Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-01-14
For the AdHeriiser.

lie that wthholdeth corn, tho people shall
earso him but blessing shall 10 upon tho head Of
him that selloth it." Prov: C. IL, 20.
AIR. Enlron: 7. uas confidently believed last
winter, that th. :.. us corn in the coming year
would be greatly t.a.i.hrd, from the greater
quantity Of land proposed TO no sown with grain.
The patriotism Of the farmers induced them 10
discard tho cultivation Of cotton for corn, ~ tho
latter WAS ia;pera,:r.lv' Ta"f-l: the necessities
Of the people, bu,a i. tho aIay and ut hume. But
the harvest is orer and the winter ha, como, and
instead of dIminution in price, there is an in
creased and increasing tendency Of it upnardS.
IN this State Of things We arc naturally inclined
10 inquire into the which produce this sin
:ular aurtuation in the price Of an article o.:
prime necessity 10 the people. For if tho plant
Ing Of moro corn. SHALL tend - an increase Of
price, contrary to tho plainest principles Of polit-
e.l economy, there must he some adverse element
Ut work, productive Of this abnormal condition Of
the laws Of trade We apprehend, the object Of tho
people in d;scountsnaneins the production Of
cotton (of which we had an abundance Oh hand
nss 20 induce the cultivation Of grain sufficient TO
sford them provisions at . cheap rate. Every
one supposed that abundance Of grain would DO
the necessary consequence Of this rhange IN AZ
,eultural policy, and that low prices would ne
cessariy follow. But to tho sstonshm ont of ma
great deal of corn soun, and raiIed, yet tie
price this winter is far above the worth Of the ar
ticle, and certainly beyond the expectations Of
those standing most in need Of it. What is tho
cause Of tho increased PRICE, It must follow
from one Of two eauses, either there is a greater
G.Aani for corn outside the District, causing e1-
portation and consequent scarcity in the District,
or the people are withholding it for still higher
prices than are now offered.
But We hear on all sidea, that there is an abun-
dance in the District, and if fhs be go, then the
high prices do not result from scarcity. And if
they result from the act Of 1ihholding, then
shall tho people curse him" who 1ithholds tho
corn. Wo will not in this place consider how fur
.So-s;yled depsecuted currency affects. the ques-
ton under consideration, because re at present
regard i, as the bugbclr Of bankers and brokers'
Tru, patriotism in this crisis will elevate and not
heard Of scarcity in sone Of the upper Districts
aud nc have likeuise heard Of tho expectation Of
corn from somo of those Districts into North Caro-
linz, to 10 made into whiskey. to avoid the penal
ty imposed BY the lute Executive Council. If this
DO true, We aro then opposed to our law-abidiug
people being limited in their bread by the e1por-
tatiou Of corn from their District to satisfy wh-
koy drinking community mho had not forethousbt
enough to save sufficient fr, IN tho still for prorS-
ious, il such expectation iucreutes tho price at
homo.
There are two offences at Common Law against
public trade, to which. in conclusion, we beg leave
70 eal tho attention of our Representatives in the
Legislature, and to which the virifyiug rceogni-
ton of . Statute might give life and importance /:
First F'orenaisiuy, (which is the buying
tracing for any merchandise or rie,ual coming in
tho way to market or GissuadiEs persons from
bringing their good. or provisions there; or fer-
suading them to enharce the price when there )"
and, ,ecoud, E"gros'ing, which is the buying up
large quantities Of corn, or other dead rictuals
with intont 10 cell them again. All these offences,
says learned commentator, tend to make the mar
ket dearer to the fair trader. The time may be
at hand, when the Legislature shall be called on
to provide Statutory protection to an abused and
suffering people in this behalf, unless tho produ.
GERS of the necessaries Of l;fe have good sense,
patriotism, and humanity sufficient to anticipate
i,s action in the premises.
JUSTICE.