The Hillsborough recorder., 1863-01-07


masses TO fanaticism and crime and the Government
to become robbers Of the haves and false friends 10
the" have nots.' We also request that prayer he
made for the bad or ignorant men who have taught
otherwise. Yours,
From the Lynchburg Republican.
High Prices and Legislative Prohibitions.
We observe that the South Carolina Lee
gislature is attempting very absurd and a
very impossible thing. 1t is attempting to
regulate the prices of marketable commo-
dities by legislative enactmen;s, Since
the war commenced we have observed very
closely the effect of all such legislation,
both on the part of the States and the on
federate authorities, and we have yet to
see a single instance in which the evil
which il was sought to.cure was not great
ly intensified. Some time last year the Gn-
vernon OF Georgia authorized the seizure of
all the salt in the hands Of SPECTATORS, and
prohibited its transportation from the State
under heavy penalties. We endorsed the
act, because we thought. without reflection,
that it would be OF service TO the people,
but it was just the reverse; the trade in
salt was broken up in Georgia, the article
became higher and scarcer, and the people
were the sufferers. The Provost Marshal
OF Richmond attempted TO fix the price Of
such articles as butter. eggs. poultry, beef,
&C., in that market, and the consequence
was that the hucksters refused to supply
the market at these prices. the people be-
came the sufferers. and the Provost Marshal
had to anna his arbitrary ordnance. For
a long time the Confederate authorities at
tempted TO 6r the price Of wheat. -four, su-
gar, provender. &C., purchased Tor the use
of the government.
The people would not sell at those prices,
speculation ceased. and the government had
10 resort To iulpressmenf for supplies. They
soon found that this was not only a system
ofpublic pIunder on the part Of The govern
ment, but that it failed to furnish them the
necessary supplies. The result was that
the absurdity Of making and controlling
prices was abandoned BY the government
authorities. and now they come INTO mar.
ket with the people upon terms ni fair cum
petition. We might aliude to numerous
other instances IN which State, corporation
and Confederate authorities, have attempt
ed 10 regulate and control the prIses OF ar
ticles Of consumption, but the seme inev-
the evil been vastly increased by the rene.
dy. And such IL The very nature Of things
viii infallibly be the result OF such arbitra-
ry and foolish Legislation.
The reason OF this i obvious upnn mo-
ment's reflection. Nine -tenths Of The peo.
pie have mistaken the cause Of high prices.
They seem TO think it Is some arbitrary
and tyranuical tariff Of charges fixed by
merciless set OF spectators and exiortion-
ers. Ifit were not for the spectators, sa,
they, prices of everything would rule law.
There never was a greater mistake upon
earth. They put the cart befnre the horse. |
Thsy might Just as we'll denounce the RI |
dicuieus proposition that yuItures drew the
carrion, for il is a denonsiraole fact thar
we're it not for the high prices there would
be no speculation Make sugar zen Of
twenty cents pound. and there will not be
another barrel brought 10 Virginia during
the war, and never another specuIaiOr en-
gagei in the trade. Fix the price II salt /
al five dollars per sack, and not another
speculation will 20 after il, and the people
will have TO do without IL. Cut down The /
price of calico 10 tea or twenty cent, per
yard, and not another yard will run The
blockade. Fix the price of shoes at three
or hse dollars, and not another pair will be
made. Fix the price Of wood At five d..
lars per cord, and nobody will sell. Re-
duce butter 10 twenty five cents per pound,
and We will have to eat grsaselrss bread
for five years to come. In short. put down
high prices, and you will pull down .pecu.
latbrs; and put down spectators, and you
will impoverish the markets and starye and
freeze the people.
These truths are 50 self.evident, that il
seems astonishing they should fail to secure
the sanction of the least obseryan, and
amongst rs. NO man speca-
lates FOR the mere pleasure Of the thing.
lie specuates 70 make money, and lie will
speculate on those things Of which he can
make the most money. This il human ma.