Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-11-07
WHAT IS MONEY!
from THE "splRlr OF JrFrERsov."]

rs to take for granted that it is now well un>
derstood by oil who have read my articles, that
money is au enldRdtiOm Of the entire people,
and not of any individual or company OF in.
aiyidrals, as q Bank; snG that it tho term
commodity is applied to it, rs it often is, that
it is important, ut once, to ask the question
"whosc commodity| For !, readily, con.
cede that the owner aud author Of cOmmo'
dity, when it is sold, is entitled to all the
profits Of such sale, as, for example, that the
farmer who raises bushGl Of wheat or corn,
or potatoes, or any thing else, or q colt, or
cali or even u goose, us it is his commodity,
is, By tho law Of nature and reason, fully en-.
titled to sell or trade it, and to all the profits
OF the transaction. The same reason, aud tho
same natural law, applies rs justly to all the
production Of the manufacturer, the mechanic,
tho author, the artist, and also the work done
by the merchant in his Oi6ciatOn of bring.
ing things to one point, and transferring them
to another. These are all commodities OF tho
mdicidualj or pricatc acts aud tho iudi-
vidual is entitled to all he cau get Tor his acts
and commodities, aud to all the profits he can
make upon them.
But, when We speak Of money US before
stated, the question Immediately arises and
it matters not in whose hands it is-"whose
commodity" To this question there is but
one answer. 1t is tho cOmmmoRiyO Of all the
people, who originated, aud made aud Con>
stitutcd il for their "congcnicncc' in exchang.
Ing their productions, aud who, therefore, if
it is treated as commodity, and bought Nh1
sold, arc entitled to all the profits arising
from the buying aud selling. They, all the
people, are entitled to all the profits OF money,
where treated as a commodity, aud bought and
sold; just as iu the case Of Il road, turnpike
or railroad, when made BY the public, by all
the people, they would be entitled to all the
profits.
What is the difference, or can be- between
road made by all the people for their travel
and trausportatiOn-in which, it will DO ad-
mitcd, they are entitled ITO all the prOfts-and
injury, made and cOnsti;utcdby all the people,
Us convenience for exchanging their labor
and the productions Of their labor?
If the people, who nude the soai, arc
clearly entitled to oil the profits arising from
the road, arc not tho same people who made
anlinsti,ute monCy-Lhe c0Wrcnicmc--Cquully,
entitled to all tho profits arising from money
tic roarmi'cncc--so instituted by them, rs
of the road The thing is pluin, US way to
parish church "
The truth is, the road and the convenience
Of money, arc, 10th, made and instituted, Ior
those who travel anl transport productions
in other words, for travellers aud laborcrs and
produces; aud mary iiMc, Tor people, who,
neither travel, transport, Of produce lin u
word for illers aud, droneS. who make no
honey!
How comes it, thcu, that Mryc pop'c-
these idIe.s-these drouc$, who make ~ lIo'
ney-add nothing to the common StOck-nb-
sorb all the profits Of those who travel and
the productions Of labor i'm Il
word, get oil the prints Of the rOa|, and all
the profits of tho cO0ymicucc Of money! aye,
again aud agaiu how comes ity
This is the question TO bO examined, aud
to be looked to
How do they do it, and how comes it to
i,"ss rnss No N: result. sEew If I0os comS to
ross m tint thew who "toil NOT" neither do
they spin" get, the profits Of those, who
toll and spin !"
doit tbrourh tho cheating IN pionry in the rx.
chances Of their products and laLors The
trade is not fair and honest, tho scales, money,
aro false and perverted (!
If moncy-tac sralrs-could be held and
kcnt ia tho use for which il wus intended
TO Wit simply to represent, and to exchange
values and proluctions,-thoro conld be no
difficulty; but, mOpuy-Me scaies-is not
held to the purpose for which it was ia-
tended, that is, simply, to represent and cx>
chaugc gc,-but, by becoming, iu it'clf, au ar-
ticle of merchandise, in the hands Of shaycrs
und Bankers, it, money Instead Of being
what it was intended to be, u convenience"
for legitimate purposes, has bocOnc the in
strumcnt Of handing over to nOn.prOducers
aud usucrs, all that is made by the induStri.
Gus mud the workers. Intended for Use aud
benefit, it has been perverted iAtoan agent Of
robbery, fraud, and injustice,
We sec the African ncpo bringing down
to the port and tho ship, ivory and gOld.dust,
aud receive for it Yankee blue beads; mud
wc say what fool tho African is Aud yet,
is ho greater fool than his boastud superior
the white mau-who suffers money, in it.
self, thing destitute OF value, to have, aud
to receive, and to acquire more profits, than
tho things it was designed, merely to rz,
change? "Excmpli gralia"-tarming, manu-.
lacturcs, commerce average only % per ceut.
and money from 0 to 10 per cent!
ro,o,t !, ,bO oDnkcl" African, "pputiug