The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-05-28
Is it Right 7

a gentleman stated in our Office few days
ago, that he had, on that day, paid one dollar
and twenty-h cents per bushel for coru, to a
neighbor, who resides few miles from ,hi,
place and that there are those who are exul..
ing in the prospect of the price going up to
two dollars per bushel, before great while. It
Is well known to all that there was all unusually
large crop Of corn made in this section, last
season that the common price throughout the
Faii and Winter wss from sixty to sevemty-five
cents per bushel, and that it was generally be-
Geved that these prices, in view of the heavy
crop that was made, were amply sufficient to
remunerate the producer for his labor In the
lace Of these facts, may We not pertincutly ell
quirc, is it right for the producer to demand a
dollar and quarter Tor his grain now, and
hold out the idea that he will take as much
more rs the impYious wants and necessities OF
the consumer may oDge him to gives
We remember that shortly alter the begin.
nng oi the blockade OF our Ports, there was a
great cry OF extoItiom against the merchants.
1t was said that our merchants, 1--WE refer par
ucuaily TO our town and District) had
raised upon goods that they had purchased pref
rious to the blockade, and the farmers were not
backward in censurug this course, as unchris.
tian and unpatriotic. The complaints against
the merchants were perhaps exaggerated at
all events, it seems to be generally conceded
now, that they have sold out their old stock
without any very material advance upon the old
prices. In our limited purchases from Them,
oil the old stock, we have not observed any adj.
vance IN price at all There is no doubt of the
Tact, that the merchants Of our town have been
selling their goods at from one to five bundled
per cent less than they might have realized for
them in Charleston or Columbia while ,I. far.
mers have been sclling their pork aud beef a,
considerable advance over prices that ruled in
this market before the war.
we can, of course. feel 10 special interest
III The reputation oi the merchants of our town.
certainly none over the planters and farmers
Tor the latter embrace the most numerous class
OF our friends and patrons. We speak, as n
public journalist, for the general good-for the
truth Of local history, and to ad,nonish the pro-
ducers of provisions that they should not prac.
tice system, which they have so severely con.
demned in others
Is there to be no limit to the price of provis.
ions Cannot the producer settle down upon
some sum that will renumerate him for his Ia.
Dor, and say that he will take no more9 We
know OF a few instances svhcre this has been
do,e McCuloch, who owns FACTORY on the
Catauba river, has earned a reputation for
honesty and christian benevolence that will
last through generations to come, by selling
yarn at tl.oo per bunch, when neighborins
factories are asking $3.50 per bunch.
IL is time for men to ceas living entirely for
sell and recognize their duties TO the co,nmun.
iy and to the county.
II is well known that the salvation of tho
country depends, in a great measure, upon the
planting Interests. This interest is protected by
law TO the extent of exemptng ove,scers from
military service and will the planter, in return
for this protection. force the Government to
pay double the ordinary rates for grain or
force from the poor all that necessity NAV OBJ
lige them to give'
We have written the above in no spirit OF
captiousness, bus with the hope that it may do
some good in quarter where reform is need.
ed.