American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-11-16
ExTGRTF0y.

ExTGRTI0y.
The spirit Of avarics. Of oupidity. of extor-
ton. is abroad in the land. 1t IS coz Ken
sfre with The Conf, derate States. permeates
The whole country. rauifies all society. and
sis like a blight. a dreadful mildew. upon
the prosperity Of The people. 1t j. worse than
war. and IS net lees terrible than peslilenee
ard famine. The army Of vampires. of spec
ulators. Of " Shy locks" who would not ouly
claim the pound of desh, but would take the
life'- blood also, infest every community
Canton. we are sorry TO say, is 10; exempt
from The rayages Of these caterpillars, these
army worms. - these horseleeches. The ope-
ration- Of these heartless speeulators-wbo
are as soulless as a corporation and as insa-
tialle O. a coTmoraHt-radiate from The centre
Of monopoly. New Orleans. and reach every
village AID hamlet in the land. Houses in
New Orleans who have grown rich off of the
planters in Mississippi, have their agents,
urderIings and strikers in all the towns and
villages. The city SPECTATORS buy up all he
articles Of prime necessity that are cut off by
The blockade, aud Immediately telegraph to
their secret agents in the country to double
the price on these articles. Nor is this done
because such articles are really scarce. but
because the spectators have succeeded in
buying them all MP ard can put the price as
high as they please. On Monday, for in
stance Salt is qaoted in New Orleans at six
dollars per sack. wholesale /; It retails in Can
ton at 81 so. which is large profit. On
Tuesday and Wednesday the New Orleans
Spectators are active in buying it up. and
on Thursday they telegraph TO their friends
in the country towns. Salt is quoted here
to-day at Sl2, Z" and Immediately salt goes up
in Canton from seven fifty to twelve dollars,
without any increased demand for the
artIele Speak to Of these specu-
lators about the enormiiy of his charges. and
be viii tell you with the utmost non cha.lancez
that +" it is a legitimate transaction" But it
is not legitimate. 1t is Legitimate, unfair,
unjust aad unpatriotic, and no real merchant,
in the genuine accePtation of that term, would
thus speculate upon the necessities of the
people As long as he had any of iether com
mcdity to sell, lac would sell it at fair adj
vance on cost. IT, in the case mentioned
above, 81 80 per sack a fair price for salt
on Wednesday, how did it happen that hold
en- advanced it to SI2 the next day? Sim
ply because of combination and monopoly.
Such combinations to wiring from the neces-
stiles Of the people their last dollar are not
only illegitimatc, but are wicked and abomi-
nable But such sordid and selfish men have
no conscience, aud it is useless to appeal to
their sense of justice and fair dealing. As
long as they can '.put money in their purses"
by these transactions they VIII do it. Some
talk about correcting the evil by public opin-
ion-by frowning down such land pirates
and sharks. But they care nothing for pub
lie opinion. Having grown rich-having the
moaey in their pockets-they snap their in-
gers in your face and defy public opinion
There is only one way to reach these extor-
TONERS and heartless spectators, and that is
hy law or the strong arm of power. Our CO.
temporary of the HisstssPpian suggests
remedy, and we heartily endorse it. We
would show extortioners as little mercy as
they show us We would put these salt deal
ors in pickle. The Htssissippian says:
IF it be against the law to give aid and comfort
70 oar enemies we would Ike to know by what
system Of ethics the specializing Yankee harry can
ana demand from the people ten prices for them.
IA times Of war the people must protect themselves
from the ravages of their enemies. The man who
pays 81 for sack of salt aud charges SO for it
simply because the necessities Of his country com
rel bis neighbor to give it, is heartless. cold
Hooded specializing Yankee. He il the worst Of
enemies ANA should be dealt with accordingly.
The State Government have rightfn Jurisdiction
Of tsis matter. The meat of the Southern Confel-
eracy cannot lie preserved FOR the army without
sat-salt cannot be manufactured in sufficient
quantities in the Coniederacy-there is a large
supply in New Orleans and many Of the smaller in
terror t0wns-and the Governors of the several
States shonld appoint agent to seize all the salt
to be found. Gov. Moore OF Louisiana thus secur-
ed the pork in New Orleans when the spectators
held it at enormous prices. and it was admitted
all hands that lie bad perfect right so TO do. wiz
rot Gov. Pettas take this matter in hand and APP
point agents 10 ferret cut large of this
Indispensable article to the army and the comnu-
nifty and put the seal of the State the door? The
merchant can be remnnerated for his merchandise /
at reasonable rates-to be decided in the usual |
manner in such extremity