The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-17

more than S3UO,OUO.UUU not accounted
for by expectation or by the returns
of the Treasury, and therefore, is
most probably remaining in the coun-
try.
| These are important facts, and show
how completely the inferior currency
will supercede the better, forcing it
from circulation among the masses
and causing it to be exported as a mere
article of trade, to add to the money
capital of foreign lands. They show
the necessity of retiring our paper
money, that the return of gold and
silver to the avenues 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 and inexhaustable gold
bearing fields as may be sufficient for
the purposes of our circulation.
tits unreasonable to expect return
to sound currency, SO long as the
government and banks by continuing
to issue irredeemable notes to fill the
channels of circulation with deprecia-
ted paper, notwithstanding coinage
of our naints since lS49 of eight hun
dred and seventy-four millions of dol
to the currency which was designed
for their uses and benefit, and speci-
mems of the precious metals bearing
the National device are seldom seen,
except when produced to crafty the
interest excited by their novelty. If
deprecated paper is to be continued
as the permanent currency of the coun-
try, and all our coin is to become a
mere article of traffic and speculation
to the enhancement of price of all
that is indispensable to the comfort
of the people, it will be wise econo-
my to abolish our mints, thus saving
the nation the care and expense Incl
dent to such establishments, and let all
our precious metals be exported in
bullion. The time has come, however,
when the Government and national
banks should be required to take the
most efficient steps and make all nee
essary arrangements for res umption
of specie payments. Let specie pay
ments once be earnestly inaugurated
by the Government and national
banks, the value of the paper circula-
ton would directly approximate a
specie standard.
Specie payments having been re-
sumed by the Government and banks,
all notes or bills of paper issued by
either, of lower denomination than
twenty-five dollars, should by law be
excluded from circulation, so that the
people may have the benefits and con-
venienee 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 in
maintaining safe circulating medi-
um, real and substantial-not liable to
Vibrate with opinions; not subject to
be blown up or down by the brute of
speculation, but to be made stable and
secure. A disordered currency is one
of the greatest political evils. 1t un-
dermines the virtues necessary for the
support of the social system, and en-
courages propensities destructive of
its happiness. It wars against frugal
ityvinaustry and economy, and it fos-
ters the evil spirits of extavagance and
l.
one of our most profound statesmen
that of all the contrivances for cheat
ing the laboring classes of mankind,
none has been more efectual than that
which deludes them with paper mon
ey. This is the most effectual of all
inventions to fertilize the rich mans
fields by the sweat of the poor mans
brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppression,
excessive taXation-these bear lightly
on the happiness of the mass of the
community compared with a fraudu-
lent currency, and the robberies COM
mitted by deprecated paper. Our
own history has recorded for our own
instruction enough-and more than
enough of the demoralizing tendency,
the injustice and the intolerable OPP
preston on the virtuous and well dis
posed, of a degraded paper currency,
authorized by law, or in any way
countenanced by the Government.
1t is one of the most successful de-
vices in time of peace or war, of ex-
pansions or revulsions, to accomplish
the transfer of all the precious metals
from the great mass of the people in
to the hands of the few, where they
are boarded in secret places or deposi-
ted under bolts and bars, while the
people are left to endure all the incon-
veniences, sacrifices and demoraliza-
ton resulting from the use of depre-
ciated and worthless paper.
REPORT OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT,
The Secretary of the Interior in his
report gives valuable information in
reference to the interests confided to
the supervision of his Department,
and reviews the operation of the Land
Office, Pension Office, Patent Office, and
the Indian Bureau.
During the fiscal year ending june
80, 1868 6,655,700 acres of public
lands were disposed of; the entire
cash receipts of the general land office
for the same period, were $1,632, ,S45
being greater by $2s4,S83 than the
amount realized from the same source
during the preceding year. .Ez
! g. HOMESTEAD Law. ,.1I4g0
The entries under the homestead
law cover 2,328,932 acres, nearly: one
fourth of which was taken under the
act of June 81, 1856, which applies
only to the States of Alabama, Missis.
sippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Flo
rida. r. aa.sa
... PENSIONS. e..lt....-.
On the 30th of June, 1868, one hun
dred aud sixty-nine thousand, six
hundred and forty-three names were
borne on the pension rolls, and dur,
ing the year ending on that day the
total amount paid for pensions, includ.
ing the expenses of disbursement, was
$24,OlO9S2, being $5,391, ,0M greater
than that expended for like purpose!
during the preceding year. ,di p.
PATENTS. -...,
During the year ending the 30th Of
September last, the expenses of the
Patent Office, exceeded the receipts by
Sill, and including reissues and de
signs l, ,153 patents were issued.
TREATIES WITH INDIANS.
Treaties with various Indian tribes
have been concluded and will be sub
mitted to the Senate for its constitu