Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-12-19
WIN. WATSON,
Clerk District Of Pamlico.

EXTRACTS FROM JUDGE GHoLsoN's CHARGE
ut cannot be denied, if We haR brave and gal
liant army in the field, composed of men who left
fathers and mothers brothers and sisters wives and
children, houses and lands-men who have endured
every hardship, met every sacrifice and have dis
played courage and herosm never excelled, we
also have at home an army composed of spectators
and extortoners, who would be less harmless if they
were regularly mustered into the service and were
fighting under the standard of our enemies. They
have embarrassed the Government and oppressed
the poor, by running up prices to fabulous figures
They have dsheartened our soldiers, who are every
day receiving letters from their families stating that
they are scarcely able to get necessary food and raj
ment, while those who are unwilling to 60 forth end
peril their lives amassing fortunes. Now no
just man should complain that he who was mer-
chant in peace should continue his profession in
war, and by fair dealings improve his fortunes
The merchants, however are not the only specula-
tors; but they find competitors in lawyers doctors
farmers and mechanics and what is worse they
are ready to speculate in every thing"
Our country is engaged IN a struggle for life or
death. She is bleeding at every pore. Hundreds
and thousands have fallen by the sword. Nearly
every house in the land has been turned into house
of mourning. Is.such a time fit for the patriot
for the man who loves his country or his kindred,
20 turn to bartering and exchanging that he may
make money? We cut off from the world-all
that he makes, therefore, by his speculations, must
be mace out of his own government and his own
people, byJncreasng the prices of articles to be used
by the government and the people; and every good
man who feels disposed to buy that he may sell
again. should recollect that every who is added
to the army of spectators, necessarily increases the
prices of articles Specuated on. And, strange to
say, many Of these men never bought to sell again
until their country nns inUOL0ed in Prices of
all provisions have become enormously high ne
cessary consequence of the presence of many
eager spectators, all of whom must have their scar
profit That they have had the chief agency in pro-
Gucing such enormous prices, it requires argu-
ment to show Speculation has be.
come q disease, a nlaniG Hotel keepers, CORPORA.
tons, such Rail Road companies-cotton and
wool factories-Coal Mining companies, ct i'll onune
genus figure conspicuousy. What influence must
this system of extortion, practised by individuals
and corporations, exert upon our army? How must
the soldier feel he hears that every article con-
sumed by his family, has to be paid for at prices
three four times as great when he entered the
army? Is it likely to iniame his ardor to know tina
while he is facing the enemy in the field, there j;
behind him at home an enemy who lis eating ou
his substance? And even if it were right and
handsome thing to make fortune by specializing
during war, would it be liberal and generous to
wards our soldiers who, by entering the service
have lost all opportunity Of becoming competitor:
in the race? Shall it be said there is ne
remedy for these evils Can the Confederate Gov
imbecile and impotcnt that they cannot stay the
hands of speculation aud extortion? Are we longer
to listen to the heartess cry of the SPECTATOR that
we must be governed by the rules of trade-o
supply and demand "-as if there were any "sup
ply except what the spectators would catch up
or shall we heed chartered rights from those
who have abused the privileges of their charters
and themselves become the chiefs of extortion No
The country has already suffered too much and toe
long - - Let it no longer be said that
we are unable to protect ourselves against the out
RACES of our people. Let the present spirit Of
speculation and extortion be cut up by the roots
Let us have no chds play! We pass laws to pun
ish usury-to punish the liquor seller-why canno,
We pass laws efsctaalty to stop extortion and
speculation If it be said it requires CiOlept rem
edy-then answer the disease is terrible and re-
quires it Who, having'a conscience or the slight.
est feelings of humanity, expect but the deepest
remorse by the reflection, " l made my money by
speculation during the war for our independence,
and while my friends and neighbors were away from
their families fighting the battles of their country
by which Ihaoe been protected, and they Aare been
starred and ruined"