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13 June 1863The meeting of the farmers of the towns of Antioch, Newport, Avon and Warren, to take into consideration the propriety of refusing all currency except "Uncle Sam's" Greenbacks, as payment for their products, was duly held at the village of Millburn last Saturday. We were unable to attend the meeting, but have been furnished with the following report of the proceedings through friend Strang:
On the 6th inst., a large number of the Yeomen of Lake county met
in convention at Millburn.
To a spectator, it was apparent that these men had considered
their rights and responsibilities, as integers of this great
nation -- Evidently they are believers in the right of private
judgment. They think it no sin to have an opinion in regard to
the management of the Government, the War, and the Financial
affairs of the country.
They are not willing to have any and every measure in these
important departments cramed down their throats by Abe Lincoln,
(no disrespect to honest Old Abe; however.) Stanton,
Halleck & Co., Chase, Wall Street & Co., without exercising their
right to say, "why do ye so."
The Government, if it meet the wishes of the people must know
what the people desire.
Standing on these principles, the Convention freely discussed
the national policy, and expressed their own views. There was but
one opinion on this point, the Government must be
sustained.
The subject most discussed was that of finances--in some
respects, the most important branch of National affairs. If there
be derangement or scarcity here, every other interest goes
limping, or suspends.
It is true now as of old, "money makes the mare go."
The farmers say they are embarrassed not a little, by the
great variety of Bank notes in circulation. Issues of banks in
New England, the Middle States and the West. They cannot afford
to carry a Bank Note Detector in their pockets continually, and
should they do this, they do not feel secure against frauds,
counterfeits, depreciated or worthless bills.
They are suited with United States currency, Greenbacks and
Postage currency. They would have this, and nothing else, as a
circulating medium. They suppose it possible they may suffer a
little for a while, and that some time may alapse before their
object will be gained, but they are sanguine in their expectation
that it will be for their advantage on the whole, and therefore
they are "in for it."
The Convention passed the first of the following resolutions
unanimously, and the second nearly so:
Resolved, That in sustaining the National currency, we
are sustaining the National Government.
Resolved, That we agree for ourselves, and recommend to
the country, to take nothing in exchange for Produce but
United States currency, or other funds to be converted into
United States currency at our earliest convenience; and that we
will discourage the circulation of any other funds in our midst.
Millburn, June 8, 1863.
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