The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-16
The, business OF tho Country.

Inc, business OK tho Country.
The New York Erening Post APP
peals to Congress for some wise legis-
lation upon financial matters in an
article beginning with the following:
We seem, from the numerous com
plants we hear, to be falling upon
what are popularly known as hard
times" Business in most branches
is dull; men who have been u dozen
or twenty years engaged in mercan-
tile pursuits tell us they never knew
such unprosperous times. Sales are
small; stocks of goods are not re-
newed; everybody is either waiting
or suffering; either poor, OF prudent
ly expecting to bes 1t is true, that
this is the dull season of the year,
whom trade is expected to languish
somewhat; but there is more than 4
mere temporary dcadness.
The great crash, which was so long
looked for, may not come, because it
has been provided against to cor
tain extent. 1t is pretty sure that
men in general do not owe much
money; credit is not free; indebted
ncss is not great or widespread;
not, therefore. at band. But it would
seem that we may have presently y
general staSnation of business, 4
lullness and dcadncss Us .li&couragiug
and disabling rs the great revulsion
Of l937-pcrhaps even more SO. We
hear daily Of trade and industry
leaving IFS, and seeking refuge with
our neighbors in the British pro-
vinces. or further yet. Our mer-
chants find it impossible to sell Ana-
rican products at a profit abroad; our
worlmcn, i'll many branches OF in
dustry, are without employment; men
long and prospcrously established in
business arc compelled to abandon
that il which they excciled, and to
turn their capital and energy into
pursuits less profitable to the conn
try. Industry and trade are alike
paralvz"d.
The cause Of All this is Well known.
Our currency is deprecated; our
skilled labor is forcibly turned into
unaccustomed channels by unwise
legislation; our manufacturers are
j hurdencd with taxes, which mako
production too costly for us TO com
pete in the worlds markets with
other nations; our people are forced
by unjust laws TO buy their raw mate
rials and many Of the recessarics Of
life in the dearest markets.
In all this. the enemies OF liberty
see cause for JOY and hope The
delays Of your Congress viii yet serve
rs rs We would not serve ourselves, .
cx l'aimcd y sArcw} Democrat, the
der day. 10 Il Republican, ''In al
that goes or with YOU. wrote 4
Southern man, u rebel, to Il friend
here lately, ''wc see cause FOR hope.
III keeping Us out, you do us q ser
vice-we shall escape the ruin and
disgrace you are bringing upon Your
selves. We may yet attain what We
wish, by your own solf-destruction. .
More SUITS AGIISsr GES. Butler
\ letter from New York, in The Phi
!adclphia Le;{ge7', says:
Another batch Of suits for tho re-
covery Of damages has been instituted
against Gen. Butlcr. in the Supreme
Court Chambers. The plaintiffs arc
in some cases citizens Of New Or
leans, and in others citizens Of Viz
ginia. and all claiu: 30 be and have
been loyal men.
The most serious Of these com
plants or suits is based upon the
allegation that Gen. Butler had, by
virtue of his power in New Orleans,
compelled Mr. Honiwell to transfer
the steamer Carlotta, worth $50, 900,
to himself personally for $40, 900, in
q currency worth but $2S, 500; had,
through his agent, sent this vessel on
private venture for his own advan-
tage, which it was insinuatcd was TO
supply the rebels with quinine, &c
and then, through this agent, had
chartered it to the Government for
$3.50 per day, though the original
owner was willing to charter it to
them at $50 per day, and had ulti-
mately run her under near the end
of the war, and obtained for her
S40,0 1t was claimed, therefore,
that in no sense could it be said that
this had been done under authority
from the President or Congress.
Gen. Buffers counsel contend that
these acts were done in accordance
with Government authority, and
moves, therefore, that they be trans
ferred to a,Federal court for adjudi-
cation. The court promised deci
sion in q day or two.