21 importations could be lessened one hundred millions a year, this amount would be saved to the people of this country in gold! And yet, a sufficient revenue would be received by the Government, in gold, to pay all its gold interest from custom duties. Now, could not the manufacturers, and the people generally, under these circumstances, well afford to pay an increased tax, if the necessities of the Government demanded it ? For the people of the country, as a whole, would add one hundred millions to their wealth, in gold, which is now sent to Europe, every year. In the third place, you ask, “ What bearing upon the subject has the fact that this is a gold-producing country ?” It has this bearing—The gold and silver mines of this country are largely productive—if you succeed in your reform, to one-half the extent I have supposed, it will be shown that we produce more of the precious metals than will be needed for export, to pay foreign indebtedness. On the contrary, unless the annual interest of the Government, payable in coin, should be largely increased, your movement will produce a large surplus of gold, which will remain here to enrich the people of our own country. You say nothing about the present or prospective condition of the currency of our country. Yet I cannot but regard this as a very important element in this connection. The tendency of the contemplated reform, is to keep and accumulate gold in this country. If that is accomplished—the reform carried out—even partially, and the paper currency of the United States Government is properly curtailed and restrained, the effect will inevitably be to raise the value of paper much nearer the standard of gold, reduce prices of all commodities, and gradually, but certainly, restore the Government and the banks to a specie basis. With all my heart I say, therefore, God speed you in the good work. Yours, very truly, J. E. WILLIAMS, To Miss Louisa Lee Schuylek, No. 2 Great Jones St., N. Y. Letter from Messes. J. C. HOWE & CO., Manchester Print Warks, Manchester, N. II. New York, May 11, 18G4. To Miss Louisa Lee Schuyler:—We duly received yours of the 7th inst., requesting us to furnish samples of fabrics manufactured in this country suitable for ladies’ dresses. We are aware that very little is known by ladies who have been accustomed to buy foreign fabrics, and who have been prejudiced against American pro
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