The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-10-02
Extortlon,


selfish and unpatrioiic acts OF individuals.
which in their effects are productive of
serious and oppressive consequences To
the people ut large, we direct the arten
tion Of our rnsdsrs to the prevalence of
sKtoriion, which We fear is becoming TOO
common at thi. time. We see hy our
exchanges that our State is infested with
class Of individuals, who. having only
"seJ" in visw. are pursuing course,
which, willis it is calculated to enrich
themselves. grinds to powder the humble
aud poorer classes, and effects injuriously
and indisrr'Inipalsiy every ciuzen Of the
State
The class to whom We alIuds ara those.
who. not satisfied with reasonable
profit. I.iusnd double or Quadruple
advance upon those articles absolutely
necessary to existence. Such Gharaoisrs,
whoever they may he, are TO the fullest
extent as inimicsl TO Southern interests,
as Seward aud Lincoln with thsir abo!
tioD horde ever were or oan be , and
richly merit aud should receive the con
dsmnalion Of au indignen, and outraged
people.
But what :erms Of execration should
be used in reference To those, who, hav.
ing already smsssed fortunes among us,
have thereby been enabled to inysst large
amounts in these necessary arricles, pre-
vious u the preseDI state Of things, at a
price comparatively low. and taking nd
va.tnge OF their country's Affections and
tie oppressive sirrngency Of the times
necessarily consequent thereupo', now
require al hundred and two hundred per
cent. upon the original cost.
We believe that our country mer.
chants as a class are generous and palrir
otic, and are disposed, especially ut
time like the present. To "iiye and let
live" ana our remarks are not intended
tor them, but we do intend them for
those unprincipled Wholesale speculators
in our cities or elsewhere, who, regardless
Of The claims Of nu enlarged patriotism,
exact from our retail dealers -xorbitant
and unnecessary prices. thereby forcing
them To enhance their rates accordingly.
We have been told, that in certain
city iE South Carolina, there exists n
wealthy firm, who, before the war. inves
ted from one TO two huLdreh thousand
dollars in groceries. and that those in
their employment boast Of the immeus.
addition to their riches. which the, NJ.
now raaping from the cruel and exEorhi
tant profit they are realizing "pnn their
Investment. We have heard OF another
hrm III another city, n member Of which
wished that the war would continue for u
period OF three or four years And why 7
We saw, simply that he might from the
distress OF the country. and from the car
mage and slaughter "f the p-opl-, aud
the anguish. cr,ss aud Qrnans nG her.fr
parents, widows and orphans. necessarily
consequent upon gr.'iti:a'ion OF his
hendish desire. ill his ungoLly Golfers
with silver and god.
How striking ihe cnntrssl bs, wesn the
conduct of such men aud ths, Of u firm
no, An hundred miles from NJ pn,np.
who had purchased the artrcI- Of negro
shoes previous To the war, and who, con
tent with f,r adv.ure upon original
cost. actually furnished inrVs platter of
thus District. residing IN Charl-s,on, with
his winters supply. cheaper than ,h-v
could ha bought there al this time -
While tbs iattsr are patriots and MS such
deserve commendatinn, the former are
traitors To their race, their country. and
their God. and as sneh dsservedIy merit
the severest condemnation - Clarendon
Banner.