The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-31
"A FEMALE RAID.
From the Salisbury Waterman, Of Narel

i From the Salisbury wa,ehmHn, Of March ,ad. q
Between 40 aud so soldiers wiyes, followed bx
q numerous train of curious female observers made
an attack on several Of our business men hast We'd
nesday, whom they regarded rs spcculAtOrs in the
necessaries of life, for the purpose, as We are in
formed, of demanding an abatement in prices or
forcby taking possession of the goods they requir-
ed The first house visited vas Mr. NJ Browns.
They demanded he should sell them aour at si0.
90 per bafreL This he declined 10 do, alleging
that bis -four had cost him moro than twice that
sum. They then said they were determined 10
have the -four, and would take IT, unless he would
sell it to them ut the price Government was paving
for u; and accordingly went to work with hatch
cts on his store room door After some time spent
in vain efforts to open the door, rarley was had,
and Mr. Brown agreed to give them, free OF charge,
ten barrels, If that would satisfy them They &C.
Fcepted the offer, the dour rolled out and haul.
ed off.
They next visited Mr. John Enniss, Of the firm
Of Henderson 4 Ennis, and made similar demand
on him. He gave them three barrels of -four.
They next called on Mr. Frankfo who, il il
reported, told them he had hot been spcculatng
In provisions, and that he now had nothing In his
store but himself. They next called on Mr. Ii.
Srrague. Mr. y. received them in his usual calm
aud courteous manner, aud gave thom barrel Of
piOlGsscs.
.They also called on Mr. David We'll, whom thew
charge with having up -four from $40 10 ESQ,
and who was supposed to have a large lot at the
depot to be shipped South. It turned out how.
ever, that he had none within their convenient
reach. lie gave them u sack of salt
They next called on Mr. Thos Fostar, who wa.
advertising salt on consignment. He told thes.,
the salt belonged TO man in Wilmington, and
that he had no interest in it beyond that of an
agent That he felt il his duty TO protect il. &c,
and that rather than they should take it, he would
give them $50 out of his own pocket. Some one
in the crowd ansvered-"we will take that aud
the salt too" Mr Foster replied that he would
take the responsibility Of also giving them one
sack of salt They accepted this ODER and left
They also called at the door ola building former.
ly occupied by Mr. Simmons; but We think they
found nothing there.
And fually they visited the North Carolina de-
pot, in search Of -four supposed TO belong TO Mr.
We'll, and other parties believed TO be spectators
in this and other provision articles They found,
and took forcibc possession Of, ten barrels flour
belonging to some one in Charlotte.
This completed the days work. The ne1t
morning was spent in settling the question Of
division-a delicate and as it proved difficult
question. There was some disputing, flashing of
eyes, and some angry words. It was, however,
accomplished, whether satisfactorily to all or no,
VIC cannot say.
This movement was aimed as q blow at the prao.
tce of specializing in provisions. Whether or not
it fell proper subjects is not for US TO determine.
Indeed, that is a question which none should pre-
sumptousy decide. >.
These proceedings were also caused, in part, by
pinching want. 1t is said there are many families
in this town who shave not tasted meat for
weeks, and some times months together. or
course they have had no butter. molasses or sugar
Many of them have no gardens and consequently
no vegetables Of their own raising; and the ScArc
ty aud high price of potatoes, peas, beans, &c,
render il extremely difficult If at all possible, for
them to obtain these articles. What, then, have
they to support life? Bread and water! Bread
is the only thing with their limited means they
could provide for themselves; and at present prces
it is not very easy for the Industrious poor TO
provide this. They certainly cannot afford to buy
-four at $50 per barrel. Fortunately, our soil is
peculiarly adapted to corn, which staff Of life,
is not excelled in the world. Aud we believe
there is enough Of this invaluable grain in the
country to from suffering. The only dih-
Guilty about it is in distributing it among the peo-
ple Spectators must be prevented from sending
il out Of reach Of our needy people Ayaricious
borders of grain aud other provisions, for bigh
prices, must open their eyes 10 the danger Of their
selfish and covetous practices. II Is impossible
for the poor to endure the Lardships and privA-
tions these two classes have imposed upon them.
They cannot, they will not; and it il tfe part Of
the danger which threatens tire good order and
well being of the country. Spectators must stop
their operations or they will ruin themselves and
every one else. Those who have surplus provis-
ions must make up their minds to put themselves
on short allowance for the sake oil the common
good, and sell their surf ius not to those who can
pay the hie hest prices, but TO thTe whose wants
are most pressing. The darkest days Of our strug-
gle are coming on. The times which try mems
souls are at hand, ana cursed bo he who is not
willing not only to stake his property, but his life
for the sake of our cause,
Want TO GET BACK.-A gentleman, who has
recently visited the Southern portion Of the
dominions of Lincoln states that vine out Of every
teu OF the runaway and captnrcd negroes would
gladly return if they could TO their masters. 2
There is nothing improbable in this statement.
But For the Yankee bayoDots il the way the
runawsys would come back in droves. The negros
idea of freedom is exemption from work; bot that
is not the freedom he receives at the hands Of tho
Yankees, or indeed has right 20 expect apywhers.
Labor is the universal law, and If Cuffee expects
TO escape from that, he must go somewhere out OF
this world. The very last place Of all for him to
90 is New England or OLD England. In both OF
those Abolition regions every man 10 busy from
his cradle to his grave All the elemeuts OF
nature are harnessed to their ohariots, and the
negro, when be goes that way viii be put IN the
traces as quickly as an OK or m ass.-ff'ch. Ia