Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-12-07

Ttis unreasonable 10 expect return 10
.,nnd currency so long as the Government, by
.ontinung 10 issue irredeemable notes, fills the
channels of circulation with deprecated paper.
Notwithstanding a coinage by our minis since
Is49 Of eight hundred and seyenty-four millions
NJ dollars, the people are now strangers TO the
,rrrencv which was designated for their use
spd benefit, and specimens of the precious me-
,als bearing the national device, are seldom
seen except when produced TO crafty the inter-
est excited by their novelty. If deprecated
raper is 10 be continued as the permanent cur
rency of the country, and all our coin is 10 be-
rome--a mere article Of traffic and speculation TO
the enhancement in price of all that is lndispen-
.ble to the comfortof the people, it would be
wise economy 10 abolish our minis, thus saving
the nation the care and expense incident 10
such establishments, and let all our precious
metals be exported in bullion. The time has
come. however, when the Government and ma
,ional banks should be required to take the most
efficient steps, and make all necessary arrange
ments for resumption of specie payments at
the earliest practicable period Specie pay
msnts having been once resumed by the Gov
eminent and banks, all notes or bills of paper
lssred by either Of less denomination than
twenty dollars, should by law be excluded from
circulation, so that the people may have the
benefit and convenience Of gold and silver
currency, which, in all their business transac
lions, will be uniform in value at home and
abroad. Every man Of property or industry
every man who desires TO preserve what he
honestly possesses, or TO obtain what he can
honestly earn, has direct interest in maintain
ing safe circulating medium, such medium
as shall be real and substantial, not liable to vi
orate with opinions, not subject TO be blown up
or blown down by the breath of specula ton, but
% made stable a
currency IS one Of the greatest political evils ;
II undermlnes the virtues necessary for the sup
post OF the social system, and encourages pro-
Pensities destructive of happiness 1t wars
against industry, fIugality and economy, and il
fosters the evil spirits of extravaganza and spec
ulation. 1t has been asserted BY one of our pro-
found and most gifted statesman, tina. 'of all
the contrivances for cheating the laborng class
es Of mankind, none has been more efectual
than that which deluded them with paper mon
oy." This is the most effectual Of inventions TO
ieTtilize the rich mans field by the sweat Of the
poor mans brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppres
sion, excessive taxation, these bear lightly on
the happiness Of the mass the CO immunity as
compared with 4 fraudulent currency and the
robbereS committed by deprecated paper
Our own history has recorded for our instruc-
ton enough, and more than enough, of the de-
moralizlng tendency, the injustice and intolera-
bic oppression on The vIrtuous and we'll dspoS-
ed, Of degraded paper currency authorized
BY law or in any way countcnanced by Govern
ment. 1t is one oC the most successful devices
IN times OF peace or war, expansions or reyul-
SONS, 10 accomplish the transfer of all the pre-
cious metals from the great mass of the people
into the hands of the few, where they are hoard
ed in secret places or deposited in strong boxes
under bolts and bars, while the people are left to
endure all the Inconvenience, sacrifice and de-
moralization resulting from the use ola depre-
rlated and worthless paper money.