The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-10

nues of trade may be invited, and a
demand created which will cause the
retention at home of at least so much
of the productions of our rich mex
haustible gold bearing fields as may
be sufficient for purposes of eircula-
ton. Lit Is unreasonable TO expect a
return to a sound currency so long as
the Government and banks con-
tinue to issue irredeemable notes,
and fill the channels of circulation
with deprecated paper Notwith-
standing a coinage by our minis since
1849 of eight hundred and seventy
four millions Of dollars, the people
are now strangers to the currency
which was designed for their use and
benefit; and specimens of the precious
metals, bearing the national device,
are seldom seen, except when prOduc-
ed to crafty the interest exhibited by
their novelty.
IF deprecated paper is to be con-
tinued as the permanent currency Of
the country. and all our coin is to be-
come mere article Of traffic and
speculation, to the enhancement of
the price Of all that is dispensabie to
the comfort Of the people, it will be
wise economy to abolish our mints.
thus saving the nation the care and
expense incident to such establish.
ments, and let our precious metals be
exported in bullion. The time has
come when the Government and Ma
tional Banks should be required to
take the most efficient steps and
make all necessary arrangements
for the resumption of specie pay
ments. Let specie payments once
be correctly inaugurated by the
Government aud banks, and the
value OF the paper circulation
would directly approximate sphere
of standard. Specie payments having
been resumed by the governm ent and
banks, all notes or bills of paper
issued by either of a less denomina-
ton than $50, should by law be ex-
cluded from circulation, so that the
people may have the benefit and CON
venience of gold and silver curren-
cy, which, in all their business trans
actions, 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 Ia
maintaining a safe circulating medi-
um-srch a medium as shall be real
and substantial, not liable TO yibrate
with opinions, not subject to be blown
up or blown down by the breath of
speculation, but one that will be
! made secure.
A disordered currency is one of the
greatest political evils. 1t under
mines the virtues necessary for the
support of the social system, and en-
courages propensities destructive of
its happiness. lt wars against indus
try, frugality and economy, and it
fosters the evil spirits of extavagance
and speculation. 1t has been assert
ed by one Of our profound and most
gifted statesmen, that of all the con-
trivances for cheating the laboring
classes of mankind, none has been
more effectual than that which de-
ludes them with paper money.
This is the most efectual of
inventions to fertilize the rich
mans fields by the sweat
of the poor mans brow-ordinary
tyranny. oppression, excessive taxa
ton. These bear lightly on the hap
piuess of the mass of the community
compared with fraudulent currency
and the robberies committed by de-
preciated paper. Our own history
has recorded for our instruction
enough, aud more than enough, of
the demoralizing tendency, the in
Justice and the intolerable oppression
on the part Of virtuous and we'll dis
posed of a degraded paper currency
authorized by law or 10 any way coun-
fananooA bry thu fAnuaruD1nuF
1t is one of the most successful de-
vices. in time of peace or war, of ex
pausiOn or revolution, to accomplish
the transfer of all the precious
metals from the great mass of the
people into the hands Of the few, where
they are boarded in secret places or
deposited under bolts and bars, while
the people are left to endure all the
Inconvenience, sacrifices and demon
alization resulting from the use of
deprecated and worthless paper.
The Secretary of the Interior, In his
report, gives valuable Information In
reference to the interests confined to
the supervision of his department,
and reviews the operations Of the
Land Office, Pension Office, Patent
Office, and the Indian Bureau. Oar
1868, six millions six hundred and
fifty-fve thousand seven hundred
acres of public land were disposed of.
The entire cash receipts of the Gen
eral Land Office for the same period
were 81, 632, I45, being greater by
1921, 1888 than the amount realized
from the same sources during the
previous year. The entries under the
I i +
three hundred and twenty eight
thousand nine hundred AMI twenty
three acres, nearly one fourth of
which was taken under the act OF
June 21st, 1866. which applies only
TO the sales of Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Florida.
On the Both of June, 1863, one
hundred and sixty nine thousand
six hundred and Orty-three names
were borne on the pension rolls, and
during the year ending on that day
the total amount paid for pensions,
including the EXPENSES of disburse
ment, was 81, 010, 982, being s., 391, 023
greater than that expended for like
purposes during the preceding year.
Daring the year, endlug the Both OF
September last, the expenses of the
GdteuL Omce 6AcccuGu Iue TSc6ipbS ny
one hundred and seventy one dollars;
including tissues and designs, four
teen thousand one hundred and fifty
three patents were issued.
Treaties with various Indian tribes
have been concluded, and WILDE sui :
mitted to the Senate fer its clnstitu-
tional action. | cordially sanction the
stipulations which provide for resery-
ing lands for the various tribes, where
they may be encouraged to alb andon
their nomadiac habits, and engage in |
agricultural and Industrial pursuits