Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
Fo' tie Enquirer.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF
VIRGINIA

Fo' tie Enquirer.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF
VIRGINIA
Any subject calculated TO promote the farm
ing Interest Of our State, cannot he devoid of in
terest TO yourselves Ours are an agricultural,
grain raising people, and any measure or expe-
dent that will tend 10 protect and secure TO
them the full benefits of their labor and indus
try, must be of the deepest concern 10 US ALL
Many of you are farmers, and those of you who
are not, have interests so intimately connected
wi those of the farmer, that it is impossible 10
contemplate any scheme that will benefit the one
without extending like benefits to the other.-
The merchant, the mechanic, the professional
man, are all dependent for subsistence and SUE
cess upon the farmer And Notwithstanding
this fact; notwithstanding it is the circle
around which all professions and trades cling
as TO The foundation If their very existence; tina,
il is The main link 10 The long chain of all human
pursuits; yet strange is it, there is no vocation
10 life little considered, none 10 which the le-
gislaiion Of our State has been less directed
The writer Of this article has been forcibly
struck with the truth Of these remarks by The
iDnumerable complaints which are being dsily
made in consequence Of the immense loss sus-
tanned 10 the weight Of wheat and corn FROM
the time they are measured or weighed at home
till they are bought and received By the miller
in Richmond. 4 farmer and lawyer Of inlelli-
geuce, in the county Of Louisa, informed me, a
short time since iha: lie had his last crop OF
wheat put aboard the cars at Louisa Court
House, and took Ice receipt of the weigh master
at that place; that this wheat he consigned To
his commission merchant in Richmond, who sold
1t to the miller there, The same falling short five
bushels in every hundred This is not the on,
case. The complaint throughout this country is
general Mr. is It confined to tie upper coun-
try alone, whence the farmers send d jwn their
grain by railroad and canal. Murmurs, equally
loud and deep. dissatisfaction, strong and gene
raj, pervade the whole country in The vicinit,
OF Richmond, where The farmers haul in their
grain by wagons and carts. II never holds out
there, either by measure or weight, and there is
scarcely farmer, as have un !ers,ood, in that
section who is satisfied with The return which is
made Of his wheat or bis corn A general de.
sire prevails to 6nd oul the origin Of this evil,
and to apply the corrective. Is the subject not
one Of the greatest magnitude, worthy Of being
examined into, and, 1t practicable, guarded
againsti And how is this to be dope2 10 The
humble opinion of the writer, there is but one
practicable mode; and 1t is this, that the Legis-
lature Of Virg ma pass law establishing one or
two weigh houses, as may best answe. the OBJ
ject 10 the City OF Richmond, at some conve-
uient location, and appoint a sworn officer Of
the Commonwetl ih TO weigh or measure every
bushel of corn or whea; that may be sent to the
City Of tiichmonj; and that the miller, or pur-
chaser thereof, shal! receive it according to the
certificate Of such officer. Ii you choose, he
might be allowed certain pr c'ntum for
weighing or measuring; or, If preferred. spe-
cihc salary. to be paid out of the public revenue.
do moi believe there is one farmer, but had
rather be taxed Tor lh,s purpose, man That his
grain should be weighed IN any other manner,
how slea, 50 e.et hi. cou6feacc in the Ililiefs OF
Richmond. Al here the .9iter di>claims ans
design 10 cast an !mouiaiion upon ihs mileis oil
Richmond ley are ALL as lar as ne knows
ar believe, ''hisG-iniuas- Al6 hon, .raJlc men
II is the ...e.i, asains! which his remarks are
levelled. t. the plan, proposed there can be no
substantial objection. llis'he only e1ecluai mode
OF LAYING the axe 10 the root OF the mischief II
will ull 10 rest the pillows oil Giscon,ent and dis
satisfaction, which now run high and do inIniy
10 none. On The contrary, II viii mele cut even
handed justice 10 all, and wherever The evil ex-
ISIS il will find remedy fully adequate 10 lis re-
moval Lei Us examine INTO The operation OF
this plan. The IA mer puis his grain In he cars
al Louisa CouI House, or any other point on
the weish.m ser; is weighed in Richmond
and IL II tall short, Inc railroad company or canal
company, as II may be, are OF course, RESPONSE
BILE, ana Aars to make gool the deficiency. This
responsibility woIli make iaem more care
ful in future, Qor. 20 make men ca,e;ul and
honest, attach 10 them legal aud pecan:a!y respon-
sibity.) Tnefe would be every aiuc-mert
particularly, and The faithful oischaase o. public
trusts. The farmer would save waa ne now
frn,, ~ nan n h.a.i M lah
the source OF its evil, to fix the responsibility
The result would be careful scrutiny o; the
scales-and al a II points, weights aud ln-asufes
would correspond. And is not this 'consum-
nation ceyoully 10 be wished1' Nor would il
alone benefit The farmer in The upper country
all who seEd grain 10 Richmond, woa!i narici-
pate equally in their benefits The tanner in The
neishborhood OF Richmond might keep his own
balances; these corresponding with the Richmond
balances. 10 case CT less, would enable him 10
locale the fault and leave his conscience FREE, and
10 infict that d-sree OF punishment on his slave,
which The nature o, The offence psrpeirated nigh,
demand. As mauers nov stand in view oil The
irresponsib!y attaching 10 all parties, The mas
Ter Is wholly al loss what course TO pursue. In.
der the operation OF this plan, there would be no
necessity Of the master, las many do,) accompa-
nying his wagons and cars, in order to prevent
the abstraction by his slave, OF any portion of his
j
quences which would ensue from preparation
OF theft and It's detection. Ii appears 10 The wri-
Ter, lha, the plan here proposed comments itself
TO your conside taIion upon The principles # JUS
tice 10 all parties and on the score OF its own IN
uinsic merit. There does appear single
objection 10 il, which does not apply with equal
force 10 he Weighing o! live slock, hay, fodder
and the like, all OF which is done by law in The
Richmond market. There are other subjects to
which the writer might call your attention, tina,
Tor instance, OF fixing the staniaFd Of Indian
corn al So lbs. the brshe, and requiring It's Oh
servances Boz as lne SUI jsc, upon which have
more extensively treated, l, u paramount impor.
lance, | would close nv reliaiks by most res
pectully suggesting that you take this mater al
once under consideration and TIA, you refer il
10 the committee on agriculture, with instructions
10 report thereon. AGRlCOLA.
LOUISA CouRr HOUSE,, January %, lSi9.