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

Certain paragraphs have appeared lately in
some of our newspapers, in relation To what are
called commercial agencies, which are intended
10 excite the public feeling against the institu-
ton and all who are engaged in il.
II may he well, therefore TO furnish the public
with the means of coming to q correct conclusion
in the premises, by "a fair statement Of all the
facts and circumstance
In every community some persons will always
be found who.impatient ofthe labor and care
quirod for the accumulation of wealth by the
usual means, are ready n adopt those short cuts
which, with all due respect for this class of our
fellow citizens, will venture to dcnomlnnte
frauds. Many of these men are found semi an
nually presenting themselves in the city markets
among the fair traders. (who-e mir and manner
they adraitly assumed armed with letters Of in
PRODUCTION tor all know with what shameful
facility such letters are obtained in our countrv)
aud make heavy bills with the wholesale dealers
ut three and SIS months credit The goods thus
obtained sometimes find their way, out If hnnd,to
the auction mart, and the proeecd--vt .e are
they Other buyer, There WHO are utterly IN
TIT for the business ot commerce, msuanagt Their
affairs. and, however willing, nre unable IA com
ply with their promises t. pay. THIS state OF
things naturally aud necessarily affects the bust
ness Of the regular aud faithful trader, whose
credit Is more or less injured by the suspicious
to which II gives rise. 1t becomes then the IN.
tcrest ofhonest and prudent men of both parties,
buyers and sellcrs,to diyise some method Of re
moving TIN, difficulty in the way of their business.
In this purpose Intelligence Offices were "stnb-
-hed in those cities which import merchandise
iron abroad These >elect ia cneh town careful
men who ARE 10 give at stated periods accurate
reports of the ability industry, and what arc cal
led business habits Of those who engaged in
occupations requiring credit.
Nothing can be more obvious thnn that this Is
systematic ciinrt of honest men To protect
themselves from the countless devices formed To
md them OF their property without equivalent n
well rs to guard them against LOSSES accustomed
by those whose mismunAgcmeni mny have placed
them in perilous even desperate condition.
The buyer, too, Is not less interested in the
success of this institutions for no business can
be long carried on unless it Yields Il profit, 50 if
the profits of the importer sunk in the bottom
less abyss above referred 10, he must either fail
or withdraw from business, or gain such an in
creased perccntum al profit rs will indemnify him
for these heavy losses.
This addition must b. paid by the fair trader,
who,ln his turn,must obtain it from the consnm
CT. Upon this last then falls the burden of
maintaining the dad boys"
1t has been objected to this plan that the
Agent has II in his power to iniurs his nelghbor
by making an unfair statement OF his conditions,
II there had ever been any plan yet diylsed by
the ingenuity of man for the benefit Of humanity
which wnsnnt obnoxious 10 some objection, the
world would be glad 10 hive it pointed out
Meanwhile we mo,t be coutent To take those
which offer much good, even though they can
not be perfectlypuriicd.
1t is 80 obviously the interest of the parties
concerned to have thu truth, the whole truth and
nothing bat the truth, it is impossible to sup
pose that the grcntc-t cnre will not be used in
the selection If commercial agents; while, ON the
other hand those Agents know full well TINT up