The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1862-05-02

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Inourla.l issue wa took occasion Is al-|
lujo Is the subject embraced Zoo lhe above
caption subject of vital Importance 10
the country al thia iunoture. and enc that
Is now being discussed by the pres and
people throughout the South. Itisasuh-
iec, second only IN Importance TO the des-
peate struggle ior liberty and indopend-
ence IN which we are now engaged, and
indeed the success or failure Of that strug-
gle itself is intimately connected with it.
The unheard Of prices asked for provisions
Of almost every kind, to say nothing Of
other essentials, such as dry goods cloth
ing, &C., while they ruinously affect all
except the spectators and extorhoners
themselves, are fast reducing large class
Of our population to the condition Of pau
pers. With business Of all kinds suspend
ed. and no demand for labor, exceptat
diminished wages, of course the neces-
saries Of life will very soon be, if they are
moi now. unattainable by The worthy poor,
What then? Why an enemy more for
mdable than the Yankees, but acting as
their sure friend and ally will make his APP
pearance on the stage. Famine gaunt
and hideous Famine-will stalk through
our land scattering death and dismay
everywhere in its course. The cry for
bread will drown all other cries, and as its
hollow notes reach the ear Of the husband
and father who is pcrling his life on dis
tant fields in his countrys defense it will
not be thought strange that he should
multer silent curse, and sigh for an OPP
portunity to visit upon the extortioner
at home the punishment due to his coun-
try's enemies. But, say some, this thing
Of high prices cannot be regulated in any
other way than by the immutable laws Of
trade-demand and supply. We think it
can, and will endeayor to give our reasons
for so thinking. We hold that the laws
Of trade, like all other conventional
axioms, however true in themselves when
suffered to work out their legitimate re-
suits, are liable to become a fallacy and an
engine of oppression when they are seiz-
ed upon by ayaricious men as a pretext
for extortion. They were instituted for
the public good and not for the benefit Of
a class only, and whenever they become
subyersiye of this end, it is the duty of
the people to file bill of EXCEPTIONS
The laws governing trade, like the fixed
principles in nature, invariably work in
harmony with themselves, and were never
intended to act unequOlly; but without
some restraint or limitation, even the laws
Of nature, instead Of lending strength and
solidity to the universe, would resolve it
into its original elements, and like the
baseless fabric Of vision, leave not a
trace" Of its original grandeur behind
1t is a law Of nature. for an apple to fall to
The ground, but it is wise provision of
Providence that the earth should arrest
its flight, thus enabling it to fulfill the OBJ
eet of its creation, which is the happi-
ness of man and beast. It's law OF trade
that demand aud supply shall regulate
prices, but il was never intended that
this principle, so benefcent in itself,
should ever be permitted to overleap the
barriers of reason and justice. Ifan en-
envy has bound your neighbor hand and
foot and left him TO starye, and you find
him in this condition.. you have no right
according to Gods law, Though tn,
laws of trodc might concede it to you,
to sell him provisions for more than they
ere worth, notwithstanding he might b,
willing to give his birthright for a mess 0
pottage. If you take advantage of hi
straitened circumstances to raise the pric,
Of bacon dime Or two in the pound, yot
are an extortioner, and the world will S,
consider you, the lars Of haac to the con
trary nevertheless. Public opinion, then
we take it, can be made more poten
agent in regulating prices than the laws 0
trade, for the latter, unfortunately for tn
people, are deaf and blind, and can Meth
er be influenced by reason nor sympathy
If this fails, the military arm will doubt
less have to be invoked, for the ''mone,
changers" who now hold high carnival il
the temple of our liberties must be speed
lily driven out or we are lost.
We shall recur to this subject again.