Year: 1861

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Dec. 18th, 1861.


EDrroRs UNION AND AMERICAN: In providing fer
the manner in which the war tax Is to be collected
our Legislature is evidently desirous of doing that
which shall be to the best interests sf both the
State and the Confsderacy. doubt not that every
member of the Assembly is animated with the sin
cerest attachment to the cause we have espoused
and that each one endeavors to the full extent OF
his ability to help the glorious work. These are
not times for political trimming nor should any
man be found afraid to act upon his honest conyie
tons of the true interests of the whole community,
because some narrow-minded constituency nigh
disapprove. We choose Representatives TO do our
public business for u.s. and we expect them to act
for the good of ALL and not for this or that town
county or section. Especially do we demand this
at the present tas when the people need the coun-
sci and aid of their wisest men. No maxim Of the
publicists is more incontroYertiby true than thsi
the safety of all is the safety of each )" and
that legislator will best serve his immediate ccn
stituency who seeks the good Of the whole State.


The war in which we are engaged must and viii
he carried On to q successful and glorious ternna
hon. To do this requires not only men, but sup
niles. equipments, food transportation. Men mus t
he Maid. because their families are dependent on
them. Supplies must be paid for, because those
who furnish them cannot work,for nothing money
must be had therefor and it becomes question
of exceeding importance to determine how money
shall be obtained.


d Now money is not of necessity gold and silver
These metals have been chosen because of their
limited supply and indestructible nature. If We
could pick up nuggets of gold as we gather pebbles





from the brooks, the "root Of all eVi' would be-
come harmless and of far less value than an equal
weight of iron. Our fathers in this valley used
coon skins as medium of exchange, and found hem
almost as usefn as silver pieces, for their limited
trade. ...-- e.. --


In an isolated community it is Of little con
spouence what is selected as representation of
value. The Spartsns used iron for money, and
seemed to be quite as prosperous when it was ne
eessarv 10 carry their SnaGR change in wheel bar:
rows. as they were afterwards when the treasures
of the defeated army of Xerxes Overcsme their
aversion to the acquisition Of wealth. The Japan
ese, for perhaps centuries have been possessed of
an immense quantity of gold, so much, that when
thew opened their ports to American commerce
the Yankee drove quite a lucrative business in
swapping silver coins for gold OF nearly twice
their value. IT..


But we are not altogether in the condition Of the
soartans or the Japanese. They had Little foreign
commerce and did not seek to increase it; and 0x-
change of commodities was the beginning and end
of their trade with other nations. With the ex-
ception of Stray cargo now and then, we are for
the present without external commerce and if our
people were to be forever shut in from foreign
trade might safely agree touse even coon skins for
currency, if enough Of them could be had. We do
not intend, however that Yankee ships shall always
blockade our harbors, nor Yankee armies threaten
our border. We mean to buy and sell in all the mar
kets of the world, without let or hindrsnce 1t be-
comes u.s. therefore to conduct our finances, and to
regulate our currency, so that we shall be as nearly