Gibson, John McKinley, fl. 1860 [to Tobias Gibson]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04501.094 Author/Creator: Gibson, John McKinley, fl. 1860 Place Written: Dalton, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 April 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 29 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
He discusses a recent letter from home and the Currency Bill passed by the Confederate Congress which discounts notes at approximately 83 %. He also writes his views on slavery, "There is no such thing as satisfying a negro without slavery. They do not know their own wants and unless there is some one to teach them, they are but as little children I hope they may in some way be made to feel that they are not the superiors of the whites." Reports that his brother Hart is in a prison camp in Ohio. Written near Dalton, Georgia.
In part:
"Have you seen the "Currency Bill" passed by the C[onfederate] S[tates's] Congress at its last session. One hundred dollar notes are taxed firstly with a discount of 83 percent and there is a tax of ten cents on a dollar every month. So that in a short time they will be valueless.... I am sorry I did not bring out with me all the Confederate money I could get. I was afraid something would be done to reduce the redundancy of the currency, which would result in a great depreciation of the old issue. Follow Lee's advice as far as practicable. I do not look upon matters in exactly the same light that he does though you should be prepared for the worst."
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