Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-03-11
For the Advertiser.
uThe hour of Supreme trial."

UThe hour Of Supreme trial."
Benm.cgn'rt.
Mr.. Enron Having understood that brend
and ment were very scarce in this village aud its
%envirous, we were induced to make enquiry into
the matter, and find in accordance with tho evil
lence before us, that the report is stdrc'"yiy true.
We had previously read in the Adrcrtiser Of Feb
rua.y 25, in your COMMUNICATION "To our Sol
diers""s thnt just about fhx lille tOen 81 o1's,
there is an aiatm Of scarcity il the supply 9t pro-
ris;oa-," but We were assured from other portions
0f the satne article "that it ought to be true, and
we deliere ~ true, that an abundance Of bread and
meat crisis Ia ersry nciyhborhood."
Having We presume means of suai-
GENTLY satisfactory to induce the confident express
sion of this opinion on your part, we assume tue
point as admitted, and propose to inquire briefly,
ehere the provisions are, when there is scarcity in
the country. We are certified Of the fuct, that
there is scarcely a pound Of -four 10 be ob'nined
in this village, for love or money, and provisions
generally are very scarce. We know it 70 be IL
fact, that a largc proportion Of the Wheat made
IN tQE l'ltIIlCk, uls sSht W 80"
OF has been purchased and was, or Is slid held
back for higher prices, aud the sams may be said
of bread and meat generally. We believe it to
be a fact that many persons have flour on band,
but refuse to sell it, until the price shall be higher
sill than it now is, exortitant as it is.
The caas then stands simply thus: There is
either enough Of provisiuas in this District to
supply the wants Of tue needy, or there is nj. II
.berr be enough, aud your editorial communica-
ton iustifcs the belief that there is, then the
alarm about this little town Of ours" indicates u
scarcity which docs not arise from the absence of
provisions in the District, but from the lriiahold-
iny of them from those who stand in need. That
there is IL scarcity arising from some cause, no
one can doubt, for it is almost impossible 10 pur-
chase provisions. There ure none offered for salc,
AMI ofcra to purchase, are refused except ut iabu.
l,us prices. You are willing to lay Il wager that
there is mn abundance in the District, but that
the " TURNER'S don't care to part with their supplies
except where plain duty to their fellow citizens
ia need tells them that they ought to do So" Be.
ing under impression that ma hungry person IL
the best Judge of his needy condition aud that
that condition. is made manifest by an nppliration
to purchase provisions, the refusal to sell, would
seem To Indicate that the farmers are not the prop
or Judges OF the needy conditions of the people, or
if they are, TINT they fail to discharge their plain
dufy in this regard. Moreover people seldom de-
sire to purchase provisions (spcOulators exrladed)
unless they are in want of them but it ou an
application, they are met with the response that
there are none fur sale, or none 10 .pore, the farm
ers. being then certified Of the needy condition Of
the people by such application, have nevertheless
according to the opinion d0duciblo from your
communication the right to refuse such applica-
ton, by Il resereed porer of judging whether peo-
pie are in need or not. This d%oct-iue, SIR. Editor,
will not satisfy the hungry, and has been produc-
tive of revolutions in tho olden times.
But if there is IN abundance Of provisions 10
the District rs you surmise and the farmers he
not the proper judges Of the needy condition Of
the people, us we have argued and the people
aro in want Of tho neccssaries of lif, us the
alarm hitherto manifested, unl other cir'umstan-
ces would esm to indicate, what is the remedy tn
be applied To this unhealthy condition Of afnirs ?
The duty of tae patri"tic citizen is always plain.
In hi. %ouuntry's travail be does not look sinsly to
himself, or to his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but re-
cards the general welfare as 3 matter Of infinite
concernment.
Honey f,,t, aud rirtae afterwards, was the Bit
ter and sentcutiouS sarcasm Of the Roman Satirist
against the spirit of his age. The sarcasm is aP-
plicable 10 a similar spirit in our own time. There
nro many lersons content to pursue the even
tenor of their way, without any seeming regard
to the condition of their fellow beings in this bit
ter contest for political existence. Do those men
ever a.k themselves the question of what use arc
they to society l. it enough that their cribs, and
thrir smokehon.es nro full and that there is no
fear of want at their homestcads? Is the battle
Of freedom to he fought by the gallant youth Of
our State, amid the blasts Of winter, merely that
sucl men shall enjoy the security, comforts and
luturie. Of existencs7 Soldiers of the conied-
sracy, will ye lot demand a heavy reckoning
hereafter from these fa;thless stewards? Vorily
4 Il 4 -. r .-,. I.