Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-16
Foon tbs Richmond EzaInInsr oot@1I1@
The Money Greed Among Southern
Merchants.

While the people are contributing every
dollar they can spare for the comfort of the
soldiers, il is but just that the merchant and
trading classes should afford some evidence
of patriotism--at least the negative one of
forbearing to speculate on the necessities and
distreSses OF the country. AS ID is not only
are these classes too much intent upon their
vocation OF money making, but, besides en-
riching themselves out of the needs of the
country, their moncpolies and speculations
stand between the people and the soldiers
They do double injury. They reap their own
immense gains out OF the noble struggle for
all that a people holds dear, and hafffs and
prevent the volunteer contributions of the
people to their brave defenders by monopo-
lizing articles of prime necessity, initiating
prices beyond the reach OF general purchas-
ers, and embarrassing the transportation of
volunteer stores to the army.
There is no necessity for speaking general
ly of this subj ct. We can designate any
number of articles, the prices of which have
been doubled and trcbled by trade monopo.
lies and speculative combinations without
any reason in the nature of things for the
sudden and menstrous Initiation of former pri-
ces. There is, for instance, no just reason
why bacon should now be thirty-five cents per
pound. Our exchanges say that in the lead
ing markets of this article ;he stocks are, if
anything, larger than when it was selling
from thirteen to fifteen cents. Again, in dry
goods, the same unjust and speculative ad-
vance, effected by monopolies of capitalists
is evident. We have been told that for
blankets, which probably cost not more than
one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per
pair, five and six dollars is now asked. Home
spun that, last winter, sold for six and
quarter cents is sold now (the same stock tool
at twelve and half cents. Advances in the
same proportion have been made in other ar
ticles necessary for the clothing of our troops
If public sentiment is not equal to chastise
and correct the money greed OF merchants
and tradesmen we see no reason to hesitate at
the necessity of the Government TO take the
matter under its control, at least so far. with
out interfering with the legitimate freedom
and enterprise of trade, as to break up specu-
lative combinations against itself. There are
honorable and noble cases where a few of our
patriotic merchants, content with their ordi-
nary regular profits, have consented to dis
pose of their goods, SO long as they lasted, at
the usual prices. The profits have been suf-
ficient to pay at least for their time and in
resimenis. Why should not this honorable
manifestation OF justice and patriotism, given
by few of our merchants, be made the rule
if need be, by the rigor OF the law, Tor those
others, depraved by avarlce; worse in fact
than the expelled '-alien enemies who. hAv-
ing made their money out of the South, are
content to leave it without affecting attach
ment to country, the plumber and spoil of
which they only cared for.
The Movements of EeOsecranz-Ina-
biIity of our Forces TO Pursue Him.
The statement given yesterday in the Ex-
aminer of the movement of General Rose
cranz, and of the fact that General Lee was
unable to pursue him, is found to be fully
correct, Notwithstanding other statements to
the contrary. The statements of Gen. Lees
own dispatches are that he followed the enc
my only some seven or light miles, when the
condition of his transportation forced him to
desiSt. The enemy had fallen back during
the night, and by the morning, when the
movement was detected by our army, was GU
his march near to the Gauley river. 1t is
coDjectured that Rosecranz is on the march
to SummersVilie, and will endeavor to make |
his way to Huntersyille, so as to Intercept
Jackson's and Gilham's commands.
Proposed Discharge of sick soldiers.
We understand that the Government is |
considering the plan of giving absolute dis |
charges instead of furlOughs to the sick sol |
diers likely TO be incapable of doing duty for |
any considerable period of time The plan |
is recommended by number CO consideTa |
tions. 1t may be safely estimated that a
good proportion of the sick soldiers discharg-
ed. under these circumstances, will, after re-
cruiting at their homes instead of the hospi-
tails, volunteer again to take the field. The
plan proposed will secure for them the best
treatment of course, with the care of rela-
tives and friends and the conveniencies Of
homes; will relieve the hospitals of much of
the inconVenient pressure upon them; and is
calculated 10 furnish. on the whole. the most
economical, expeditions, and, perbaps, hu-
name disposition of our invalid soldiers
A large number of bales CT soldiers blan-
kets leach bale numbering about 600 blan-
kets) have arrived here, and will be at once
distributed through the camps. They are
understood to be part of foreign impOrta-
ton of clothing and stores effected for the
South some time ago This timely contribu-
ton TO the comfort of our troops will be bad
news to the ''army worms" OF Richmond
one of which creatures, to our personal
knowledge, managed to sell, a day or rwo
ago, to soldier pair of blankets for the
atrocious price of ten dollars.
We learn that the cartridge factory in this
city. under the superintendent of Lieut.. J.
w. Smith, is manufacturing cartridges at the
rate of 200, 600 per day. The factory en-
ploys 500 women and 800 men.