The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-03-03
Nat understood, Milamay! otuntler.

chant in New York The matter is this,
sir: have gotten up n petition, sir, to
lny before the proper authorities, TO pre-
vent these women from carrying on these
shops, stnres, or whatever else they arc;
they will ruin onr business, and must and
shall be put down. They Nre allowed q
license, sir, for just one half villa; VIC have
to pay-they rent fabric. for which they
pay mere nothing; added to which, they
crowd some half dozen families into il,
thereby, making, perhaps, clenr profit.
By this means, sir, they can afford To- sell
goods cheaper than we can. We mus,
have our handsome bow windows, and rich
~ finished cases, our stores brilliantly il:
Illuminated with gas, for which. sir, we muit
pay an eXorbtant price, and must have n
profit on our goods 10 indemnify US. and
The consequence is, customers go where
they can buy the cheapest. One class, sir,
we have put down-ihosc whn live bv the
needle: we have succeeded in grinding
their prices down. until they cannot earn
over from eight Ia Twelve and. "A half cents
per day-plentv, sir, plenty, sir. plenty
lor these creatures, what can they want with
more. have given my wife and Iaugh-
ters orders long since, not TO give more
than half the value Of the work they have
homeland assure you, sir, that my orders
have been strictly complied with. Ifyour
American women will nOi dn it for half
price, there are plenty Of foreigners who
will. They hive not been accustomed 10
such lndulgrncirs and luxurics as YOUR
would be ladies If this cuuntrv.antl they
cnn afford To work for less. And now think
OF il, our markets. too, our side. walks,
our pavements arc blocked up with some
of this class. They do not even pay rent,
sir, for pluce in which to store their ar
ticlcs nf traffic; but free from expenses.
they offer their g"otls for n mere nn,ling-
this must not shall not be; we'll pu, them
down, or my names not Peter GrnfT. Now
give me your name, and well have The
malter fixed without more delay
Indeed, neighbour said Midmny, Il
should like much to "hligc ynu bul really
this seems matter Of conscience with me;
a business have M tight To mchdIe with.
Live, and let live, has Hitherto been my
motto; aud were to lend ii hand to Oh.
press my fcllow-crca,urcs, how could
dare pray
"Fha mercy to others show,
That mercy show to me-"
'Cnnscicnce!' multcrc.l G,un You will
give ear to conscience, until it will be your
ruin
Yes, ncighbor.' resumed the merchant,
this IL a free country. Here all men arc
or onSht I" be on an "quality.'
'Eqnni'y! said Grnll, again in,crrnp,ing
Mr.. Mildmay; now this, sir. is the very
root of the evil. Why. sir, in my npim-
ion we ought To know Of hu, two distinct
classes The rich and the poor. We shouli
have no midll" state of society. Wchave
me poor to work for MS, and we should be
allowed to rcmuncratc them as we please;
nnd we vii! sonn have il 50, If yuu will aid
us. Blu; if You adhere to this principle of
'C"nscicnce,' as You term it. ynu will bring
yourself 10 begSary, or MY names NOT Pc
ter Grnr'
And what would YOU have these people
do. MIR. Grnil? give upnll cxcrlionS for the
support Of lhcms, Ives, and those depend
ant on them, and throw themselves on the
pahic for support' | rather think, sir,
their industry and ambition should be en-
couragcd.'
oh no, sir; they should work-work
Tor mere maintenance; and that is all
they rcGuirc-ail they should have
But from what You have reuarkr ed, they
cannot gain II livelihood! hy their labor; con
Srqucnily they must slnrvr or beg. Ilwcre
better MIR. Gruil, TO pay every onc-male
or female, fair price. think sir the con
dltion of our country would be benefited
thereby. For instance many of these op.
pressed people are driven by necessity to
"ndcaror TO obtain credit, which if they
are fortunate enough to gain, they are in
all probability, never nblc to iqudalc the
debt; and The man who, for humanity's