Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-18

the midst of his helpless and weeping grand-chil-
dren. 1t is with difficulty that the halt, the lame
and the blind can escape It's pitiiess grasp. And
must We, Christian and civilized people, still bow
down with blind idolatry and be crushed by this
cruel Juggernaut, and make no efforts to secure an
honorable peacef Must we, like the Canaanites,
still drive our children through the fires to this
insatiate Moloch Must forget all the teachings
of our holy religion and follow only the example Of
the untutored barbarian and savage and thirst for
blood like the famished tiger? Must we still cele-
brale the "dread carnival" Of slaughter until our
country is made DESERT and our wives, mothers,
sisters and children are left amidst the ruins of our
homes as victims to the 6endish lusts and passions
of the barbarous negro and an infuriated solderya
Oh! when will our rulers heed again the voice OF
religion and reason; seek the beautiful paths OF
peace, and cease to tread the "wine press" Of
human wrath?
Mr. Speaker are the resources of our country
sufficient to continue this war for many years?
We have remarkably rich and productive land,
and formerly it teemed with an overlooking abun-
dance of the necessaries comforts and luxuries of
life. But care and labor are necessary to insure
production. A large proportion of the skill energy
and efficient industry of our people has been turned
for three years into the channels of war. One
fourth of our working slaves have escaped, or have
been taken away by the enemy, and the rest have
become so demoralized from the want of proper
superintendent and discipline, and the prospect of
speedy freedom that their labor is not worth half
the value of former years. large refugee popp-
lation has crowded into our contracted territory,
who add but little to production, and still justice
patriotism and humanity require that they should
be cared for and fed. The implements of agricu-
ture have been lessened in quantity and impaired
in value so that the efficiency of labor is much
diminished. The blockade cuts of nearly all foreign
supplies that could relieve the substantial wants of
Thn rfio mt O,,nhfh Q
lines are principally used for the purposes of war;
or serve to crafty the extravagant and luxurious
tastes of the rich or feed the hungry and craving
appetite of the Spectator and extortioner. Our
various lines of domestic trade are so completely
monopolized by military operations that the neces-
sites of one section cannot be supplied by the
surplus productions of another section. A large
amount of richest and most productive territory
is now in the possession of the enemy, or so cut off
by hostile lines that it can furnish but little asss
lance to the people who are defending the head and
heart of our Confeoeracy. The ineficency and
carclessness which always attend large government
operations, and the imperfect means of collection
and transportation have greatly injured and wasted
our public stores.
Without foreign commerce and domestic trade, with
half Of our land and labor gone, with the efficiency
of labor greatly diminished with aargey increased
consuming population, with the drouths, the fresh
cts, the raids and war depredations of mere than
three years, is it surprising that the country is
suffering from numerous wants. and looking to the
future with fearful apprehensions This picture is
gloomy one, but still it is truthful. Politicians
may indulge in theories and fancies, but the action
of statesmen should be Influenced by facts If the
picture is dark before us, we should endeavor
to brighten it. War has cast these gloomy shadows
over the land, and peace alone can bring the sun.
light of prosperity to our suffering country.
Mr.. Speaker, there is another consideration
ctaA with cfooo IF 10Th
war, which is worthy of serious attention. The
intelligence and virtue of the country is daily
decreasing with fearful rapdity. Our colleges and
school houses are nearly all deserted The teachers
and pupils have quit the beautiful fields of science
and literature and are now following the red paths
Of war; or sleeping the quietude of the grave
What are the hopes Of the country if these healthful
fountains of learning and virtue are long to be
sealed? Even the church shows striking Signs of
decay. The happy throng, that once went up to
the affairs Of the sanctuary are seen no more but
vacant seats sad faces fearful eyes, and the habit.
ments of widowhood and orphanage tell many
tale of sorrow and death. Gentle and beautiful
woman, helpless and innocent childhood, and de-
crepd age still enter the courts of the Lords house
with thanksgiving and praise; but the manly hus.
band, brother and son have gathered at the shrnes
OF human passion and vengeance; and there, with
out the halowing influences Of home, they are
surrounded by all the vices incident to military
life. This var has greatly impaired the power and
majesty of the lao. The tribunals of Justice can
no longer afford complete protection to civil rights,
and wrong-doers too often escape just punishment.
might makes right" is rapidly becoming the
| supreme law of the land A spirit of lawessness
and general decentralization is Speeding like conta
| glen through the whole country. The "greed Of
gain" is making many of our people intensely sci.
fsh-blunting the finer sensibilities of our nature
| -sappng the foundatlons of moral honesty
ls lIny pofto -
swlndlers and extortioners If this war continues
much longer all the boosted intelligence and virtue
| OF the once free and enlightened American people
will be gone, and with them will 60 our liberty and
all OF those proud national characteristics which
once made US the greatest happiest and most pros
porous nation Of the earth.
! Mr.. Speaker, there is another obstacle in the
way of our fighting out this war speedily and sue.
cesstully, to which l will briefly allude Money
has been justly termed one of the sinews of war,
and the want of it necessarily induces weakness
The unusually large expenditures of the wa r have
forced the government to resort to the use of an
inflated paper currency. Reason and experience
both teach US that paper currency is valueless
unless 1t is founded upon strong specie basis or
articles OF universal commercial value, or upon the
substantial wealth of country of high and uni
doubted credit TIE gold and silver capital of our
country at the commencement of the war was com.
paratvely small, not one.fourth enough to carry
oh the Ordinary business OF exchange. The inse-
curity felt in these times of revolution has with
drawn a large amount Of even this small capital
from circulation and driven it to hiding places
which can never be reached by the government, so
that it can be of little service in sustaining the
national credit.
We had several large staple productions which
are of almost universal commercial value, but the
want of wise foresight prevented our rulers from
throwing these products into the markets of the
world putting them into places of security abroad
as foundation OF national credit In the estima
tion Of our great leaders secession was peacesbe,
to be effected without money and without blood.
If war did come, it was to be fought out be.
fore breakf.ss, AMI fifteen million loan was
sufficient to pay the expenses of the affair." Their
political propheses have proved to be untrue, and
their financial theories unwise Tens of thousands