Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-09-15
Commercial Agencies.

braces plausible considerations IN eNtenuauoh %
that system. The operation of Commercial
Agencies in this city was first assailed by oui
neighbor of the Republicans. The press of the
State, with great unanimity have responded IN
language of condemnation, both of the morality
and expedieney of such associations. In fact
we have met with no NEWFOUNDLAND we claim
not to except "Ignotus" himself,-who is prepar-
edit to defend them on the grounl of expediency,
at the same time to confess to reluctance 70
being enc of the Agents employed.
But these facts we know are not conclusive a.
to the right or wrong Of an association otindirld-
aals to protect themselves against frauds. They
are only induces of public sentiment aud that sen
timent may be nasty and unjust, as public sent
ment sometimes is. But thai is not the question.
1t is not a question, Ignotus treats IT, of the
right or expediency cf "a systematic effort OF
honest men to protect themselves from the count
less devices formed to rid them of their proper
ty.aor :" TO guard them against losses occasion
ed by those whose mismanagencnt may have
placed them in perilous or even desperate con
.diton.r An individual, or an association Of indi-
yiduals has the unquestoned right 10 protection
of their persons and property, both by the law
and by their own efforts when in consonanoe
with the law. a hostile foroe. too, has the right
to ascertain in advance every movement aud
design of an opposing enemy; nor would It he
wrong in principle for a family, al enmity with
arother. to-Aedr and guard Itself against what
might be said al the Preside Of that other preiu
deal directly or indirectly 10 lis members
Rut here is the point: How are the agents ia such
transactions regarded Not even as necessary
evils. The Spy, by the sanction of all law, sui
ers, if detected, the penalty Of death; aud there
IL no character though he escapes the halter
more universally and justly scorned than the
.eyesdropper, and he who violates the sanctity Of
friendship aud the condolences of the family
hearth, even though il be done professionally
ana for a pecuniary consideration We do not
charge that the latter is necessarily the charac-
ter of the commercial ageniabnt. if he be in IN
dYdual so essen nal 30 ttr suppression of frauds,
why may no, all his duties be done openly and
ia the light Of day Why should he disguise
his business Every one may readily ascertain
the business habits. puuctnaity aud pecuniary
responsibility of a merchant of Lynchburg, to an
extent amply sufficient to guard another against
being imposed upon by him-and do it all too
without secrecy; and, a lie, in SO far rs this
thing cannot be done without Disguise, ii should
rot be done at all. We can only infer a viola
ton of confidence somewhere-a something TINT
a Just sentiment would condemn, from the fact Of
such concealment.
Suppose il is granted that commercial ugen-
ces are all that lgnotus claims for them, Us res
poets their advantage To the foreign importer aud
other mercantile traders still the agent-the
tool of the system of secret espionage-is not
therefore justified, unless it be 10y esutioa rulo
ofreasonlngwhose fnllacy we had thought had long
since been exposed by the light of pnror moral
ty. Forney doubtless attempted goodly service
10 Forest, when he wrote n letter 10 another man
urging him to nvoigle a certain actor, while
drunk and through the foible of his vanity. 10
confess that he had criminal intimacy with the
wife whom Forest was attempting to divorce.
and it might be of special advantage to the re
tail merchant, TO have his county spy 10 report
every business transaction made ande every battla
of wine drunk by his humble customer, but
should society tolerate such agents as these
We have before said nuthing this subject,
nor are we disposed at present to indulge in ndls-
crminate denuncation ryeu of the local agents
employed by Northern Intelligence Offices 1lcre
are doubles persons, ike l-notus. all honor le
m-n' who view l'e h8siaa.- D. uoruiy '.s,t.
adfc. aud viewing u.tn#9t#-.aie.#, sa. ..a
...aion. las ac#eme Engaged Ia a. ~ q would
H'. e"9-eH.sJ wound L. .e#-.ags of any snch
but We do protest against oountenancng any
svstcm of secret espoiDago ~ the morals, bu
z.9ess habits or honesty Of our people however
much it may rebound to tho interest of partic,
here or elsewhere. 1t should be diseoantenanced
and put down. thad its origin in York with
the broken down fanatic Arthur Eeppan, and is a
business appropriate only 10 tie taste and for
tune of such u character
kuNKEL's NIGHTINGALE OPERA TRol-Pl.-We