Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-21
WASHINGTON NEWSA GOSSIP,

TRApE.-Tbe Richmond Sonth Of the day be-
fore yesterday contained an interesting arucie
upon the manner in which manufactured TO-
bacco is sold in that market, and the system oil
exit ing" upon transactions in tobacco, which
that journal, and indeed, many others, allege
to be at the bottom of the depreciation ofs the
value of the currency Of the Old Dominion when
times are easiest and all things financial sp-
pear fair and prosperous. 1t seems that the
current suspension of the Richmond banks was
brought about for the most part by the act of
the Northern factors Of Richmond tobacco man
ufacturing houses, who having sold the tobacco
consigned to them and notified their principals
to draw, and who, in some cases, are in posses
sion of the proceeds Of such sales, turn round
and dishonor their drafts from Richmond.
These drafts, according to the custom, were sold
to the Richmond banks, and were heretofore
regarded in the light of specie funds of the
Richmond banks on deposte in New York city.
Upon these quasi deposites the Richmond banks
dealt largely in exchange, and thus grew up
the rivalry and war between them and the
brokers, with which all are familiar who know
much Of the details Of business affairs in Vir-
gina.
As fast as the brokers can collect Virginia
bank notes they apply for specie for them; the
habit of making the issue Of bank located at
one point payable at an out-of-the-way branch
of it, keeping them at depreciation away
from home, so great as to make it an induce
ment for the brokers to perform the intermina-
BILE journeys incident to doing so. This depre-
citation. so resulting, in fact defeats the very
purpose for which Virginia bank notes are
made payable at points where not issued. That
purpose is, evidently, to keep them in circula-
ton as long as possible
1t is defeated by the very suspicion which
the public entertain of the integrity Of the
purpose with which the notes are made payable
where not uttered. We have been disposed to
quarrel with the brokers of Washington for
charging per cent. discount upon the issues
of the Alexandria, Va, banks, for instance,
located as they are, but six miles from US, and
being as sound as any other banks in the Union,
we care not what banks those others may be.
But, on inquiry, We hear that instead of re-
deeming their issues with current funds here
that is, with Baltimore, Washington, or George
town bank paper, they give only g wild cat in
exchange for theirs-Virginia bank notes pay
able somewhere t'other side Of sunset, in the
mountain Businesses of the valley, or the west
at any rate, where to get them converted into
any thing bankable here without a tremendous
discount, will require the holder to devote
week to travelling, and to expend from fifty to
one hundred dollars, it may be, for his expenses
on the journey.
Under such circumstances it is not wonderful
that the Washington brokers demand a shave
of five per cent. discount on Alexandria bank
notes.
1t is really sickening to witness q display
of such folly on the part of Virginia banks.
When properly managed their issues should at
all times be worth at least par, everywhere.
Her people, their customers, are clear Of debt;
the paper they hold Of citizens of Virginia is
worth dollar for dollar; her exports (Virginias 81
annually greatly exceed her imports; that is to
say, her citizens are clear Of debt, are CON-
paratively rich, and are accommodating proper
ty, steadily, Under such circumstanees-for
they (the people Of Virginia) do not speculate
her banks never should have been in a condi.
ton to have suspended specie payments; and
would not have been but for "kiteing'' in
Northern exchange, and issuing promises to
pay ct points forcing the public to depreciate
the value of her paper money to an extent to
make it profitable for brokers and shavers to
keep constantly "on the lay for large guam.
titles Of it, for presentation where payable,
PLAYING Hon AMONG THE YARD Sticks.
The London Times has turned its attention TO
the merits of the haberdashers' clerks in ia
nous London town." in its efforts to inspire
the youth of merrie old England with due am
bition to be ripped up, quartered, dragged
limb from limb over the highways Of India
and, indeed, to enjoy all the other little pleas
ant incidents of she share of the English in
the current Sepoy war. 1t seems, however,
that the " respectable young men, of whom
the Times would form such a regiment peril
naeiously refuse to volunteer to handle any
weapon heavier than the yard stick So the
Times is down On" them with its choicest thur :
der; telling them a multitude of plain things
concerning the unfitness of their profession to
be followed by able bodied men,
The EZdmtner, too, protesting to como to
their rescue, crucifes them, as a class, unmerci-
fully. As we have ever held that females
should properly discharge the duties of their
positions, we do not regret that those two able
Journals have undertaken to bring about the
needed revolution in this matter However
little sympathy we feel in seeing such sharp
and hard sticks poked at them we cannot re-
fraln showing our friends in the dry-goods line
how cruelty the press just now is treating their
brethren on the other side Of the herring pond.
as explained above. So we quote the Era,a-
tneT as follows
8 Everybody, perhaps, knows best what he il
nttest Tor, and II is nonsense to talk of fighting
and glory to the youth whose ambition is appren,
ticeship, and who feels that within him which
prompts him to measure bingham, a. distinctly
as young Norval felt the inspiration of valor
:" But had heard of ribbons, and Ionyed
TO follow her coach some shopping fair
1--WE must be content to take things as they
are, and among other things those mannik ms
who feel Themselves most in their element n fee
| BILE and almost degrading occupations, from
which girls Of any pluck ore wont TO revolt. Po-
| tently do we believe that there are many thou
| sand young women In England at this moment.
| with spirit above soft goods, and more mettIe