Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-01-07
For tho Advertiser.
Sc An Act for the Relief. of Soldiers
Families.''


Mr.. EDITOR: The Legislature before its late
recesS passed an Act, appropriatins six hundred
thousand dollars for the relief Of the families Of
the soldiers in tho Confederate service. This WAS
uuquestivnubly wise and charitable apprupria.
,ion on the hart Of the General Assembly, and in
legislation. But it must be remembered that tho
spirit Of erforfiun and specdlo'oH has extended
to the p oducers Of the necessarsd VI life, and the
price of provisions now is at least about three or
four times greater than it was before the COM
mencrruent of the War. II. the necessaries Of
life are not sent to Augusta, to he sold or three
tunes their homo value, they are withheld fron
sole in order that the supply being made scarce,
the demand may be moro urgent and the price
consequently higher. There i~nc' no,o the siiyht-
e~, d8tre~ee bet,reen tse ,uho r.'1eiat home,
a reasonable priyft Me cO.t Of proslaea.y tie
necsssarie.'J life, J"r a yre'tter pr.it /" Jorsya
marIet aud him, rh" yoes ubont The 'ou,Hry bas.ng
cheap in order that he may sell 'dear. By for
eign market we noun o market without the State.
The tendency Of the acts Of both, is to increase
the price If provisions TO the pour--and the poor
nre the families Of the spldisr. who is lighting for
the individuals, who urc Deliberately, si'temati-
Gully aud cunni"yly starriny them.
There is not the slightest excuse, nr justRca-
ton for the present high prices. There is IN
abundance of provisions in the county, and yet
there is an upward tendency in prices. II men
will not recognize the obligations they owe to
Society, why then society, through its Govern
mental department, must enforce shen by the
most Stringent process. In plain language, II tho
producer will not sell tho necessarirs OF lite to The
poor, ut G reasonable per cent, ON the coat, 'rhy
thea the Legi"iature m"M pa"s en- Act 10 c"'npet
him. The Conrcderacy is engaged in 4 gigantic
contest II is the duty Of every one to aid the
country in some way. Honey making Hirety cdn-
not be the aim ef Southern p"tri"tS~ad Jree'asa at
this jnncturx. Tn. soldiers Of South tarolih" are
in the field fighting and dying for their Ste
They expect those who are ut homo enjoying sIl
the cumforls of life, and reposng.ou luxurious
couches to keep their fumitie. at itas! fran afor-
cation. l. this expectation fulfilled by indiTidu-
al. hurryiag tn. prolncts Of eheir farms to An
rusla and elsewhere, imprlied by the aceurssd
spirit of avarice? Will sulliers when they .
return, entertain e very high regard for such
spcculntors!
In order therefore that the Ac: recently passed,
should operate to its full extent in favour Of tho
recipients Of its buuay, there should be An amend
ment, or another Ac, passed, regulating the price
of prori.ions, otherwise the late aspiration will
bs ouly premium for Increased s1toition and
speculation.
The Legislature has perfect right to regulate
the price Of provisions. In citie:, tho price Of
bread By the loaf is regulated by the municipal
authorities Public pulicy-patrioiism-
all demand, Oh the part of an honorable people,
nm effort to eradicate tho moral pestience whieh
is eating iutn the vitality Of tho State. If the
Legislature will not remnro this evil, it may dis
cover, when too late, that the soldiers will redress
tho injustice done to their wives and children.
We invite tho attention Of our Representatives
to tho consideration Of the proposition herein srg
sested. 1oSAieS'