The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-13
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, October 13, 1866.
NIercnntilc Espionage.

New 1OTh, uLuel JIG hahlS VI iiSi
camille agencies. The principal affair
of this kind was quite extensive in
its operations, and, under the ma
nagement of 3. Douglas & Co., had
it's agents in every city, town and vii
lage in the United States, who regu-
larly reported to the Office of the
head-centre, in New York, the stand
ing and condition Of every business
man in their respective "districts.
We suppose that, during the war,
this espionage business was suspend
ed; but we had evidence, the other
day, that it had been renewed, and
was now in operation. A gentleman,
of this city, exhibited to us a formi
dable document, sent to him by mail.
This paper had printed heads at the
top of perhaps dozen columns or
more, for the various points in the
life, character and condition of the
names that might be entered on the
first column This document had
the written names, profession, busi
ness and occupation Of almost every
man engaged in any kind of business
or employment in the city of Colum
bia. The blank columns opposite
each name we're to be filled up cor
rectly and returned We do not re-
member all the heads, but there was
capital, amount invested in business,
general character, habits, &c, &c
Now, the question is, how did the
Agency find out the names sent to
the gentleman whom we suppose the
managers desired to act as agent for
them in this city? From the COM
pleteness and general correctness of
the list, we can come to no other
conclusion than that the information
came from Columbia.
1t is proper that distant merchants,
who sell to retail buyers scattered
throughout the whole country, should
be protected from impostors and
buyers under false pretenses; but is
there no fair and legitimate way of
obtaining such information as they
may desire? Must they resort to an
insidious espionage, having its mi
MONS prying into every mans bust
ness, and, by adroitness, worm out
from the unsuspecting young mer-
chant or other business man the con-
dition of his private affairs? We re-
member at one time before the war,
the scheme was received with univer-
sal Indignation in this community;
but we believe the agent here-if
there was one-was never discovered.
The system of paid spies is repug-
nant to every honorable business
man, and must receive universal
condemnation. A paid informer, in
all countries, is held in detestation;
and Justly so, for the man who prizes
into the habits, modes of life, losses
or misfortunes of his neighbors, and
perhaps Of his personal friends, for
the purpose of injuring that business
credit which he may have, and which
is almost necessary in carrying on
commercial Or manufacturing enter
prises, and does this secretly, un-
known to his victims, is engaged in
an unworthy business, and ought not
to be recognized in society. We do
not speak now Of proper information,
fairly, openly and honestly sought
and given, but of that unscrupulous
mode of obtaining, by hook or by
crook, the pecuniary condition Of
business men, and furnishing it, for
pay, to employers whom they never
saw, and who, in turn, retail the
same information to the business men
of New York: Philadelphia and other
cities, for largely increased pay.
This system is one that should be
branded with ipfamy. If the com
mercial interests of the North, or
elsewhere, require protection from
dishonesty and false pretenses, and
some system is needed to Secllre that