The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-05

WAR SPECULATIoNs THE PROBABLE CAUSE RUIN
TO SOUTHERN MANUFACTUREs.-The course which spec
ulatons taking at the South (says the Richmond
Dispatch in leading articles of trade is curious and to
some inexpIicable. That the prices of those
articles of consumption which not produced in the
South, and for which we are dependent on outside
markets, should rise is natural and at all singular
But great many articles of consumption for which
the South is not dependent upon other regions and
which she herself in abundance rising
as rapidly in price those just alluded to.
Take for instance the price of white paper used for
newspapers The factories procure rags which used to
be large quantities to the North at about half
the price they had to give before the They may
have to pay little than then for of
the few simple chemicals they employ in the manufac
of paper but the enhanced cost of these does not
at all equal the saving made diminished price of
rags used Yet paper, which heretofore purchased
at cents, cannot now be had at less than fifteen
cents There be good reason, founded on sound
principles of business for such addition to the price
of this article; and the increased charge only be
accounted for by the propensity of human nature to
tighten prevailing pressure and to make hard times
harder If the ports open, and white paper could
be procured from the North, the competition of the
Northern article would keep down the price of the
Southern but the Southern manufacturers of this,
we'll of many other articles, copying the error of
the fool the fable who killed the goose for the golden
egg age forfeitng in advance all chance Of favorable
system of permanent legislation in the future for their
benefit By making the very name of Southern manu-
facturers the synonym of extortion
Another striking instance of needless and cause
less advance in the price of leading article of
Southern manufacture is that of nails. Everybody
knows that at least the Virginia market if the
greater portion Of the Southern market for this article
was supplied by Southern manufacturers. Yet, the
price of nails has gone up Richmond the chief seat
of the manufacture from four and half to seven and
half cents; and strong specuations are now organ-
zng to raise the price to ten cents. There Is no
sound for this rise. There need be scarcity
of iron in Virginia, and have every factory in
operation now that had before the war; yet the
price of nails will more than double 1t cannot be
from an increase of demand for building is generally
suspended by the 1t is not from deficient supply;
for that is the precisely as before the war The
is twofod first the speculations that have been
set foot in the article, by which fortunes have
already been made; and, second, the absence of COM
petition from the North, which has tempted manutac
put their prices The effect OF the course
of the manufacturers, first in conserving TO sell to
spectators at all and then In putflng up thelr own
prices in consequence of the of spectators IN
running up theirs must be plain to every one. The
Southern public will be disguised at the extorton
that is practced upon them, that when peace ensueS,
the ports are thrown Open and manufacturers petition
protection from foreign competition Including that
OF the Yankees, the country will be disposed mag
nantly to reject their prayer The distances we nave
cited are but examples of general rule. The case is
worse with woollen and cotton manufactures Specu-
laton is rife every department OF trade southern
manufacturers instead of discouragiug it, are yielding
to, and taking advantage OF, the state OF thlhgs.
Southern manufactures Of all sorts are held for double
prices and the seeds of popular indignation against
them sowing all through the Southern community
We wnnid sound a friendly warning to Southern
manufacturers this important subject The tendency
of the Southern mind is strongly in favor OF free trade
Free trade with Europe will bring IN goods after the
cheap and superior to the Northern laofleS
which they have heretofore been accustomed to, that
trying it, the Southern people will never consent
to give il up again. Protection even the most MOD
will be infinitely more unpopular IN the south
than it was ever in the old Union The though; OF II
will only be tolerated far to place us IN state
of sef-dependence and protection IN time OF war;
and yet the present of Southern
may render them so unpopular that the Southern
people will prefer do without their help altogether
a means of sscap ping their sxtortion