Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-08
For the Enquirer
Ut F'FS
THE TOBACCO EXCHANGE.


Without troubling you with preliminary remarks,
allow me to address few pertinent observations to
the planters OF tobacco. with view to arousing
their attention to the Tobacco question
The tobacco buyers and commission merchants
have formed an association, for the purpose, they
saw Of concentrating the sales to one point and thus
saving all parties concerned both trouble and ex-
pense To make the scheme acceptable TO the plant
era they not only allow each man to sell his own to.
bacco at the Exchange room without the Intervention
of commission merchant, but il the planter chooses,
he may employ the auciioneer appointed by the "Ex-
change Association" who will cell each hogshead for
the small charge Of l2i cents.
Now brother farmers, suppose that we swallow
this tempting baif and, by carrying our tobacco to
be sold the Exchange room, We enable the Associa
ton to carry out their scheme successfully and
monopolize all the sales-thus breaking up the shles
at the warehouses; Ia any one 30 ss TO suppose
that the Exchange Association Will continue 10
offer such favorable terms to the panters ls II moi
plain and certain that we shall then have no choice
IA to place Of sals-that we must then cell at the
Exchange room or no where; and submit 10 any our
dens and restrictions the Association" may choose
to impose upon us2 Have you, in your experience OF
life. found human nature 30 governed ny sense OF
Justice and berslity as to resist the temptation 10
abuss power when placed in its hsndsl Corporations
are universally believed to have no souIs-and Will
an Association of Tobacco manufacturers be more
likely to shake of se6shness and thus be free to do
Justice and love mercy" A corporation is crea,
ture of the law and subjected to restraints imposed
by ts chsrter-but this Exchange Association" is
an irresponsible body, guided only by the counsel
of it's own will'-governed only by the dictates OF
ts own ipterestsand these interests directly antago-
ns,ic to the interests Of the planter.
This s the true character OF the body TO which We
are asked to entrust the absolute control OF the sale
of our property, TO the amount Of millions OF
dollars.
/ have not the "pen of ready writer" and am
afraid of wesrying you; but before you allow
the manufacturers and commission merchants
10 nut the bit into your mouth, whilst they
,kilfuly grasp the reius and whip. to say nothing o
,nurs let me ask how long do you suppose, will the
auctioneer of the Exchange Association be con.
tent TO se hopshesd Of tobacco for l2l centsl And
agsin-how long will the planter be allowed to sell
bis own tobacco, without the Intervention OF com
mission merchant ~ :,
The "Corn Exchange" Of ths City of New YORK
commenced its operation by Offering highly favor
able terms to those who had grain 10 SELL just as ts
Tobacco Exchange Association is doing now. But
what s the RESULT Why one is allowed to sell IN
that market except through commission mercnhnt
or creature of the Association
Now mark what l say, and make note Of it lr
yo farm Journal Tor rather as more appropriate to
the occas0nl on the "Register OF Deaths in your
Bible. In less than two years after this Tobacco
Exchange" ia in successful operation:
lst No planter will bs allowed to expose sample
of tobacco for sale at the Exchange Rooms, e1cep'
through Commission Merchant.
ID. No Commission Merchant who charges less tnau
q per cent will be admitted to SELL
Sd. The Auctoneers charge for selling n0gspeo'
will be increased from l24 cents up to one ooiat.