Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-09-06
Speculation. and Er,ort,ouer,.

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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 so great an extent in the South
The strong facts and arguments of our friend 90 to
show, what we have all along been convinced Of
that cotton and leather dealers are not the only
"snners" il as great sinners in this regard as ma
ny who have been overlooked by the press.
1t has not been our purpose to hold up one class
of extortioners to public notice more than another
In our article alluded to by our correspondent deal
ers in cotton goods and leather noticed simply
because our attention was called to the exemptions
from military service granted them by the govern
nent 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 practced 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 objects to. In time of war,
cut off from the commerce of the world, as we are
some articles can be produced among ourselves, 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
which we cannot produce, must be had at any price,
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 ofcourse to suit 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,
-four, 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 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 tSH 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 contending in bloody war with our
Northern enemies?
The truth is, the speculators of the country
are almost entirely chargeable with the ruin which
must follow the extorton 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 specua-
tors attended, must work the greatest mischief to
the public. 1t is time that the government had
tced 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
Yankee blockaders allow to pass seize for their
own benefit
The Fayetteville Observer gives the following list
of prices paid at the Wilmington SALE furnished by
q friend:
95; Thread so to 25; Cacoes ~ to 80; bleacbed
Shrtng SO To % cents Huckaback 90 Spool Thread 30
Dozen Baf Hose II 80 DOZEN Expansion Skirts $lS3
DOZEN white linen Shirts ~ ~ duze1; Merno Drawers
$54 dozen; do Shirts $40; Pins IL so per pack of IL
papers; Tea rs to II l2 CoPperas 81 lb Letter Pa
per $Ss so ream folio post do $50; note do SIG so !;
Shoes IS 70; &c, g."
1t also says that at similar sale in Charleston a
short time SINCE many paid for the goods in coun-
terfeit Confederate notes. and hints that the same
might have been done at Wilmington, which ac-
counts for the high prices.