Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-01


necesaaries of life and we regret that our own city
is not free lom these complaints. The communi-
cation we publish this morning, shows that an az.
tempt was made, as early as the month of July, to
advance the rates of coal to very high figures. The
present high rates place coal almost out Of the
reach of large class of our citizens and these high
rates, it is pretty conclusive have resulted from
combination. It is the impression that coal will
not be brought to this market from the up river
mines, and this has aroused the speculative pro
cliyities Of holders. We have no objection to deal
ers demanding fair price for everything they may
have to sell, but we enter a solemn protest against
specializing upon the necessities Of the people in the
present crisis.
The spirit of speculation has beed carried t.
such an extent in North Carolina that the Governor
has felt it his duty to issue proclamation prohib
iting the railroads in that State from carrying
breadstuffs and provisions and other articles o.
prime necessity, bought up on speculation, out Of
the State. In this connection we find in the REeigh
IN. CO Register of the 21st ult the following:
eve understand that in compliance with the
Proclamation of the Governor, q large quantity OF
Bacon aud Leather, en- route for Virgins, and the
property of speculatOrs was seized ct the depot Of
North Carolina Railroad, in this city, on Wednss
day. We hear also, that quantity of bacon bought
on speculation, and destined for point out of the
State, has been seized at High Point.
Speaking of spectators, We are constrained 30
say that garing attempts Of monopoi9ing the arti-
Gle of bacon have been made in this quarter. One
concern, composed of two individuals not engaged
in mercantile business, and paying no merchants
license, have bought large quantity of bacon at
Is cents or less per pound and selling it st %
cents. Now we are willing to see any man make a
reasonable profit on his investments, but we do
contend that profit of cents pound on bacon
is most unreasonable and extortionats. This Is no
time for taking selfish advantages Of the necessities
of the country. Instead of doing So men should be
content "to live and to Let i've"
We find notice Of movement Sf a similar char
acter in Louisiana. The New Orleans Picay1Ne Of
the 18th ult. has the following
His ExceIleucy Governor Moore issued an order
Yesterday to seize all the pork in the city held by
specuators who had advanced It, we learn, TO the
enormous price of fifty dollars per barrel We
feel assured that the Governor will be unanimously
supported by orr citizens in this movement We
see no good reason why merchants should take ad-
VantaTe of the scarcity of provisions In time Of
war to speculate upon our Government, any more
than that our gallant volunteers should demand
higher pay for their services. These spectators
are the last men in ourcommuRity to come forward
in aid of the Government and In support of the
their all 1t is certain that such acts do not show
great amount of patriotism.
1--WE are willing ct all times that men should
make fair profit on their goods, wares, and mer-
-handise but in crisis like the present, to specu-
late at such rates, especially III provisions which
are to feed and support our soldiers shows a far
greater preponderance fer the love of the almighty
dollar than for the love of country. We are there
fore gratified at the course the Governor has pur
sued, as these men will now only receive a fair
valuation for their property which has been seized
instead of the immense profits that they had thus
hoped to realize by imposing on our Government
in such an emergency"
A correspondent of the Memphis Avalanche very
Justly thinks that the wealthy andinfuentia should
make a determined stand against the demands of
the covesous dealers, who charge double and treble
for every article daily used for domestic purposes.
He says:
WHY should not the merchants bear their share
of the common privations? Are they to reap
1t is true there have bIen exceptions to the general
desire of profng by the necessities of tie people
but they have been UETy fele. Shall We tamely
submit to this extortion? No! On the contrary,
let US practice rigid system of self denial and can
any one murmer at it when we think of the suffer.
ing cheerfuily endured by eur brave defenders
A communication in the Mobile Tr;buns of the
24th ult directed the attention of the public to
instance of speculative tesdency in the communi-
IT, in the article of gunpowder and in reading the
editorial comments upon it we were foreibly struck
with the following just remarks:
There is a most unpatriOtic tendency everywhere
now to speculate the necessities of the country
Men of money are massing the necessities of life in
order to hold command of the prices W ich they
can Oblige the public to pay for them. Every man,
rich and poor, within the community is thus to be
made to furnish the means by which spectators are
making fortunes; and when we say that they are no
friends to the country, the reader will sgree with
Us. The difference between them and the open en-
envy is that we provide for protection against the
one, and the "slien" law furnishes protection
against the other.
Fer our own part, We cannot distinguish be-
tween the culpablity of an act which the wants
Of the public to exoFbitanty raise prices in articles
Of absolute necessity, whether Of food or g1nPoW-
der, and that which gives direct suecor to the ca
envy"
We make an extract from the communication
which furnished the text for the above very seHsi
Die and judicious commentary:
"a citizen from Fish River, one from near Point
Clear, and two from near PortsrsTille, sccosted me
alternately aud almsst in the same language in the
streets as fellows Have you no gun or rife
powder in your powder house | answered plenty,
md why the question The answer was, because
we're asked 81 so per pound for the same article
We here ofore purchased at from 75c to 81. asked
he reason, when l was informed that it was all
bought up on speculation and the narrator said he
Wished to take two cansters st s., which the ven
Ter fused, saying he would sson get 50 per
,ound.
The narrator of this strange fact being poor
nan, observed that he had sons, friends and neigh
'ors who had guns, but unless they could get pow
er at living rates, they would have to resort to
be use of other weapons than guns to drive Of
he Lincelnites when they come"
The writer concluded his communication with
be query, whether this is not as bad speculate
1g in meats and breadstufs; question to which,
We thiak, there can be but one answer.
The article of salt is one of the most important
rmy supplies, and we read with some surprise, in
well written article in the Richmond Bnqirer,
hat there is fearful apprehension throughout the
tate of Virginia Of great deficiency thereof for
be curing of pork and beef the coming season. This
8 is most correctly stated by the writer, is ian
bsolute necessity"
There is said to be large supply of salt in New
orleans, as well as in Texas, and in Southwestern
Virginia. But how, asks the writer in the En-
uirer, 'are we to get it here?n To allow express
Ompanies and railroad companies to handle this
rtiCle, as freight will not do, it seems. Their
harges, according to the Enquirer would make the
Sc of salt to the great Of consumers inpossi
LEI and yet the supply, If had at all, must in the
lain come over the railroads. which have the |
apacity, besides serving the Government, to trans
ort from New Orleans and other points the necess.
airy supply.
In the principal bu,iaess house in the town CT |
10 4ba riFo