The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-30
High Prices and Legislative Prohibi.
From tho Lynchburs Republican

From tho Lynohburg Republican
We observe that the South Carolina
Legislature is attempting very absurd
and very impossible thing. IL is at
tempting TO regulate the prices of market
able commodities by legislative enact
ments. Since the war commenced we
have observed very closely the effect of
all such legislation, both on the part of
the States and the Confederate authori-
ties, and we have yet TO see a single in
stance in which the evil which il was
sought tocure was not greatly Intensified.
Some time last year the Governor of
Georgia authorized the seizure of all the
salt in the hands Of spectators, and
prohibited its transportation from the
State under heavy penalties. We en-
dorsed the act, because we thought,
without reflection, that it would be of
service TO the people, but it was just the
reverse; the trade in salt was broken up
in Georgia, the article became higher and
scarcer, and the people were the suffer-
ers. The Provost Marshal of Richmond
attempted to fix the price of such articles
as butter, eggs, poultry, beef, &c, in that
market, and the consequence was that
the hucksters refused TO supply the mar
ket at those prices, the people became the
sufferers, and the Provost Marshal had TO
annul his arbitrary ordinance. For a
long time the Confederate authorities at
tempted TO fix the price OF wheat, flour
sugar, provender, etc, purchased for the
use of the government. The people
wonld not sell at those prices, specula-
ton ceased, and the government had t.
resort to SRlpressDaent for supplies. They
soon found that this was not only q sys.
tenn of public plumber on the part of tb'
government, but that il failed 10 furnish
J them the necessary supplies. The resul
was that the absurdity of making anC
controlling prices was abandoned by tn
! government authorities, and now thel
come into market with the people upol
terms Of fair competition. We nigh
allude to numerous other instances il
; which State, corporation and Coniederat
authorities, have attempted to REGULATE
5 and control the prices of articles OF con
! sumption, but the same inevitable failur
has attended them all, and the evil bee
. vastly increased by the remedy. AM
! such in the very nature of things will
{ infallibly DO III resdlt OF 7uoh arbitrar,
|, and foolish leg alton.
: The reason Of this rs obvious upon
( moments refe ION. Nine tenths of Oh
r people have N 7taken the cause Of hig
Z prices. They sem 10 think 10 is som
4 arbitrary and ram oal tariff % charge
o fixed by meiIoss t of speculation
1 and extortione we're not for III
/ spectators, say thep p'aces Of ey RHYTHM
}, would rule low hfr8 never was
/ greater mistake upon arth hey pr
: the cart before BE horse Thoy migl
: just as we'll denonee lio ridicl Gus Pre-
y position that utafta drew ne carrio
e Tor il is a den oustra1.8 fsct ihalwere
i not for the hiP pr tLerf Id be u
i speculation f1lRh8 aFH== EN- ( .twent
cents pound, and thef3 viii 1gt DO anotl
% er barrel brou DO fifgina airing d
g war, and never anofhtr pooa a engag
% ed in the trad I've lhe Ence )f salt
Q five dollars per ssfk aai noi anolher speI
y lator will go il.ai 3, 1ud q ople wi
10 have 10 Withol IL Col down 3 price
4 calico TO ten o. Wenty .cehis y yard, an
T. not another yird EiN ION ho blockad
% Fix the pric af fho AZ 20 or O.
y dollaFa, and 300 ailflor pa viii
20 made Fix to rml wood 4 five do
u lars per cord ll1lNdy u sell II
n duco butter lanl cents p
"a pound, aud ~ Fll al a greas
y. less bread i Hgt mf come,
r. short, pat df a h.e ias IA you W
IS pat d1Wn 0lf,l 49, put dos
q. speeulat0rs. SOD cd I lverish d