Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-10-02
EYtOrtiOn,

EYtOrtiOn.
Believing that It is the duty of the Press
to expose to the public gazc the selfish and
unparriotc acts IF individuals, wLicli in their
effects are productive of serious and oppirs-
sivc consequences to the people at large, we
direct the attention Of our readers to the
prevalence of cxtortion which we fear is be-
coming too common at this iimc. We sec by
our exchanges tat our State is infested with
class o! individuals. WHO, having Only "sc!t
i'll view. are pulsu!E@ q course, which. while
il is calculated tu enrich themselves, orindS
to powder The humber aud poorer classes, and
effects niuriously and iadiscriminatcly every
citizen Of tho State.
The class to wlloln we allude ere those,
who, not satisfied with a reasonable profit,
demand doublc or qusiruplc advance upon
those articles absolutely necessary to eSis,
tonce. Such characters, whoever they may
he, are 10 the fullest extent ms inimical to
Southern interests, as Seward and Lincoln
With their abolition horde ever were or ever
can be and richly merit and should receive
the condemnation Of an indignant aud out
ragged people.
But what terms Of ezecration should be
used in reference to those, who, having al.
ready amasscd fortunes among US, have there
by been enabled 10 invest large amounts III
these necessary articles, previous to the pres
cnt STATE Of things, at price comparatively
low, unl taking advantage of their country's
Affections and the oppressive Strngency OF
the times necessarily consequent thereupon,
now require an hundred and two hundred
per cent. upon the origins! cost.
We believe our country merchants Us o
class are generous and patriotic, and are dis
posed, especially ut t time like the present,
to live aud let live" and our remarks arc
not intended for them, but we do intend them
for those unprinciplcd wholesale merchants
in our cities and elsewhere, who, regardless
of the claims Of enlargct; patriotism, exact
from cur retail dealers c3orbi,ant AID u"nc-
ccs<ury prices, thereby forcing them t" en-
hance thcir rates accordingly.
VIC EuYc been tcli, that in L certain city
III Svutl Carolina, there exists y wealthy
FIRM, who, J.joye the war, invested from che
to two hundred thousand dollars in groceries,
and that those in their employment boast OF
the inmcnsc addition 10 their riches, which
they are HOW reaping from the cruel and cx-
orLitant profit they are realizing upon tEeir
investment. We lave heard Of aro,hcr hrin
in another city, member OF which wished
that tic war would continue iu- period ui
three or four years. Aad why? We say:
simply Thai he might from. the. distresses Q!
the country, and from tic carnage and slaugh
ter Of tic people, aud the anguish, cries and
groans Of bcreit parents, widows and orphans,
necessarily consequent upon Il qualification of
his 6eudisl desire, fill his ung6dy collers
with silver ard guld.
How striking The contrast between the con-
duct of such lncn and that Of Z firm not an
bundled miles from Manning, WHO had pug
chased the article OF lesro shoes lrrri0"S 10
tic war, aull who con;en, with l. tlir adTaEce
upon original cost, actually furnished large
Planter of this District, residing in Charles
tor, with his winters supply: cheaper than
than tl.cy cO,;'d he bought ;Lc:c at his time.
While thr la,ter are patriots, an; as such '!,-
serve columrnia;iuu, the former are traitors
to their race, !tc;r country aud thsr God.
aud as such tc.c::cdly merit the Scverest
corLcmla!ior. Clarendon Bauuer.