The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-16

rLASTERs AND THEIR ooNscrESors.

PLANTERS AND THEIR ooNscIENoEs.
For more than two years and q hal
our soldiers have been fighting and dy-
ing to secure safety and independence
for us, against host of more than q
million of men, better armed and equip
ped than any army in the world, and
large naval force co-Operating-and, ig-
more the fact as we may, it is to them we
owe every hour of safety and comfort
we have enjoyed. More than ti0o hundred
thousand of hem the best men IN the Con
feaeracy fill honorable graves, many Of them
leaving l0ido,0s and children, for lohom zoe
are bound to provide, if there be any bow
els in us. Our armies are still in the
field and must be fed, clothed and equip
ped, and our foes as numerous IS ever
to endanger our safety. !
Are not these facts patent to every in :
dividual in the country? Does anybody,
can any body, deny or refute them?
What means, then, that all kinds Of
provisions are kept back from our Gov
ernment? What means these high prices
for food? Why is it that our armies are
being pinched in the midst of q bount-
full harvest, for provisions? What enemy
has caused these things? Who are they,
and how have they done it?
Before the war the planters raised pro-
visions and upwards of four million bales
of cotton also. This year they enjoy a
bountiful crop of provisions only. Have
they not plenty for themselves, and large
measures to spare? Nobody complains OF
the harvest; everybody krows there is
plenty in the land Let everybody kro,0
also, that toih Uery fe10 honorable ercsp
tio1s. the crime is Nth the planters that, as
a class, then have yielded their patriotism, u
taey ever had any, to consciousness, and that,
for the sake of money, they are pursuing
| a course to destroy or demoralize our army
to starve out the other class dependent
on them for provisions, and, of course, to
subiugate themselves and us to the Yam
kee dynasty-to old Abram Hanks and
his man Seward.
The Government by law, appointed
disinterested persons to fix prices be-
tween il and the planters. They did so
and fixed four dollars per bushel fol
wheat. The Government was ready "a
pay that price; but the planters hold
back for higher prices. They look Out
for spectators, who offer five dollars
six dollars, seven dollars, and they sell
to them. But what a holy hatred they
have for speculatOrs. They denounct
them as enemies worse than the Yankees
and net there cannot be speculator IN tbt
Contederacy until planter sells to him ana
makes him so. And if the Commissioner
had fixed ten dollars for wheat or corn
and speculatoTs offered fraction more
| the soldiers might starVe and their children
die for food yei they aOould sell to the specW-
Jators, because they pay more money. 1h
newspapers report nol0 and then, fen and JG'
Jst,oeea, a very honorable ercePion anaonS
The plqnters-men who sell first to the
Government or 10 the soldiers familiei
At moderate prices and in quantities
they can buy-and these do no NOR
than what is the duty of all and every
one of them that has spark Of graft
tude in his heart.
These men see a.eir neiglJors coasc,ipte,
and marched Of % tle army at every TisI
and Inconvenience they see their Govern
ernment credit deprecated day by
day they see the enemy watching
for his opportunity TO strike the fata
blow which is TO engulf them aud all tn
rest of us in irredeemable misery AM
destruction, and i0ih barns overldden soit
The oitts Of J0untjfd Providence, they Do
n,and more and more, and more daily 70
their provisions f1
IL there be any sin more offensive {
our Divine Master than any others, it i
idolatry-every one who reads the his
tory of His chosen people knows il, an
His Apostle told us that covetousnesa
idolatry. How, then, can we hope 70
his favor in this ware aOqr made for u
ssnecia{ benefit OF planters and their pTope1t
"A class who bave most to lose by sub
iugation and most TO gain by indepen
dence, if they continue to bow down
aud serve oovetOusness, in defiance {
His most holy word.
If the planters desire independenc
let them forsake ooUei0Hsness and deUO,e the
Substances as other classes are doing, Libel
allv TO the Government TO soldiers fami
les and at moderate prices TO their neigI
bors. To do this, let them offer wh
thew have for sale first TO the Cover
ment next, in retail quantities, to so
diers' families, aud then TO their neigl
bors-not planters or speculators-i'
family use, and then whatever surpl
there be sell it 10 the spectators.
p thew will persevere in this rule, speoula
ors will be as few IS grateful aud homo
able planters are now.
Let no man suppose that a-y injusti
ia intended TO the planters. Exsmi
their course Of conduct for tho past ye
4 or more. Look at their erhorbtant prices
% evsry article Of consumption, and to H
g steady and perseUaing determination 10 q
r vaie prices hgker and higher andt char
/ haze made ioiH be paPable 10 oeysyyJo5y