Staunton Spectator

There is every reason to believe, from present appearances, says the Lynchburg Virginian, that we shall be short of supplies for one army and people next year. The short crop of when and corn for the past year, the fatality that has attended the hog crop; the waste superinduced by large standing waste superinduced by large standing armies; the drought which has retarded the Fall operations of farmers in getting their wheat sown, and the embarrassments that the agricultural portion of our citizens have suffered, in consequence of the presence of the enemy, and the demand made upon them by our Governments, State and Confederate, will we fear, be manifest in a short supply of bread and meat next year. It believes us therefore to observe the greatest frugality and economy in the use of what we have. It matters not that we have a plethora of money, or that there be an abundance elsewhere to supply our lack, when we are excluded from the markets of the world, and are compelled to rely upon what we have within ourselves. Money cannot produce one grain of corn, or increase by one pound, our quantity of meat. Our supply will be limited by the circumstances that surround us, and to that, whether much or little, we must contine [sic] ourselves. We cannot increase it by the ordinary means of commercial intercourse. Under these circumstances, we are called upon to husband our resources of bread and meat, by the diminution, so far as practicable, of consumption. We should stint ourselves, and those who have spread a bounteous board heretofore, should, no matter what their means may be, endeavor to do with less. Thousands of our gallant soldiers who were nursed in the lap of plenty, and brought up in the midst of affluence, have known what it was to go for days together without a meal:--and cannot we, to increase the stores that may be necessary for their sustenance in the field, endure some little of their patient self-denial? We can do with much less than we consume, and instead of priding ourselves upon spreading an ample board, groaning with every luxury, we should feel a sense of reproach for indulging in such improprieties. This is no time for feasting and high carnival, but for earnest self-denial, and abounding patriotism and charity. Our suffering countrymen, and the dependent families they have committed to our care whilst they are fighting our battles, demand that we appropriate less to ourselves, and more to those who would be glad to gather the crumbs that fall from many of our tables. The season, the condition of the country, the wants of those to whom we have referred, and the prospect before us, all call upon us, trumpet-tongued, to forego every species of luxury during the existence of this war.

This dangerous and loathsome disease has made its appearance in this county. We have been informed that there are some cases in the neighborhood of Middlebrook, and that it exists in other portions of the county. To prevent its extension, every family, without exception, should have all of its members vaccinated as soon as possible. Those even who have been vaccinated heretofore should be vaccinated again to make "assurance doubly sure." The citizens of his place are very apprehensive that it may be brought from the country to the town, and we would, therefore, request our country friends to be careful not to bring it here, for, as soldiers are passing daily through this place to the army, it may in this way get into our army and do us more harm than all the soldiers Lincoln has been able to bring into the field against us. Therefore, in behalf of our common country as well as of the citizens of Staunton, we appeal to our country, friends not to bring this horrible disease to this place.

There is evidently some distrust in the public mind, of Confederate money. This is one cause of the spirit of speculation and high prices, by which public and private interests are injured.

We are inclined to think this distrust is without any just foundation. If we secure our independence our currency will be perfectly good--if not, nothing that we have will be of value.

But there is one view to which we would call the attention of the public. If the rumors of intervention be tree, or if from any other cause an early peace should become probable, it is evident that the eight per cent bonds will be a most desirable investment. Capitalists will at once seek for them. Confederate money is available to buy them at par, while Bank notes will not necessarily be so. The 8 per cent bonds under a brisk demand, will go above par, and Confederate notes will keep pace with them, because they are, by law, convertible into 8 per cent bonds. By this process, millions upon millions of dollars of Confederate notes will be withdrawn from circulation and invested in bonds. A sudden contraction of the currency will be the consequence, followed by a fall in prices, and a general smash in speculations. On the whole we think people had better be on the look out for squalls and haul in their sails before the storm comes. Prudence will also dictate that men should hold on to Confederate money as it is likely to be at a premium.