Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-30
TO THE EDITORS Oh TIE ENQUIRER.
MERCHANTS AND FARMERS.

Nessrs Editors II has been so often said that The
"interests OF these two classes of the community are
the same'-that "they mutually dependant upon
each other''-that IT has become Of the laws of
political economy, not TO be controversial Il sub.
eet upon which have long had my doubts, and some.
times had the temerity to express dissent 10 the
above dicta. The Address Of James LYONS Esq he
fore the Henrco Agricultural and Horticultural Socety
at Goddns spring, Thursday, Jnne ls, s43 publish.
ed in the Enquirer o. the I6h having brourbt th;s
subject prominently into view, have thought i, fl
vorabe moment to enquire, 10 what extent the doctrine
correct not doubling that, properly understood there
much truth in t-but that in the full acceptation Of
the terms Employed, there much mischief as truth in
them. IL s not my purpose % make that address a
subject Of criticism read it with good deal OF
pleasure and approve its general one-and refer TO il
only as the last public expression of common and re
ceved sentiment which l consider erroneous The
author Of the Address ponounces the curse Of dema.
gogusm upon him who arrays country rs. town-but
let tell him. that upon text has there bee n
more canting, hypocritca preaching, than upon that
of the identiy of interest between the farmer and
the merchant" 1t has been used TO convert the De-
mocrs to the u States Bank, because IL was to SUP
ply the merchant with money to buy his crops and 10
enable HIM to obtain the means of carrying on his bu
siness without calling the farmer for payment The
other sister of the ro too, Manufactures has uroed
her claims of kindred interest upon Agriculture in
favor OF protective duties, because it would enable he
TO open home market for agricultural products
But to what extent the interests of Commc-ce
and Agriculture identical' Only r as il ia the bu
siness OF the merchant to import sufficient quantity
of goods from the cheapest MARKET supply The pro-
per demands OF the iarmer-and so far as both NAV
require sufficient amount Of sound circulating me
dunn to sustain and carry prudent trade bel
them, il might, perhaps be admitted that their true
interests are the same. But long as The interest oil
the merchant is supposed to consist in the most exlen
sve credit system, in The utmost expansion of paper
circulation, and in forcing upon The AGRICULTURAL com
munity the greatest possible amount of goods wares
and nerchandize, | maintain that their interests are
widely different. In this state of things The farmer
becomes, properly, the "stomach," and will require
much stronger Suggestive organs than nature or 5000
fortune has endowed him WITH 10 enable him 10 diaes
the heavy balance against him at The end of the wear
Bot it is important, in The settlement of this question
to distinguish between the different orders of mer
chants. From the order, whose interest is common
with the farmers, would certainly exclude that nu
merous class of small dealers who establish them
selves at every landing on our wa,ercourses. and al
every road 10 find out the length, and breadth
and epth of the poor mans purse very kindly invite
and press him to deal on credit until the shop keeper
knows he has got 10 The bottom gets his bond, deco
Of trust and then calls in the sheriff If this man buys
the farmers wheat or tobacco, Ia very thing BIT
does it TO save debt, never advancing dollar on IT
Mr. Lyons has been more fortunate than the rest o
tribe, (takng him in his character of"cod hopper,
! in finding merchants to blend him money when III:
crops ait is just, then, that in the country the v1er
chants are little hard pressed too and begin TO loof
out for plank. What on the other hand, is the far
mers interest /? To deal as little as possible will
them, and, then, either for cash. short credit-an