Abuses in the army.
A close investigation into the management of the
Commissary and
Quartermaster's departments of the army would we think, disclose a degree of recklessness entirely inexcusable, and which is well calculated to depreciate the currency of the
Government, if it has no other evil effect.
When the army retired from
Maryland, and took position in the lower Valley, there was a considerable amount of bacon and other supplies in the country, which had been readily sold to the families of soldiers and others at moderate prices — bacon ranging from 16 to 20 cents per pound.
The first thing done by our commissaries was to put up the prices, and those who had bacon for sale were at once offered 35 cents per pound, and at this price the country was gleaned of its meat supply.
The same meat might have been purchased for 20 cents, and the farmers who sold it would have been perfectly satisfied, and would have had infinitely more confidence in Confederate funds.
Besides depreciating the credit of the
Government, such recklessness is well calculated to produce suffering among the families of soldiers who have to purchase their provisions.--Because provisions are bringing any price that extortioners choose to demand in
Richmond, it is no reason why the agents of the
Government should put the prices up upon people of other sections of the country.
In conversations with a number of farmers of the
Valley, recently, we were frequently asked the question whether the
Government intended to redeem its circulation, the inference being drawn from its unnecessary expenditure that Confederate money was only being used for the present exigency and that final repudiation would ensue from the extravagance of the
Government's commissioned agents.
