Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-02-21

, sbsscoi r1d legal Interest on tbs money in~
qests6. The other property to bs sold st tho
nricc sscc1tained by the 5aid frcoholders.
s. That tho agents, appointed under this
ordinance, shall execute TO the Commonwealth,
bonds with approved personal security, in
such pennl!y az shall be prescribed by the
Governor, conditioned, faithfully to perform
their duties.
q. That the Governor is hereby authorized
to apply $4,000 out Of any money in tho
treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and the
nrocesds Of the salt purchased under this ordI.
nance to carry out the objects thereof Provided
ths, nothing In this ordinance shall in any way
inte rfere with any contract already made, or
which may hereafter be made by tbs owners OF
the aforesaid salt works, with the Confederate
Government.
?. r'h.. anY NJ: who shall violate any pro.
yjsion OF this ordinance, shall be liable to be
prosecuted anl punished b. fae, not exceed
ing S
g. That this ordinance shall take effect from
It's passage, and remain il force until repealed
by this Convention, Or the Legislature of the
Commonwealth.
Ar. GRANT, would suggest that this or
dinance be made to apply to the other neces.
saries Of life as we'll as to salt I would ask
the patron Of the ordinance to the other neces
sarirs OF lie 10 which our ~citiIens and soldiers
are equally if not more interested.
The PgEsIDEsT.-Do you offer au nul5nd-
men. to that effect
Mr.. GRANT.-1 huvn n0 amendment pre-
pared; hut | think this application Of the or1
dinance ought to be uade.
NJ Etausp II nm yreaaIh,,I ~ .nSthTa rhL Z
the principle designed - Gs established uy
this ordinance should DO carried into effect
| have a great horror Of the infamy that is be-
ing p~rsctised in :he city OF Richmond and
other cities aud towns South Of us, in the
shape of ry;0rtions upon cur Citizens and sol,
diers by dealers. I wish ii Was in our power
to relieve the community from tbs ewindling
operations which are being pursued ty oil
classes of business men. But feel that it is
almost impossible to regulate the sumplnsry
laws Of the country in such d way az to afford
proper protection against monopoly and ey-
t3Ttion.
know that il the Republic .! France shey
tried that over ana 1Vei again, AM they I'll all
times failed to accomplish the obi set they had
in visw. But l say taTs that ii any s=I:!--
man will make q proposition TO this Con VEN
ton which will afford any prospect Of peeu-
ring the community sgains, this nefarious
practice Of extracting FROM them, under their
trials and difficulties, eSorbitant prices for tho
commodities Of life, I will ehesrfuily vote for
it. I would, myself, If It were Legitimate,
send 2 man to the penitentiary who would ez-
tract from his n~eighbor more than fair price
for q commodity wh!ch he had to sell.
But If the Hcorn nri indignation Of society,
and the conIumels and reproach Of his neigh,
bors, could uor 2revo3! sGaualrels from exact.
ing from TIA public an cx7T5itsnt price for
salt, or ary tsing t!se. ! cannot we'll see how
the Convention Of Virginia en- bring down
the price 10 VIVA; it ought to be. Iknow that
in all ages sad countries it has been exceed
ingly difficult to regulate sumptuary laws III
q manner to meet the e1igsncits Of particular
occasions, and at the same time 70 DO ~justics to
the community, as we'll rs those who would
speculate upon them. How this ching c6n be
accomplished, ! know not. According to my
ides, the frst section oi that ordinance will
not accomplish what it aims st 1t mus! 20
into more detail, II It is to be made effective.
IF I am told half the truth, ! would bring
every man in the city of Richmond, and every
city south of this, on his knees, if | could,
and make him offer up prayers to Heaven for
forgiveness for the outrage and wrong Hh,ril
he has perEHt;atrA upon his country, 81 eli
acting from tn p0or aud p~enniless lore than
they are a',in ia ter. Bii, Iii, want 10 dd
that In 8 msarer not to affect those who are
indulgsnt, AMI who appreciate the wants Of
society, aud the peculiar condition of it, Pco-
pie, And here lies the difficulty. Discrimi-
nation should be made, If justice is &c he
done
/ hsve no doubt-indeed, II i: every day
more and moro apparent-that there is id this
Southern Confectionery d speculative feeling, a
swindling propensity, which all organized
bodies that have the power are called upon, By
every consideration Of humanity and pstriol
ism, to aunprass if ?oe7ibls ! tell ?on, Mr.
President. what they arc dc:Gs Fl this matter
Of speculation. They are destroying the very
currency bY which MIR government, IL sup
ported.
What Is the condition oil things now, SIR !
have knowna friend of mino n give - per cant.
for gold within the last tvs or thrse weeks.
This, mind you, is q speculation upon tho cur
rency Of Cur Government, aT!t This Convention
aud the Legislatures Of the several States
South will not look to it; they will find that
our Independence will cost lis double or treble
what it would If We maintained at its par
value the currency which the Govern u ent Is
obliged to employ in order to secure our indie
pendence, would take tho market Tonan
from her stand I would tako the butcher
from his stall; I would tabo the speoulator in
salt from his commission hon3a. II you will
give noe q !s- ~afi&ctirn enough 70 enable me
to accomplish il, sooner than | would allow
these outrsges and wrongs to be perpetrated
npon socicty. They shall not be tolerated II
We expect to aohieve that independence which
We hope for and desire. It is impossible that
any government can accomplish its indenen,
deDcs upon suoh principles IS were atte0lp ted
to be inauzurated IL France in the revolution
of 1Tss-'e2. We should eudeavor to inaugu
ratH 7arpe different principle from that which
tn=, light to establish. Ths great Napoleon
hi0ss!r could not fasten updn his people q cur
rcrcy Inst they did not recognize as equal 10
gdIi 81 silver. Thine expired
M. RLABEy.-l propose to strike out in che
tiitaaT.ih line, I'd section, tie word give
and ;asart in lieu thereof the words return
the %saTae," md to strike out in the same lin
the rcrda "of said property," and insert the
wcrG thereof" 30 that tia. psrt Of the Sec
tioa. ifsmendad, wifi resi land aha!l there.
upon report to the Governor thUir action in
the premises. snd return :he shuc to the hold-
ar thereof" &c.
[7o bf CONTINUED