Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-11

CENTREvILLE, VA, Feb. 9th, 1856.
10 the editor of The Alexandria Gazette:
The GAZETTE cannot tell why the silver
bill recently introduced in the Senate by
Senator Sherman, has been dubbed 10y some
"Shsrman's warehouse certificate bill" 1t
is only 80 dubbed by bankers or their paid
agents. The people know that silver bull
lion is not any more money than pig iron,
and where either are stored might be called
warehouse. Why, Pig Iron" Kelley has
as much right to offer bill in the House of
Representatives, that pig iron be deposited
in the vaults of the Treasury and hnve GER
titicates issued for the amount. One is as
just as the other. The metal must be coined
1t is that beautiful eagle, with outstretched
wings, the little motto, In God we trust"
and the United States stamp, one dollar,
that transforms silver into money. Silver
bricks will not fill the bill.
The monied portion OF our people have
become much like the ancients, who were
so avarcous that one of their lawmakers
had money made of iron, which was so
bulky and inconvenient that it cured them
of the disposition TO hoard up this worlds
goods, therefore it proved a very wise mea.
sure Our solons might profit by their ex
ample.
The war made on silver by the goldites, is
unjust. They say if the coinage of silver is
not stopped it will prove disastrous. That
is merely prophetic; it is time to stop when
we begin to feel the effects OF it. The gov
ernment should stand by the oppressed
metal, as it is the recognized money of nine
tenths of the people.
Our legislators have about solved the liq.
uor question and got it in ship shape but
what is needed in the country is not SO de-
srable in the city, because the city derives
large revenue from every drunken person
in the way of lodging and food accommo.
dation. The poor countryman pays large
portion of it, but still he is willing to cx-
empt tho city from local option. If local
option should be adopted by all the counties
small distilleries would spring up every
where to manufacture our own corn
juice; they will create home market for
our surplus grain, will furnish employ
ment for the unemployed, will keep u vast
amount of capital at home that now goes
into some northern or western mans pock
et and it will act on our infant industry
like protective tariff.
Our statesmen want to regulate the rail-
Toau rateS lneS cave enough 10 10 ii tucy
will regulate our State finances, but if they
will meddle with The railroads the first
| thing in order is to buy them, and then they
| can tell better how to regulate the rates,
| when they know tho cost and running ex.
| peDsss. What we want is more railroads,
and what capitalist is blockhead enough TO
invest his money in railroads in this State,
when three retired statesmen can fix the
rates. Our statesmen in many cases have
acted like the father Of the mule; they had
better adjourn, or, better still, resign. What
do they mean by voting to remit the delin-
quent land taxes prior to 1886? What
pressure has been brought to bear? Too
many tax receipts turning up, while the
land has been returned delinquent, and the
collectors have pockeled the money. Let
the land be sold, or let us see where the
money has gone, if greater portion has
been paid aud not accounted for. B.