Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-09-10
; Spectators and Extortioners.

~k~~~As~sVAS
We have received highly interesting and instruc-
tive private letter from valued friend and cotton
manufacturer of large experience, who seems to
have been disturbed by the occasional structures We
have felt it public duty to make, upon the extor.
ton practised to great an extent in the South
Inc strong facts and arguments of our friend 60 to
show, what we have all along been convinced Of,
that cotton and leather dealers are not the only
"snners," if as great sinners in this regard as
ny who have been overlooked by the press.
1t has not been our purpose to hold up one class
OF extortoners to public notice more than another.
In our article alluded to by our correspondent deal
ers in cotton goods and leather were noticed simply
because our attention was called to the exemptions
from military service granted them by the govern
ment. 1t struck US, that all classes of producers
who are thus favored in their business by the gov
ernment ought not to take advantage of that fact
because the government was necessary customer
in particular branch, to exact profits from the
government or public, greatly beyond what just
regard to the real condition of the country demands
But we did not design to make the impression that
these two classes of producers were responsible for
the extorton practiced in the country or were even
equally guilty with others in the excessive demands
made upon the public
All articles Of prime consumption, at any time,
should be regulated in price by the demand and
supply. This no one objects to. In time of war,
cut off from the commerce of the world, as we are,
some articles can be produced among ourselv :, at
an advanced price, but not SO high as the present
extortion prices demand. Others can be produced,
such as sugar and salt, but the cost of production
and the freight render them necessarily very high.
Others we must have, which cannot be produced at
all. Now, it is evident that articles of necessity,
but no rule can be fixed to regulate the price, other
than what they bring at first sales. If the first pur-
chasers put an exorbitant price on the first cost,
they must be limited of course to sui! the rich people,
and the poor must suffer. The articles Of salt and
sugar must be high but those who speculate on
them for great gain at time like this, are extor-
TONERS Of the highest grade and their course works
injury to the Southern cause and people. Such ar
ticles as cotton fabrics, leather farming utensils
flour, meal bacon, &C., can be produced among our
selves In some instances, the cost of production
is not greater than before the war; in Others as cot
ton and wool fabrics, leather and farming utensils,
the cost reproduction is greater than before the war.
No one objects to proper and full remuneration for
what man does, or what he makes or has to sell
at this time. But the simple question is, is it right
for any man to I'LL his Golfers, at time like this,
out of the necessities of the public and the govern
ment, thus cramping the energies and means of the
country, while contcnding in bloody war with our
Northern enemies?
The truth is the speculat0rs of the country
are almost entirely chargeable with the ruin which
must follow the extortion prices Of these war times
The producers have been forced by the conduct of
the spectators to make exorbitant charges.
The recent heavy sales Of Yankee goods, no doubt,
at Wilmington, where hundreds of hungry specula-
tors attended, must work the greatest mischief to
the public. 1t is time that the government had no.
ticed and put stop to the introduction of Yankee
goods through the blockade to be paid for in re-
turn, Of cotton cargoes which, it is understood the
own benefit
The Fayetteville Observer gives the following list
of prices paid at the Wilmington sale, furnished by
friend:
"We will state few: Gnghams 90 yard Fannes
95 Thread so to 25 Callcoes 90 to SO hleached
Shirng 81 to 80 cents Huckaback 9o Spool Thread 80
dozen Half Hose II so dozen; Expansion Skirts 1913
dozen white linen Shirts 70 dozen Merino Drawers
$4 dozen do. Shirts $s0 Pins IL so per pack of ls
papers, Tea Is to u; Copperus 81 h.; Letter Pa
per $se 80 ream; folio post do $780, note do SIG 50;
Shoes IS rs; &C., &"
1t also says that at similar sale in Charleston a
short time since, many paid for the goods in coun.
terfet Confederate notes, and hints that the same
might have been done at Wilmington, which ac-
counts for the high prices.