Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-08-17
THE PEDDLER NUISANCE.

The Ontario Repository has the follow
ing article on the subject of ltinerant
Merchants" large class Of whom are
nuisanccs not only in city and villages,
but everywhere
Every body knows, that our village,
with most country towns, is habItnally
visited by class Of traders. whom we
bave characlerized,as itneran, merchants
who seriously invade, the proper prov
incc OF our own local traders. These
wandering Phenicians vend an inferior
article. They are not tax paying inhab-
itants. Not being residents, they con.
tribute nothing to the general prosprrl-
ty Of the village. The principal effect
OF patronizing them, is to give them SO
much money to be logged out OF town
and sublracted from The aggregate sum
Of village circulation. Yet citizens,
whose surplus goes to support our in
situations, and is expended in our midst
are CO slantly liable TO be understood by
these swarmiug pedders, who sell for
nothing worthless article, that Gusts
them nothing.
Now we presume to say, in such cases,
the preference ought TO be given to cii-
zens, whose profits are profitable TO The
villages. Men whose prosperity assists
20 build up the town, should be encour-
aged in all reasonable ways to contrib
ute that assistance. Men whose surplus
goes TO our benevolent institutions,
should be sustained in their spirit To be-
stow such charities. Men whose earn
ings are taxed to defray our village ex-
pendilures and multiply our village ac-
commodations, should be stimulated TO
accumulate the earnings that thus stead
lily honor every village draught. This is
emphalically true of our merchants
They are permanent residents whose
prosperity, while it contributes to then
own support and comfort, shares the bur
thens and answers the wants of the pub
lie at large.
Why then shall class Of traffickers
be encouraged to take money out o.
Town who bring none in exchanged
Why should our own ability be lesson
ed To sustain our own burthens! why
should our citizens, who take the pains
10 accommodate us with IN article wortl
its price, be constantly liable to be IN
der sold by street hawkers Of glossy aliC
fraudulent wares! These peddlers pro
cure trash, in the first place, at trashy
prices. Their whole system Of com
merce is Il game of unmiliga,ed impos
lure. They expect TO get II living ant
do get one, without rendering an equiv
alent. And the brazen impudence will
which they swaggef before the public,ot
fering their Eastwood cheese and wood
en- nutmegs to the purchase Of an hon
est community is in striking harmony
with the INSCRIPTIONS character OF lhei
lives.
These creatures are influenced by NJ
sense Of personal responsibility. The,
travel from place to place, unchecked b,
public opinion. In consequence Of the
cosmopolitan mode of life, they may in
dulge their propensity for fraud and fals'
hood with impunily, without the pos
~biily of a tribunal to arraign and pun
ish them. We say the public opinion o
every town should drive them out Of tn,
corporation. Let the men who pay tax
es enjoy the patronage. Drive out tn,
peddlers and let the men who assist t.
support your institutions, enjoy you
partially.
SAGACITY OF A CAMBRIA gentle