Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-10
MoNETARY AND COMMERCIAL
f 0vvIcE OF -HE UNION AND AMERIcks,
SarrRDAY, March 10, 1865. ]

r. y
MoxErAKY.-Yesterdsy' dispatches from New
York report afurther downward tendency in gold.
Financial men, we think. are good deal puzzled
on the subject. Some are confident that 1t will
ultimately take another upward run. while others
advance the opinion that it will never get higher
again than it now Is. and win even experience
further decline. We have come 10 the conclusion
that the opinion Of one man is about as good as
another on the subject and that it is guess work
with ALL
The general dullness Of business is by common
consent ascrbed To the uncertainty that Is suffered
20 hang over the public mind respecting the hnan-
cial policy Of the Government. 1t is to be re-
GREETED. says the Aerconiit; Journal that there
are no immediate prospects for the removal by
Congress Of this uncertainty. That body seems TO
fulfill the saying of the brilliant Frenehman. who
declared that everything else should be attend
ed to before business" 1t occupies itself from
dayto day and from week TO week, by discussing
problems Of Government, which are being rapidly
solved by the irresistible tendency Of events and
permits the real interests Of the country to suffer-
by not attending to the more vital questions OF
finance and currency 1t is to be regretted, how
ever. that Congress should have so much to do
with the question Of the currency. 1t rs matter
that properly should be left to settle itself. The
currency, if let alone would speedily adjust itself
to the real wants Of the country, But Govern
ment interference in this matter is one Of the con-
sequences of the civil war. the settlement of which
is of the utmost practical consequence TO the
whole country.
At the present rate Of financial legislation, it is
to be feared, that the spring. and possibly the
summer, may be well advanced before the finance
and tax bills now before Congress can be reached.
This suspense is to be deprecated. There can be
no confidence in business operations until some
policy for funding the short debt and legal tenders
shall have been adopted. We already see many
evidences Of the injurious consequences of the un-
certainty that prevails. business. in place of be-
ing brisk at this season, as was anticipated, Is
narrowed down to the supply Of the more pressing
wants of the community. There is general Ell
fort on the part Of nearly all business men to con
tract their obligations much as possible and IN
| cur no new risks. Under existing circumstances,
it is only matter of ordinary prudence for mer-
chants and business men TO limit their operations
to point that may be covered. and without de-
| lay. But this caution, though warranted is most
| injurious to the community. Manufacturers and
| producers generally are beginning to contract
their operations at a season Of the year when the
wants of the spring trade usually induce activity
CoTToS.-The market was more active on yes
terday than for several days previous, neverthe-
| less there was slight decline under the recent
depressing news from Europe Advices from
New York quote Middling at 42c. The priceshere
range from 81 to 341zc.
GRocEKIEs-The market is inactive and ship
ments small, owing in part to the difficulty of pro
curing transportation over the roads. We have
no material changes to note since our last quota
tons. Dispatches from New York quote Sugai
| dull and unchanged. Coffee unchanged. Flour
and grain quiet. Provisions very dull, and accu
rate quotations difficult TO be given. Mess PorA
quoted at $685.; but Lard firm, and holders ask
| ing higher rates.