Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-05
FOr INC. Stdl
THE STAY LAW.


The necessity for Stay-aw we think is apparent
to all who will take into consideration the condition
of the country, and the necessities of the people at
this juncture of affairs, when we consider the large
amount of additional taxes to be paid for the support
OF the Confederate governmcnt-and the voluntary
contributions by the citizens, which also add large
ly to our expenses. Salt has. gone up from 81 25
to $50 and S25 per sack; shoes from 81 and 81 SO
to So and 81 per pair iron from 5 and 6 cents per
pound, to 25 cents sheeting from 81 cents to lS
cents per yard coffee, from Is cts. to 81 per h.
molasses from 20 and 80 cents per gallon to 81;
leather from 25 cts. to 81 per pound and we might
continue the list, but the above is sufficient to show
the enormous rise in prices which the consumers
have to pay. t,.s
Turn to the other side of the picture. The de-
probation in the price of products or portion of
then is as great and greater than the advance
of those we have to buy. Our ports are blockaded,
and not ship load (unless it accidentally runs the
blockade) Of cotton spirits of turpentine tar, tim.
Der, lumber, rosin, shingles &C., can be sent to
foreign market, and the consequence is, spirits of
turpentine is from Is to 18 cts per gallon, at which
price 1t will require three or four barrels of spirits
turpentine to purchase one sack Of salt. Eighteen
months ago, tina: amount Of spirits of turpentine
would have purchased 80 or 40 sacks of salt, and
the same is the case in regard to the other items.
Large quantities Of each of the above articles are
going to waste for want of foreign market, owing
to the blockade, and cotton and other staples are
greatly below what they would be, from the same
cause How, We would ask those who raise the
cry against the Stay law, are those who are left at
home, to support their families-pay their former
contracts-support the war and the families of vol.
unteers, when they have to pay such enormous
prices, an cash. for what they buy, and receive so
small compensation for what they SELF The
principal products Of large portion Of North Caro-.
lima are entirely excludedal Of last years product
being still on hand. But few who have volunteered
and gone of were out Of debt, and consequently the
f. greater number are indebted to those at home and
are without the means to pay, or to make the
money to pay with. Ought such men be forced to
to pay? If the execution law was still in force, the
sharpers and s!ylocks, who do not care for their
country or its citizens, would have property sold at
runous prices and hundreds of families Of honest,
hard working men would be turned out Of house
and home on the cold charities Of the world Beg.
gary, want and their attendant train Of evils would
follow. Many of our people are taxed to their ut
most capacity to support their families and the war.
We believe the people are honest and will pay their
indebtedness but they cannot do it at this time,
consequently let the Stay law stand for the present
There are other things, which, we think demand
more the attention of The Convention now in ses-
sion, than the Stay-law ssE
The distillatoE of such large quantities of corn,
&c. the staff of life, into whiskey, is one of them.
And suppose Militia througbout the State should
be ordered of. who is to make support for the vast
army that will be in the field? Should not the
present crop of corn and grain be taken care off,
1t is grave question. a.
AMICUS JCSTITIA.