Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-10-27
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
EXTRA SESSION.
SENATE, Oct. 18th
RESOLUTION.

Il RESOLUTION.
, Mr.. Bruce offered the following, which was
Il dopted:
-I Resolved, That the Committee on Confedera
, helatlons be- instructed to confer with the TO.
. federate authorities, and ascertain whether Il
power of impressing necessary supplies may n
be so used as to be more uniform in its operate
among the people OF this commonwealth.
| THE BILL TO REGULATE PRICES.
4 The bill TO regulate prices being the order
the day, was then taken up g the question bein
on striking ous the first section.
/ Mr.. Christian, of Augusta, said the evils whie
/ this bill sought to remedy were acknowledged
and allagreed that something must be done.
cases OF extreme sickness anxious desire is ais
felt that something must be done - but an
quail anxiety that it shall be only with the utmos
prudence and skill lest an improper remedy be
ing resorted to will itself only aggravate the evi
IL ind tue proper remedy it is indispensable tha
/ he disease be thoroughly comprehended.-
| rhls bill. asad the argument by which it is SUP
ported, assumes the disease to be high prices
and these TO be The consequences OF specuiatlo
Isnd extortion. sHe feared this was rot the Cor
rect view twas rather inyerting the case ma
IN lact, speculation and extortion were only con
sequences Of high prices, and these originated il
causes which this bill ,as now framed will not cur,
but Will really aggravate. The high prices OF th,
necessares of life are occasioned by their virtua
scarcity an increased demand, and superabun
dance ot money stimulating competition among
buyers and these facts all inevitably arise ou1
ot such war as that now affecting this country
Speculation and extortion fna their only origin
and foundation In the scarcity OF necessary com.
moditieS Scarcity of food must occur in this
trcm diminished production all white Iaborers
from eighteen to forty tive are now in The army
as Consumers there is serious loss in negroes,
ard horses and farm utensils and transportation
is utterly insufficient to distribute any surplus
where 1t may exist to where 1t is needed. Scar
ity Of clothing occurs because of blockade of the
article from tae n orth and from Europe, whence
formerly came, perhaps, ninety per cent. of these
supplies. The army and government uses, in
Virginia, vastly increase the local demand. The
proIuse issue OF pa;ser money, in addition to the
vast amount OF capital set free from variOpS pur.
suits stopped b., the war, stimulates competition
among buyers Of these scarce necessaries of life
under apprehension too of still greater scarcity
The seller is often virtually compelled to accept
more than he originally designed asking, because
OF an actual importantly and competition among
buyers and finds himself called a speculator
and extortloner to bis own surprise. Buyers,
not sellers, are new fixing the prices. There is
virtual auctioneering of the scarce necessa-
ries of life all oyer the country and prices
'ot such are coupe lied to be high as long scar
city exists. If the first seller fixes low price,
the second is beseiged an tempted to advance
on it. 1t is said to be tEe TACT that much OF the
county salt but rarely stops in first hands. The
CrensEaw cloths We're thus forced up to high pri-
ces by the buyers themselves The prices OF
neceSSarleS OF subsistence and clothing being
high and entering into the cost of production OF
all other articles, cause rise of prices necessar
ly in everything. But these high prices, if left
alone, will rather prove in the END their cure
and the relief Of the country. They stimulate
the spectators to dash through the dangers of
the blockade, and the producer to incur greater
expense and labor to procure these scarce articles
so Indispensable to the community, and thus by
relieving the scarcity, and relieving meanwhile
the wants OF the people, eventually reduce the
demand and the price. 1t is here that the abuse
of specu alton arises; he VINO gathers up and en-
crosses these scarce articles and boards them
from use until suffering is wiling 10 pay any
price, becomes iAe sngfosser and extortloner.-
This Is an excess upon speculation, fungus; it
is distinct crime, and should be punished as
such severely. Ihe pending bill does not dis
Grim nate, IL rather Furnishes him who increases
tie supply OF ueeeSsarIes, and refuses the fair
laeasure OF comp p5nsatlon that induces him to IN
cur the risA and iaDor necessary to procure it,
1t thus increases further the demand, and gives
more power to the SCREWS OF the extortioner. 1t
does not, IN short, lend in any way to increase
ihs supply, 70 reduce the demand, to increase
tlaDspor Ion, orreduce competition among buy
eIs. Ii has, though, other Objectionable feat
ures it is partial, and therefore unjust and In
juIious legislation; the schedule 1T adopts con-
ssts ost largely OF the pro tucts Of the farmer,
and thus confscates his labor, while leaving 9TH
er productions which he is compelled to buy to
rise in price to the full necessities OF the times.
Shall he alone be compelled to give his labor for
that which is naught! Is it right or even polite
to require ii Ii he ceases to produce in conse
quence OF this law unjustly robbing him of the
fair rewards Of his labor, will not the prices of
the scarce stock OF supplies on hand then neces-
sarily rise still higher, and when that is consu
med the people Of all classes must simply starve.
MoDs are threatened if this bill be not passed
but mobs may then be controlled; but If pro-
duction is stopped by this law, and greater scare
ity and starvation comes, mobs will be the least
of evils that will then too surely come. The re-
corded experience of five hundred years demon
strates that such legislation has ever proved
worse Lhan failure 1t Was tried in England in
1850, in France in 1892, in our Revolutionary
War, and last and least, by General Winder and
martial law, in our own capital city and under
our own eyes. In every instance the singular,
but sianiticau. fact is recorded, that its repeal
was invariably demanded by the very persons
who had ciamored for its enactment. Sir, such
legislation as this BILLS poweress to control the
great causes Of the evil, and is only operative
for mischief. Then cease TO attempt the lmprac-
ticable, and go diligently to accomplish what is
III our power; leave Congress to do Its appro-
pirate part, and devote your work to alleviate
the sufferings these inevitable evils OF war bring
upon the people punish boarding and extor-
ton, and frauds auction sales as crimes; bat
encourage enterprise and labor and industry; tax
the profits of the speculatos to secure tund
to help good citizens who are not in
to help themselves; raise tie SAL
aries oil your faithful servants to enable them 10
purchase necessaries of life while they do your
work; provide amply for the suffering families
Of soldiers who fighting your battles, and
protecting your property and homes; he the
really helpless poor, and, leaving all labor free
to command its fair value. let all go dllligentiy
TO work TO contribute to ne common veal until
this dire storm of war be over. The good mari
ner In a storm at sea wastes-not time and energy
in vain efforts to control the waves and subdue
the winds, but confessing his impotency there,
goes cheerily to work where good can be done,
reefs closely every Tapping sail, keeps vigiiant
watch on rope and ballast, trims well the ship,
cheers on the crew; and, keeping ali hands at
post of duty trustfuily awaits till the fury of the
heavens be overpast.
HOUSE, Oct. II.
Mr.. Walker offered resolution, which was
adopted, inquiring into the expedIency of inyes-
ting the surplus in the State Treasury in bonds
OF the Confederate States.
Mr., Stuart's resolution, looking to the increase
of the pay of soldiers, through the agency of our
representatives. III Congress, was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Anderson, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported that 1t was inexpedient to egis-
late upon the subject of furnishing blankets and
shoes tc the Virginia soldiers.
The bill to Increase the growth of wool was then
taken up, when Mr.. MeCue concluded his argu-
lient IN It's favor
The bill was then laid on the table for the pres-