Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-01-08


Can it be contended, with any praprieiy
that there can be, in such state Of things,
market price for commodities il. ,he sense
OF the economists Again the supply Of
our own productions is Inadequate f3r lib
I eral consumption Bysa, saeat shoea
cotton and woelen cloths, ate painful illus
tratlons of this stern fact: and ask, where
is the competition to be found which is to
put these articles within easy reach Of the
naked and the hungry? Il is sonnet .nes
said that 1t ia tie currency which causes
this great exagg era,ion Of prices. 20 some
extent, this may be so But, where the
supply Of actual necessaries is deficient and
the price Of them is fixed BY the conscience
g the seller atone, the currency is Of but
little significance; the hungry must be fed !,
and the seller knows it; and the price must
De paid in whatever currency required
Nor IS the magienan9 unknown 10 daily
life Il vas TIE law thata person who took
outs Incense ~ 9 tavern keeper, should
Keep proper gacconnsodatious for the tray-
eller, and then shoald not ebarge him for
meals al pleasure. bat only the rates 6xed
~ ~ SoI1GHJ Sossl t6s NO III LLG CdSES az
bridges and ferries, whore the prices are fix
led by law BUTT is very remalks-
bic case of maximum which seems to have
escaped general observation II mean IN
terest upon money. No lender shall take
more than six dollars for the loan Of one
hundred dollars fer one year. Should the
lender bargain for more, the contract is void
III no tot,oo hot orf ;toJ ~
loaned. Here is a maximum of great an
Equity. on money, the token 0; representa-
tive Of all property ,and yet it is not proper
to set q maximum on the property SO rep
resented
That the law Of maximum will be difficult
to enforce, | readily admit. So is the whole
criminal code So is the law which forbids
the loan Of money at more than legal inter
est. So is that bright. hopeful aud glorious
nlan Of salvation for which a Sayionr died
But shall we, for such reasons, abandon
our efforts 70 reform. benefit and save man
kind
Bat the maximum would have other i'm
portant advantages. ItwouId put an end
70 discontent among the people it would
exiting dish. the psao,lce 4 hoarsing and
hidihg Without any, nope Of increasing
prices, producers would cbeerfuiy furnish
to consumers their surplus. Uniformity
Of price, and the applications Of the maxi
mann to all things, would, | am persuaded,
INSPIRE general satisfaction, End relieve she
necessary. duty of collecting Supplies for the
army Of that irritation, which, has, bereto-
fore, il laasy cases, made TIC daty lnost
unp!easarls, and restore .bo>e Kind and
agreeable relations which shopld always
exist betsefn the people aud their Govern
trent, Surely, when such must be the, hap
Ply consequence Of this measure. the States
Will speedily adopt it
AS an auxiliary to the maximum. It is
Of great Importance that the common law
Offences Of torestallng, regraFng ard en-
crossing should be Gsade effective fure
stallipg is defined Ia be eba eos Of buying
provisiona before hey are s,{Fased II market,
with ,il5set 70 sell ba,s a. Glgber prices
Regarding is "tbe purchasing oipros,sious
and selling them III The ssait Market
Engrossirg is The laying w q large
quantities Of a commoaity IA order TO raise
the price" These acts are all offences at
the common law, because enhancing the
necessaries Of lie and thus committing a
public wroog. These practices are CON
mon and ought 20 be suppressed IF the
Legislature would denounce such acts as
contrary to public policy, and by summa.
~ remedy, punish all persons guilty of
them, it sould relieve the people from the
cruel extortioa to which they are nov COM
pe1lad 70 sUhs,..s. ~. sc i.laug Yo8r tas.3 !.
tgqse -afsaring al3 aaat.
VI a alnarea character IS the practice IF
Withholding from saie other articles shan
provisions, with a view Of Obtaining high
er prices a. a future day. The law sbouia
compel all persons il possession: q articles
use, to offer them for safe And to ppe-
veus frauds and eyaslons, such persons
should be required to make our inveusorie.
of all such articles, whether they are their
own property or the property Of Others
with the cost price thereof. anil IS deliver
the same to Board of Commissioners, to-
be pr, yidad BY law, who should pct their
stamp upon each article, aud restrio; the
owners to profit net exceeding twenty five
per cent. thereon. cannot here give all
the details necessary to perfect this scheme,
but it is entirely practicable, and would
greatly contribute to the rellef Of the coun
Try
The auction syste,a as COW condtctod,
is prejGeicia1 10 good morals aud 10 the
country | regard tas having done more
20 the prejudice Of eur currency han any
other known ageacy, ani under our present
circumstances, - an unmitigated evil =
Indeed, | regard It as a gigantic system of
gambling under Authority Of law | hope
i will be specify suppressed.
At the special sessIaa Of the Generat AS
scMbiy law vas passed to suppress oistil
lation l. was eminentlya wise and prop
er measure 10 effect tie Officers cdnte11-
plated BY the Get, however b; 9er;es should
be suppressed aud no sale Of mali OF al
coholic liquors should be permitted .ezeapf,
perhaps, by apothesaries, who. upder prop
er regulations, might be allowed 70 ID SO
for strictly medicinal purposes
There are many persons an1oag us. for
eiguels BY firth, cousuulissg food, growing
rich by speculation and extcr,icn upon US,
and yes denying heir obligation 10 untc ia
tie defence Of the country Although
cannos see how such pretensions can be
maintained ,sot, if valid under tbs law.now
existing. The !aw Should be changed. aud