The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-13
Tho Consumption Of Grain by Distilleries-
Necessity Of Legislstion.

Why cannot tho members OF the Legisla-
ture come up to the mark at once, and
promptly pass laws suppressing the immense
destruction OF grain which Ia now going on
III tho man ufacture Of common whiskey
DO they wish to see the horrors Of famine add
ed 10 the catalogue OF troubles which menace
the South Or will they blindly sleep on
until the yawning precipics opens ben cath
their very feetT The Confederate Govern.
ment took Il good step In resolving to seize
the grain In the hands OF distiliers, and 1t Is
to he regretted that they coun.erm m ded the
order, and restored the grain seized, because
OF doubt 40 to its legality. We have heard
that the present energetic Secretary Of War
urged in Cabinet Council that the design
should be carried out, but Il ma jority thought
1t was better to let Virginia act in the premi-
ses. Let her take the initiative. and her
action will be at once followed by the other
States.
Ihe consumption OF grain III the lnanufac-
ture OF this poisonous and destructive com.
pound is beyond the conception OF the NJ asses
The distilleries have sprung up like magic all
over the country, and for whatf To beneti,
the people a. larger BY no means. The dis.
uler maAujactprss he rhisAey q. abo2t The SAM
cos, ahiA hs Fcid out Ia.t gear, Chea he made q
profit by selling a. = cents gallon. Nop h
charges $3.50 per gallon, Aus p7eging upoa the
basr rants O, Lae community and enrichins himsei'
Nth immsnss al :as expense Of many good Tires
phica i.ced, one Of the conseqxeness. DO
our members fear the chiskey influence? Ars
they governed In questions Of great political
necessity by PERSONAL aspirations for the II
ture, and fears Of offending c ar tain classes Of
men Ifso let them he marke by the patri-
otto, unseIfish citizens OF the Common wealth,
and properly rewarded hereafter. 1t IL NO
time for politicians. We must have pa
triots, who Will sternly and unfltnchingly
fulfil their duty. How much Generalization
has been produced In the army by the use OF
this inflammable stuff How much distress
will be produced In manyOf our counties by
the enhanced price Of grain consequent upon
its immense manufacture into whiskey1 The
poorer classes will be unable to purchase and,
where plenty should have rsigned, starva-
ton may appear even in our midst
The bill proposed by Mr.. Thomas is emil
nently wise and proper. Yet the morbid sen.
sibility Of some gentlemen is touched because
1t will interfere with the business OF certain
monopolists, and cut down their profits
forsooth, they are 1t subjects for sympathy.
take large concern here, which Was very
rich before tho commencement Of this war.
From common report, thsS consume moro
than 900 bushels OF grain daily, and their
profits have gradually swsllsd, until during
the past three mon tbs they have avsrss I'd BE-
tween u 900 and $4,000 daily, aud their total
pronE are estimated ut over half q million
during the past year. II this firm should
lose its prospective prOnts. will not sA< pAols
eemasntty sympasAiss Wtsk them for sAs Iaylsktps
Deal with this matter practically and with