| From the New Orleans True Delta |
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| December 29, 1861 |
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| The Real Sinews of War |
| Next to arms and ammunition, we believe it
is universally conceded that provisions are the real sinews of war.
Troops may have clothing, muskets of most approved make and finish,
ammunition in lavish abundance, but if the stomach of the soldier is
unplenished, in vain will all the other appliances to make him truly
efficient be found. Can the people themselves, then, outside of
governmental red-tapeism, contribute efficiently towards a more equal
and speedy distribution of important descriptions of food, and with
great advantages to their armies and much profit to themselves, locally
and generally? We think they can. Let us examine the matter. The sugar
crop of Louisiana is admittedly large, but its removal and
dissemination, although prices are lower, indeed scarcely one-sixth the
amount of that every other description of human nutriment now commands,
is slow and unsatisfactory. While sugar and molasses are to be had here
for a song; and while no other description of human food is more
acceptable, palatable or nutritious, pound for pound; and while we are
all conscious that this will be the sorest year of trial to us in the
important matter of food for the sustenance of our people, free and
bond, no adequate exertions or co-operation appears to be made or
contemplated for the reciprocation of that which we have in such unusual
surplus, for other things edible and unedible, possessed by our friends
in contiguous states to the eastward of us. The constant clamor is, that
it is impossible to forward sugar and molasses over the railroads east
of Tennessee, because of their occupation for military purposes; but
this we are assured could be easily remedied if the different railroad
companies would cordially and patriotically unite in plans to
systematise the transportation business, always, of course, securing to
the government the preferences, but depriving its officers of the
arbitrary power of interrupting the operation of the roads at their
discretion -- a discretion often, hitherto, very indiscreetly and
unwisely exercised, if not abused. To do this, committees of conference,
composed of merchants, officers of the railroad companies and other well
informed and experienced parties should be appointed; and by them such
arrangements could easily be made as would insure to the people of
distant Virginia, and other remote places, at a small advance, the great
supporter of life and health, of which our state is now the possessor in
abundance. |
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