF the message.
The resolution asked the President to communicate
TO the House tho why the cotton in the city
of Savannah at tbs time OF its evacuation was not
burned. The response OF the President and the
accompanying report from General Hardee, who was
in command of the city Of Savannah, disclose the
fact that il was an utter impossibility to burn or
destroy the cotton in the city The cotton belong
ing to the Government itself was not burned Geh'
HSrdee asserts that not q man or woman could DC
used TO remove or destroy the cotton, because all
were engaged in the defence Of the city. The cot
ton was stored in cellars, garrets AMI warehouses
all over the city.
Mr. HARTRlDGE said he was glad to avail him
self of this opportunity 10 defend the city OF Sa-
yannah against the insinuatiOns which had been
made against the patriotism OF its citizens. lie had
waited for public opportunity To deny ana re-
tute the limitations which had been thrown our IN
various quarters. IL was duty he owed TO an un-
nrtunate people who could not otherwise be heard
unon this floor or in this COntederacy. On o re-
cent occasion "A high iuncionary OF the Government
the Secretary of State, in the course of speech
delivered in this city, for the purpose OF arouslng
the patriotism of the country, had gone out OF ms
way TO institute an invdiOus comparison between
the citizens of New Orleans and those of Savannah,
in reference TO the destruction of cotton OH the APP
| Iroach of the enemy. The Secretary of State, on
that OCCASION had said that the people al Savannah
had become disheartened and broken in spirit and
| had not destroyed their cotton, but had claimed
British protection for IT, and had kept il IN the hol
| that the enemy would pay them for IT," Mr.. III.
said that there not one single fact or one loa
of truth upon which to base this assertion and he
appealed the message just read to sustain him IN
| this declaration. The statement Of the Secretary
OF State uncalcdfor, unfortunate and inbound
/ ed in truth
1t had been impossible to burn even the cotton
belonging to the general government
/ IL had become very common 20 make insinua-
tons against the State OF Georgia, and, rs part of
that State against the city OF Savannah. lie should
enter into no defence of that State city. This
would hereafter be done by history in more appro
| pirate and eloquent langu age than any he could
use. He would only say that more loyal CON-
munity than that OF Savannah could not be found
| in the COnfederacy. When the country offered at
Manassas its first great sacrifice to the God Of lR=
dependence Savannah had contributed her Bar
tow to be one Of the proto=martyrs Of the cause,
and band of youths, who had not yet crossed the
threshold OF manhood, of the best of her blood
aud breeding; and from that day to this, in every
army Of the COnederacy, and on every batte-field
rhe sons of Savannah had been found. With
voting population Of less than twenty-five hundred
she had given nearly three thousand soldiers to the
cause During the last summer some of her best
and nobest had fallen around this city to protect
the very house in which this Secretary lives, who
now attacks the patriotism Of their people Her
citizens we're even now groanng under captivity
which exposed them to insults and privations OF
the most grieyous kind.
He had felt il his duty TO say this much in JUS
tice to an unfortunate, but loyal and faithful peo-
pie.
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MIDsHIPNES
Under a suspension of the rules, Mr.. B0YCE, of
S. c., from the Naval Committee, reported back
Senate bill increasing the number of Acting Mid
slfpmen, and prescribing the mode of the appoint,
ment of the same. The bill passed.
The bill increases the number of Mdshipmen to
the same extent was provided 10 the bill vetoed
by the Presidents.
The morning hour having expired, the House re-
sumed the consideration OF the
TAX BILL,
reported from the Special Committee on that sub
eet Nv its Chairman, Mr.. RUSSELL Of Va. Pend
of several amendments, the House took recess
until halfpast seven o'clock.
REMARKS OF Mr.. MARSHALL, OF KY,
On the Tar Bill, in tie House Of Representatives,
february 2lSt.
Mr. MARSHALL said that he had proposed, soma
time ago TO take he cotton and tobacco TO make
substantial basis OF credit but he had no idea OF
taking these articles without paying the holders for
them the market value. lie supposed there were
million aud half of bales OF cotton which might be
purchased The present price in Treasury notes
would be 900 millions oil dollars, at III % per pound
the bale estimated at 400 pounds; aud this cotton,
at soc per pound, would net 800 millions of dol
lars.
The problem was how to pay our army, navy,
sapply and transportation contracts now due yet TO
maintain the currency. Suppose the Secretary vi
the Treasury has issued 500 millions of Treasury
notes and that we would issue |, 000 millions more
to paw the debts alluded to- so that we should have
twenty four hundred millions outstanding. How
shall this vast volume OF circulation be absorbed
He answered-with the cotton. The currency was
now worth to the par of gold only $50 for one he
would redeem the whole at $50 for one. How BY
issuing note payable in cotton at 90 cents per ID,
which he would only issue tor our Treasury notes.
He who would return 900 OF Treasury notes should
have IS of a note payable Ia cotton. Divide the
24OO millions by 20 and you have ia millions OF dol
lars as the amount OF cotton notes to redeem the en-
tire Treasury note circulation. You sell cotton at
SOC. per pound, and II will take 40 millions OF
pounds out of 600 millions of pounds. TO. take in
all your circulation at 20 for one. This Will appre
ciae your circulation above its present rate about
30 dollars for one Ii viii react upon prices, let
ting down the price of everything proportiOnabiy,
and leave substantial basis for good circulating
medium. II this scheme is not feasible, there is no
truth in arithmetic in the mathe NAUTICAL prOpo-
itiOn that things which are equal 10 same thng are
equal to one another.
If cotton is worth % cents in gold, sud ~ cents
in your cotton note, then your cotton note is worth
half its face in gold since they can be converted
and If fifty cents in your cotton note viii command
$40 in treasury note, you have established a line
of EQUIVALENTS which commercial men win use as
convertible terms. viii your cotton note command
Fthe treasury note under the circumstances Just
as surely, Mr., Speaker, as the sparks Ay upward
or as the graSpmg spirit Of avarce would prefer %
cents in gold now, TO your promise 10 pay $40 after
the war. lie would offer additional niucement.
lie would DledRe the pIIblic faith that cotton so
purchased should not again be Impressed, and
would impose no additional export duties upon it,
aud the holder might sell 1t TO the Exglislimau,
even to the enemy. 1t would relieve this people
from an immense debt which will operate upon
their prosperity most disaStrously hereafter. Will
the holder part with his cotton to enable this
scheme TO succeed There are ways to persuade
Linn. but il he is patriot he will be easily per.