Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-06
THE ANTI-EXTORTION BILL-TlIE
Law OF MAXIMUM. ;

is, nevertheless, most dangerous expert
| mont, ii the term experiment can be applied
{" Il measure repeatedly tried, and which has
always fai!c,l in It's object. The anti -Extor-
ton Bill Is simply the old law Of Aarimum
revived, under u move felctnus title we re-
print to-day from NJ. Thiers' History of the
French Revolution the history of the famous
law ot Maximum, which, under the Reign Of
Terror in France, was adopted by the Con-
ven;ion in 1893. TO its teachings We earnestly
recommend the attention of the Legislature; !;
1t is the dear bought experience Of nation
us earnest and determined in the maintenance
| of their liberties as the people of Virginia
are; it is the history of measure for relief
from the same SUFFERING which now tries the
torlitudc of Our people: it was tried fully, mo-
diEed aud improved as experience and trial
I'developdd its failings, and was finally aban-
doucd AMI abolished, because after more than
eighteen months Of trial, it demonstrated its
utte- a'f ruinous failure.
The French law 0: Iharimum was adorted
May 4th, 1898, and abolished Oath December
1874. 1t witnessed the overthrow Of the
GiEcnains; the removal of Marie Antionette
to the Concierscrie; the execution of the
Duke OF Orleans; the execution Of Danton.
Camille Desmouslns, &c. ; the execution Of
Madame Elizabeth sister of Louis NEI;. the
downfall of Robespierro; the assassination o.
Marst. 1t created the greatest dearth of pro-
visions, and reduced the inhabitants of Paris
70 two ounces Of bread per day. The crea.
ture oC the Reign Of Terror, it expired with it.
"ln some eases" SAYS Mr.. Mills, cas- for ex-
ample the famous -Quzimuia Of the Retolu-
tionarv Government cf 1903, tho compulsory
regulation was the attempt Of the ruling
powers to counteract the necessary consequent
ces Of their own acts; to scatter an indefinite
amount Of the circulating medium with one
hand, and keep down prices with the other
thing narjiestly impossible under any regime
excep. one Of unmitigatcd terror"
So much as to the example to which we in.
vitc the attention &C the Legislature. We are
al most anxious for relief from our presen;
difficulties, ali striving and struggling to the
same end with tn" bes. Of motives and the
most honest OF purposes. But let not zeal out
..r:p judgment, and, disrcgarding the expc
r:encc Of the past, involve the State in evils
greater than those from which it seeks relief
without mitigating them.
The friends of The ant.extortion bill appear
10 the working of the Impressmcnt Law as an
argument in favor OF, their measure The Im-
pressment Law works we'll, not because found
ed on sound principles of commerce aud trade,
but because patriotism induces the people to
submit their substance to the call of the Gov
ernment at its own price; it is living aud
glorious example Of the spirit and purpose
Of our people, and not q successful application
Of 1vernmcut interference in tradal affairs -
Il will not do to trcspass further upon the pa
triotism which has rendered the impressment
law q success; you may overleap the ohec'
and break down the lmpressment Law. No
man is expected to suffer the same privations
fnr his feliow-citizens that he willingly incurs
for his country. The people will not say to
the Government, here is cur substance, take
it for the army" if that selfsacritce is to be
iaade the example for seizing what remains
not for the army, but for those out of the
army. We know and fully appreciate the
necessities Of the families Of our soldiers, and
fer their sakes we oppose this Jaw Of maSi-
mum. We would not have them reduced "to
tuo o,ntces Of Jread per day.'
The historian tells Us that there was no
scarcity of provisions in France, but only an
unequal distribution the same evil operates
here. In the midst of the most bountful har
vests ever rouchsafcd by kind Providence to our
peo;.lei is proposed to adopt measure which,
upon its previous trial, under similar circum.
stances, paralized trade, subverted manufac-
lures and destroyed commerce. This anti
extortion bill is not to remedy a scarcity of
provisions, for there is no scarcity; it is not
q bill to distribute provisions from 4 plethoric
10 n scarce locality, fer mono of its sections ap-
ply 10 that branch of the remedy. What does
1t propose to do?. It proposes to punish q
man who may attempt to equalize provisions
by buying them where they are plentiful to
sell where they are scarce. The motive of
the man is to make money, but his ac-
ton tends to the relief of the commu-
nitv. Would it not be wiser to encourage
that man than to punish him?-But we
shall be told that spectators and cztor
TONERS are buying up provisions for higher
prices, thus creating 4 scarcity where pro-
visions are abundant without relieving the
public wants in other loca ities; and this bill
is designed to prevent and punish such con-
duct This same iqnis tataus was pursued by
the Terrorists of Paris, pursued even unto
death: nut without accomplishing the object
This bill Furnishes by fine and imprisonment.
Even the death penalty, when vigorously i'm
posed by the Terrorists Of Paris, did not cor
rect the evil; will Il fine and imprisonment do
more.
The immense issue of assignats produced
the law of maximum in France; the redund-
an, currency here has likewise produced the
evils now sought to lie remedied by this anti
extortion bill. The Terror;sts of Paris treated
the symptom, not the disease, and in doisg 80
only aggravated the suffering of the patient.
Shall we commit the same folly in Virginia?
It is an easy matter to find plausible OBJ
,iections to a law, but not so easy to propose
remedy to meet the evil at which the law was
directed. We fully understand the difficulty
that bescts the Legislature. A great and ur-
gent evil is upon the community; that evil
is not q scarcity of provisions; God has pro-
vided for us; but the evil is of mans creation,
redundant currency. God provided gold