Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-03-26
The RIGHTS of Merchants,

IL Il HluuUltdoly tHe uut5 u ofVIJ toWH ais
parish to afford just and liberal protection
within their legitimate spheres, to all those o
whatever description of trade, business Or pro
f%ession, who have made their homes in such
town and parish, and whose energy and indus
try give character to 4 community, augment It's
population, and increase the value of property
Under this impression--and an impression
which we think will hardly be attempted to be
controvertcd-we shall take the liberty of ex
ercising one of the dearest guaranteed rights
of the Press, the right of a free expression Of
opinion, and say a few words respecting the
| rights Of merchants, and in doing so, to call
| the attention of the Police Jury and our NUM-
cipal authorities to those migratory individu'
ais called pedlars. In our opinion, those cos
mopolite tradesmen are not only interfering
with and injuring the just and legitimate rights
Of merchants, but they are otherwise an evil
of no small magnitude to any community they
frequent or in which they may ultimately To-
cate themselves. They are a species of huma-
nifty whose business benefits no one but them
selyes-who spend nothing where they frequent
in return for the large sums they take way
who, unlike the regular merchant, have no
rents to pay, are not subject to the various tax
es by law which a residence imposes, and we
may add the various charities of one kind or
othor which comes out Of the resident's1pock-
cts during the year, and who are never called
upon or expected to assist in works of enter
prise and utility; therefore, it is not only the
duty of the town and parochial authorities but
likewise their interest, to secure fully the rights
Of the regular merchant from the underselling
packs and wares of the pedlar.
But it is not only our merchants who are so
u~rjustly and impoliticly allowed to be injured
by those perambulating tradesmen. The inju-
ry which the practice of their vocation creates
is not confined to them. Have not the pedlars
(whose God is money! the best of opportuni-
ties TO sell liquor to slaves? Is it not we'll
known that they do this? And moreover, they
are sometimes discovered to be wanting in
common honesty, as may be judged from an
instance that occurred here last summer there
fore, it is not altogether safe that they be al
lowed to enter our dwellings and survey its
contents; and we feel quite sure that there is
not a husband in the State (not that IRE have
any cause Of complaint in particularly who does
not despise the very sight of them and their
packs. We are told that in the vicinity of Op-
~elousas and franklin a pedlar dare not show
himself. In Maine a stringent law has recently
been enacted in reference to them.
We trust that our worthy Mayor will keep
a sharp look out for this class of people of
whom we speak-of all who suddenly appear
amongst US and offer merchandise for sale I'M
any pretext-and see that the law is not
If it rests with the Police Jury, we trust
that this efficient body will impose such a tax
upon pedlars as will drive them entirely from
The parish. 1t is to the interest of our Town
and parish that this be effected; it is directly
10 the interest and safety of planters that they
be expelled from amongst us; the legitimate
rights of the merchant, in particular, demand
the attention of the authorities to them they
are an incubus wherever they roam or settle;
and the progress and responsibility of commu-
mites, and the interests of all, loudly call for
severe law with regard to them.