Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-28
THE TOBACCO QUESTION.

THE TOBACCO QUESTION.
In our article OF yesterday, we sndesvored to point
out some OF the more striking advantages derived
from the system of auction sales by tobacco inspectors
1t is proper that, in this connection, We should call
the particular attention Of planters to the frst of the
series of resolutions adopted by the meeting at the
tobacco exchange, on Saturday last, viz:
81. Resolved, That the room on the corner Of Cary
and 18th street, and over the store of Messrs. Robert
Roberts, be for the present the place of resort
for the trade and that the same be styled THE Tobac
co Exchange of the city of Richmond, and that the
regular daily offerings of tobacco by private and pub
| lie sale, be restricted thereat."
Should this resolution be permitted to 90 before the
public unexplained It might easily create wrong
impression as to the circumstances and intent Of ito
passage. II such a resolution should receive the
unanimous assent of the manufacturers and shippers
Of Richmond, as well an that of the commission mer
chants, it would be direct blow at the business done
by inspectors and would Immediately antagonist the
! planters and the buyers of tobacco.
| But from the absence of number of large pur-
chasers as well Us from the course of debate among
those who did attend the meeting. it is evident that
none of the buyers feel obliged to withhold his pre-
sencs from the Gales at the different warehouses; The
most that any class Of buyers, even the buyers on
commission be said to have done, is to offer their
couutensnce to the efforts Of the commission
merchants to institute central depot for the sale Of
tobacco at public auction and by private bargain.
As we understand it, there is combination among
the buyers and the commission merchants to abolish
sales by inspectors The commission merchants have
simply agreed with the appreciation of number Of
buyers to restrict the Gales Of all tobacco consigned to
| thoc nf
in Richmond. This the commission merchants have
perfect right to do and, if properly conducted, the
tobacco exchange will offer increased advantages to
the trade. 1t will enable buyers to examine at their
leisure, and side by eide, the various samples brought
from different warehouses. But this advantage will
be very partial indeed, unless extended by regula'
ton which is not contemplated by any of the resolu
ons o! Saturday ast. The inspectors cannot indeed,
sell tobacco elsewhere than at their warehouses;
but, as we understand the inspection law, it contains
nothing forbidding inspectors to exhibit samples else.
where than at the warehouses. II they were invited
to exhibit their samples at the tobacco exchange the
facility offered to purchasers for the examination and
comparison Of samples Of all the tobacco offered for
sale the city, would be complete. Under the existing
regulations of the exchange this lie impossible, since
pies ouly of such tobacco il intended for sale at
the central depot; thus one principal object of cen.
rs depot is in great measure defeated. But thsre
is another advantage which will attend the mante-
nance of tobacco exchange under proper regua-
tons That portion of the tobacco trade which pass
90 through the hands Of the commission merchants,
would be subject to known and fixed rules concern.
| ing the rates of commissions and the manner and
| time Of ssles
| These are all the advantages which suggest them.
selves to mind, that be derived from the es.
tablishment Of a tobacco exchange. Nor do we ap.
prehend any disadvantages either to Planters nspec
| tors buyers.
Under proper distribution of break days and sale
| days among the different warehouses, each ware
house will offer every convenience for ssles which
the exchange can afford. The slight Inconvenience
Of having i've, instead of four depots of sa!es will be
| hardly appreciabs. Wherever the tobacco is sold,
buyers will examine it in bulk at the different ware.
houses without trusting to the appearance OF sampes
and in this respect the warehouses have some advhn
tage the exchange a. depots OF sales. This sd
vantage can, however, be counterbalanced By the
adoption Of our previous suggestion as to the e1hb.
ton OF all varieties Of samples at the exchange.
There can scarcely be anything like equal competi.
| ton between The inspectors and The commission
merchants. The inspectors sell at rate OF com
mission 90 low that the commission merchants cannot
pretend to compete for the custom Of the planter if
| the inspectors will attend properly to their own ine-
J rests in other respects.
| We should seriously deprecate any design to sup.
plant the inspectors in the sale Of tobacco. Any
such blow at the inspectors of Richmond, would
prove equally efTeotual against inspection at Rich.
mond, and if effsctusl at all, would simply deprive
the city OF its large tobacco trade. 1t is impossible
for the commission merchants of themselves to Dure
the inspectors. The establishment of the tobacco
exchange will only tend TO increase the amount Of
sales by inspectors, which, in some instances,
have doubled already since the meeting Of June last.
| But combination between buyers and commission
merchants against the inspectors, would be attended
| by very serious consequences. Not only would such
combination result in the loss of trade in the city,
but 1t would furnish an example Of most unwarrant-
able interference with rights secured to the planters
by the laws of the State BY those laws the planter
enabled 10 sell his tobacco in the most advantageous
manner, and without the necessity Of employing &
commission merchant. He has perfect right thus
10 dispose OF DIS own property ano Ny w uonk in'et'
feres with the rights Of class CT ctsens whatever.
Any attempt, by any Get OF men, to throw obstruc'
ton in his way, or In any manner to compel him to
employ another agent at higher rate of eompensa,
ton, would furnish an instance of presumption un.
precedented in its nature, and which ought not to be
tolerated by any intelligent class Of merchants On.
gagged in the trade.
THE NASHVILLE "UNION" ON GOV. WISE.
Our neighbo. of the "Whig" published in its issue
of Tuesday an extract from the Nashville "Union, :"
for which We thank the "Whig," for the article had
entirely escaped " if we exchange with the Nash
willie "Union," of&hich we are not certain. But to
the Nashville "Uuion," which the "Whig" says "is
the leading Democratic paper in Tennessee" Well
this .leading Democratic paper in Tennessee the