Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-29
IMPREssMENT OF THE SALT WORKS.

lMfhESSMENI VI ThE SALT WOhhS.
[CONelWdsdl
The report Of the Salt Committee being under con-
sderatioD, Mr. Robertson spoke 10 the following eec
He said that having views which had not been pre-
seated by any previous speaker, he the more de-
srous to offer them to the House. He would premise
that he was Of opinion that there never had existed
any sufficient for the States taking the salt pro-
perry cut OF the hands OF its oWners. Under their
management il had been developed with skill and
energy never surpassed. From 5000 900 bushels, its
annual product beginning OF the war; il to
near million within the first year AFTER and 10 three
millions annually, he believed at the time their fur
naces went into the hands Of the State. Though by
force of the blockade and the loss OF the Kanawha
lines il almost tie sole source Of supply left to
large part Of the South yet RAPID the increased
product under their management that the stocks we
we're found with when the war broke out were hardly
expended before il came 10 the peoples reief-not,
indeed time enough to prevent all suffering, but greatly
to mitigate it, and speedily to relieve it. If she who
makes two blades OF grass row where grew be-
fore" may Justly be held to be a public benefsctor,
surely some praise l. fairly due TOO TO those Who to
meet pFessing want OF the people, after making full
allowance for the prompngs Of ineres have by their
skill and enterprise, rapidly produced ten bushels Of
salt where but ole was produced before.
assert slso what doubtless will fall With surprise
OH the ears of many that hear me- that the price OF
the salt sold by these parties, which the public have
been imposed or to believe raised by them to the
point indeed of extortOn, Was really far lower than
before the war. The general price a; the works be-
fore the war Fifty cents per bushel in par currency
convertible into specie Toe price of these parties for
the great bulk Of what they made (a believe except
so much as, under all management, 10 used by way of
barter to obtain suppes) to the State and Confederate
govern nts and to Individuals from 10 cents at
6rst TO S. in June last when the property went out of
their hands say an average OF 81 81 in Confederate
currency. Allow an average rate OF depreciation OF
our currency Of but for during that period and the
price demanded by them was but equal to 20 cents,
est mated in the currency existed before the
war instead Of the so Heretofore demanded II have
fallen into no mistake, which i think | have no.,
il results that these men, so much abused extor
TONERS have in truth at tine when they might have
put almost any price upon their salt actually furnished
il to the State and people Of Virginia. and to the Con-
federate Government, at less than half the price iI
previously sold for and for probably not exceeding
tenth of the ruling price il Was currently sold at by
others around them. Indeed il Ia my opinion, which,
entertaining it. know reason why | should not
press H. that there never was known great mono
ply exercised with so great degree of moderation and
fairness.
How, then, it may be reasonably asked, if they
sold their salt SO low have they made Ihs millions they
are said 10 have made-and have no doubt truly
said Simply by the enormous increase Of the guam
ty produced and consequent extension Of their tales
and by sales to other States and people than those OF
Virginia at higher he believed, but still moderate
rates. The people Of Virginia. in hs opinion, owed
them thanks for their energy and public spirit and not
the repFoaches they have been loaded WITH The torrent
of prejudice under which they have fallen, aud which
is still running strongly against them he believed
wholly undtseFved. and anWarranted by anything
whatever in their characters or conduct--cer-
tainly so far as the State is concerned-st
their hands. But caumny or miscorc pGon had done
their work. aud the property of these gentlemen came
into the hands Of the Safe. The State leased ten fur
naoes as being ample TO furnish iu supplies to the peo
pIe Now fifteen are demanded, and by impressment,
and not lease. tt is not in my opinion, the least
occasion for furnaces than the State now hR nor
any necessity whatever to justify impressment. When
leased last year the Of the capacity Of these ten
furnaces was not lees thiLk than 900 900 bushels.
Now gentlemen have found out they viii not yield 600
600 bushelstoo litte they say, for the State. Look
ing to the restricted area we have to supply with
correspondngly ieSe people, aud less live stock, am
satisfied 600 600 bushels would fully supply it. But the
capacity of the furnaces is under estimated worked
Ave Of them myself for come years. Ny estimate OF
their capac " was about 400 600 bushels Some OF these
learn have been enlarged. Allowing the other FIVE,
and this enlargement 10 furnish as much the yield OF
the ten would be 500 900 bushelsal that even the
cessve estimate of the committee supposes to be
sRry.
can see no reason for aoy failing of from year
10 year Of their productive capacity. Toe aud
tear ia constant it is true but should be the Fepa
ration aud thus, properly managed, their yield should
be maintained.
The furnaces, on this estimate, would furnish there
fore as much salt Tor the people the committee
aide re- them 10 require, but would fall short OF furnish
ing enough by 200 900 bushes the committees esd
mate Of their capacity Why take, then, the "Scott
furnaces yielding, believe some 100000 bushels, to
get this 200,0O0r
Oh il has been suddenly found to be necessary not
only that the State should supply her people, but
the Confederate Government also. The Confederate
Government has made no application, and has been
during the whole war; aud is now being, supplied to
its entire satisfaction by Stuart Co. and Scott Co.
and having itself the power OF mpressment has found
no difficulty in supplying it by contract, and We tosup'
ply under such circumstances are asked 10 seize by
strong hand the property Of our citizens and expe them
from it. can conceive 70 proceeding more arbitrary
or tyrannica uncaled for towards the citizens while,
for one deprecato utterly the State OF Virginia put
ting itself in the relation Of contracto; to the OoIfsd
crate Government liable TO deplOrable collisions with
that GoVernment-tO be arraigned, 1t may be, for
breach of contract involving perhaps, serious conhic
of power never will consent that this State shall pl-ce
herself in that dangerous, as we'll as Illuminating Iea-
ton to any other government whatever.
proceed TO consider the argument Of neesssity on
which this measure is urged. 1t Is said salt is
saty for our peope-that they must have it, No one
denies it, il is airy the air they breathe -
But the question is not Is salt necessary to the people,
hut Is the measure of iDpressment Of ttsH Furnaces
nscesSerV 10 secure TO them the requisite shpPtyF
deny that for this object mpressment is necessary at
a-but if nece ssary to some extent still wholly unne-
cessary to the extent pro- osed by the Bill 1t is not
necessary impress to tain salt because It IS OF all
articles Of prime necessity at this moment the cheapest
and most abundant The marknts are full OF it-"Sat
alone" to use the words of the Committee is quoted
as 'duu and 1t" and "cheap," and the county sup
plies are often uncaled for This has resulted not from the
operations of the State and is no way dependent on
them, bat from causes have elsewhere glanced at
increased production and decreased "Reminiscences
not likely within any short time TO undergo mateliA
change. These conditions were different before the
capacity OF production had been reached but
even then the prices the State and the people de-
handed by Stuart Buchanan %. were, as have o'-
fore shown most moderate. The enormous prices
demanded by other parties resulted from efficient
supply which now not being to be feared neither are
suen prices to be apprehended in the future There is
no need whatever then, Of mpressment, nor even in
NV oninion of prolopgipg the eaee. For were the