Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-27
unARDING PROVISIONS.

IloAlhlyt.N'
1t is not I" be imagined that !h'Se VIII
oppcscd Il Legislative maf'"iH" "re !"
soror IF starvation vr cxaTbitant prices
S,a .,n,ot cat marimnDt, neither will marl>
MIN clothc the naked, nor feed the hungry
Reef. bread, bacon arc the things Tor that
and n low scale Of enforced prices, ut winch
,otodv would sell at all, would not be near 81
nourishins as the actual winds. present IN TIT
markets. visible to the naked eye, and pur
chascahic IA we best may and'can.
Now ono main reason Of the cxUrbitant
prices is said to be boarding provisions with a
vicT to make those prices more exorhirant'-
We have seen and heard statements to the Ell
feet that individuals in this city have cellars
or rarrets crammed with bacon, sugar, i!oui
and other things of prime necessity and daily
consumption. We Go not know the fact; p"'
If il be true, it is extremely interesting TO al
The ~narties concerned. The general pub.i' Is
interested in the fact, becausetke withholding
of those stores from the market produces pre-
sent scarcity and 'swclls prices. And thu
| boarders themselves have some interest in th'
matter, inasmuch as they ore every day com
,~,;t.;ng y misdemeanor at CONNER law, sub
%;ecting them to fine and imprisonment. LIE
some of those who have been active in bully
ing the Legislature into a mor'm""', dlspia!
their zeal and patriotism rather in finding on
who they arc that have sccreted provisions IL
large quantities, and giving the Information
I. the Attorney General or the Grand jury
Nothing would be more cheering and s"oth
ing than to see a few Of these 4rcny,hearte'
wrotches, if any there be, sentenced TO tit
punishment due to their crimes.
There is no need Of new legislation for this
the law of Virginia already defines the offence
and prescrihcs the punishment. Under thu
head Ct s'Forostalling, Engrossing and Regra'
ting" Mayo's Guide lays down The law thus
"The Common Law, so admirably adapter
10 the protection of the rights Of individuals
and the interest of society generally. hold;
cvcrv nractice or device whatever. whether b!
| act. conspiracy, word orncws, 70 enhance ili'
oricc of v~ictuals and other ucccssaries OF life
70 he a m~isdemeauor and by it, !nrcsta!iine
ancicntly comprchcndcd I'll offences of thi:
description, including those of ensrosSing anC
rccroting. There is no doubt thatlf ore buy
| mn the whole, or any considerable part of tn
| produce from whence the supply OF a marke
i derived. with intent to resell the same at AZ
unreasonable profit, and thus deprive the poo
nle Of their ordinary subsistence, or else com
! mel them to purchase it at an cxorhitant price
| whether such practices fall within the dctini
| ton of forcstalling or regratine, he IL guilty.
of q mislemcanor punishable at Common
Law"
Practically. this law has been. i'll quic
| times. almost a dead letter. When prices ar,
| in their regular state, and currency at par
there is not the same temptation to the en-
! crossing of provisions; nor could such disas
| trous effects follow from it. But now, wllel
| prices are so disturbed, and the popular min'
| prone to panic, and the currency OF uncertain
| value, the temptation to commit this crime
| and the mischief resulting from II. both he
| come serious. -.
fit he true that there arc hoardcrs, then thi
| circumstance does both create scarcity IN!
|! make prices exorbitaut. The thing must b
| done with this intent; for nobody woul,
hoard but with expectation orgairing profit Oh
! the increase of price, caused by such yer.
| boarding itself. IF any man boards the ne
| ccssaries Of life at all, then, he fills up all tll'
| requirements which constitute the crime: hi
| offence is complete, and he is ripe lorthe jury
| the Judge and the goal.
| When boards are brought to light, the,
| would, of course, lie sold At morh"t prize
and this very bringing them into make
| would at once lower prices. It our friends
| the mechanics, should succeed III making cx
| amplcs of Il few Of these wretchcs, they won!'
| be doing Il real service to society, ana to III
! Confederary.