Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-02

for their support, arc but modes of appropriate
ing the resources Of the country and should neither
excite murmurs nor discomfort. The man who,
by tricks, evasions or subterfuges seeks 70
avoid the taxes intended TO be collected from him, Is IN
heart both knave and traitor. Ii Ia the DUTY OF tne
aw-maker to provide the ampest punishment for srcn
malefactions and Of every good citizen to bring them
to justice aud to hold them up TO public scorn and coz
tempt. And what should DO thought OF those VINO
grumbe about the prices paid for articles impressed 70
feed and clothe the armythat army which stands be-
tween them and ruin-that army, composed "a IL u OF
their own sons and OF their own kth and kin, and
which may be dsbandsd for want Of the necessary sup
plies, while they are higgng with tho Government
agents for higher prices thsn those established BY the
COMMISSIONER chosen equally by the State and Con-
federate authorities andaotualy sppsAsg 10 the Courts
Of Justice for protection against the alleged wrong
and Injury Of which they complaint They are
not content with prices fixed BY citissn farmers,
chosen for each State, Of sound judgment and lofty
patriotism they must have jury of the vcnage, conn
posed Of men, like themselves all anxious-I will not
cay wilDg-but anxious TO wiring from their bleeding
and suffering country the last dollar which can be OBJ
tanned l do not hesitate to say that such mode OF
assessment would, within six months, drive our armies
from the field and utterly annhilse the public Credit
unless We Established most enormous system of taxa
tion or the Confederate Government ahou.d proclaim
martial law The country must not be ruined by tho
rapecity Of the people, and the Government will not
hesitate, sure, to exercise all their constitutional
powers, when necessary for our safety. am pleased
TO say that the people of Virginia have, with some e1-
ceptions cheerfuly accepted she maximum, while NOT
one has been hardy enough to brave public opinion By
| demanding any other rule of assessment
While, however, tho people Of the State have acqui-
esccd in the prices fixed By the public commisaries,
others have been unwilling to accops them, In come.
OF higher prices being offered By spectators and
others Tas very naturally produces dscsntent on tho
part Of the more liberal and patriotic portion Of the peo
pe while others resort TO boarding. hsfdng and other
dsreputsbe shifts sad evssons to avoid their conrbu.
tons to the support Of gallant army. This state Of
things ia very demoraizrg, and may, think, be easily
corrected by the establishment Of State maximum,
which, taking the Confederate maximum q basis,
shall be extended TO all the productions OF human In.
dustry. -1a. ~
know that this proposition has always met with the
most determined opposition and Jet IL has always pre-.
vailed in times Of public sroubls. knew it ia said
France tTisd and France gave up the policy. And yet
abe frs. tried it upon corn ,hsn enlarged IT, but never
made i. general and adhered to IL through oil Ahe dark
hours OF her revolution when she rent BY intestine
discussions and engaged in With the whole OF ku.
rope and never abandoned it until she had resumed
specie currency, composed her intestine feud5, and
brought continental Europe 10 hsr feet What occasion
had France to adhere this policy when she fed her
armies from the of other naions and replenshsd
her treasury by contributions upon themi
But il is the duty Of wisdom 10 comprehend the force
Of circumstances What il our stuationt We are cut
off from the world by enemies, insulated as com
petey as If Ee on island in midocesn aud no
productions from abroad like those raised BY us, are
allowed to come In competition with ous own. Can il
be contended with any proprsy, that thers can be- IN
such state Of things market price for commodities
in the sen,e Of the economists! Again. the supply of
our own productions is made suste for liberal col sump-
ton Bread, meat shces, cotton and vsolsn c'othe,
are painful illustrations Of this stern fact and ask,
where is the competition 70 DO found which Is 10 put
these articles within easy reach OF the naked and the
hungry II is sometimes said that it ID the currency
which causes this great sxsgseraeon Of pficee. To
some extent this may be But where the supply OF
actual necessasies ia deficient and the price of them Is
fixed by the conscience Of The seller a!ons, the currency
is OF but little significance the hungry must be fed, and
the seller knows and tic Price must be paid, IN what
ever currency required.
Nor is the maximum unknown In daily life. 1t was
the iaw that the person who took out license a
ayesn keeper sboud keep proper accommodations for
the traveller and then should not charge him for meals
at pleasure bat only the rates fixed by the county cours
So in the cases of bridges and ferries where the pces
are fixed by law But there is o very remarkable case
OF maximum which seems to have escaped general sb
serYaton-I interest upon money. No lender shall
take more than six dollars for the loan OF one hundred
dollars for one year. Should tho lender bargain ss more
the contract ia vote. he takes more be orets double
the sum loaned. Here Is maximum Of sFet antiquity,
on money tho token or representative OF all property
and yet Il is not proper to set maximum on the pro-
perty so represented!
That the law of maximum will be difficult to en- force
readily admit So il the whole criminal code. So Ia t5e
Law which iobds ths loan of money at more than legal
interest So s that bright hopdul and glorious plan Of
salvation for which Saviour died. Blu. shall we, for
such reasons abandon efforts to feform benefit and
save mankindf 80
Bu. the maximum would have other important adj
vautagee. Il would put an end to discomfort among
the people, it would extngush the practice of hssrdng
and hiding. Without any hcpo Of increasing prices,
producers would cheerfully furnish 10 consumers their
surplus. Uniformity Of price md the application OF
| the maximum to all things would, am persuaded, in
spre general satisfaction and relieve Inc pecesssry duty
OF collecting supplies for the army, Of that irrtaton
which has heretofore, IN many cases, made tho duty
most unpleasant and restore those kind and agreeable
relations which should always exist between the people
and their Government Surely, when such must be the
happy consequence OF THIS measure the States VIII
speedily adopt it.
Az an auxiliary 70 the maximum, il is OF great i'm
portancc that the law offence Of forestalng,
rcgrating and engrossng should be made elective.
Forestaiag is defined 10 be the &C. Of buying proyi-
sons before they are offered in market with intent to
sell them at higher price," RegratiRg is "the pur
chase of provisions aud selling them in the mar-
ke." Engrossing is "the buying up of large quantities
Of commodity in order to raise thetprce These acts
arc all csnces at the common Law, because enhancing
tho necessaries of life, and thus committing public
wrong These practices common, and ought to be
suppressed. II the Legislature would denouncs such
acts as contrary to public policy, and by summary
remedy punish all persons guilty Of them, it would
ieye Che people from the cruel extoron 70 which they
are now compelled 10 submit, and many poor family
fror- suffering and went.
Of kindred character is the PRACTICE Of withholding
from sale other articles than provisions With view Of
obtaining higher prices at future day. The law should
compel all persons in possession of articles Of whatever
description not needed for their to o.r them for
SALE And to preventirs and evasons such persons
should be required TO make out inventories d al such
articles, whether they their own property the
property Of Others with toe cost price thereof and to
deliver the same to Board Of Commissioners 10 be
provided by law who ehcud put their stamp upon each
article and restrict the to profit not exceeding
TWENTY-FIVE per cent thereon. cannot here give all
tho details necessary perfect this scheme but il is
entirely practicable and would greatly contribute to the
rel IF of the country.