The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-15

CHI A r L E S T. On .
FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, 1867
THE SPRING TRADE.

Wo havo reached tho middle Of February, and
tho pleasant days of Spring nro upon us; the time
of all the year tho most pleasant in our climate;
when tho occasional and itful rgors OF Winter are
past, md ere yet tho oppressive hcnt OF tho Suns
vertical rays gives atmosphere tropical chnr-
actcr. Tho trees in blooh the gardens full OF
fragrance and zplondent in their wealth OF floral
beauty Our parks and public promenades oncc
moro aro clnd with virgin grocn. Tho birds arc
warbling their lenten carols; in short, nnturo is
gay, and all her creatures glad, rejoicing in their
youth and beauty.
This is the season WIZ many OF our friends
from tho interior usually lit city. The Races,
in The bright and goldcC days OF yore, attracted
mnny strangers to Tho city. There q fino
lourshing Theatre also, now no moro, that cxer-
ciscd no small influence in bringing strnngcrs to
Charleston. wo arc now deprived of these OK
traneous attractions but tho pleasant climate still
is ours, 80 tho soft zophyrs of spring, and tho
hilarating breozos waited in from tho bosom OF
the broad Atlantic. Our hotels nrc e1collcntly
fitted mp, and offer to tho traveller all the means
and appliances wherewith to take his comfort and
onjoy his case.
But Charleston is great commercial contro-
tho natural outlet OF large extent OF back coun-
| try. Tho merchants Of this and adjoining States
tOr ycarb nave GOING 10 CnnTlcStOn 10 muRc lnclr
purchases, and the leading houses OF our city
wero in business relations with every part Of the
South and West. Tho sovoral years OF tho war,
and still moro, tho general disruption of tho framo
work of commerce, as OF society," consequent upon
| the disastrous close of DIR war, havo done much
to derango this current Of trade. But our mer-
chants have been up and doing Tlloy set to work
promptly; hno stores wore fitted up; lnrgo and
well assorted stocks Of goods Of every description
were brought hero, and offered at reasonable rates.
Tho railroads have NIL beon repaired, and are,
many of them Mt least, in better ordor now than
| thoy woro before the wnr. Tho rates Of freight
arc reasonable, and ovcry effort is made, We havo
reason to bolicve, by tho President and Superin-
| tendcnts of tho seyernl lines Of roads radiating
hero, to facilitate tho business in overy possible
WY, and We have Of late heard but few complaints
| on this scoro. There is now regular communica-
ton by rail with every part Of tho country; and by
| steamboat with Savannah, Florida tho eastern
and northeastern parts Of this Stnto, as well MS
with all tho leading ports OF the North. Tho ave-
nues arc all open, and there is every inducement
for buyers to como here.
We have Importers and jobbors hero in overy
line of trade. Groceries, Dry Goods, Hats Cloth
ing, Fatpy Goods, Hardware, Straw Goods and
AIillineIS', Saddlcry, Drugs, Paints, Boots md
Shoes, Books, Crockory,-n short, every thing that
| human flesh would wish to bo heir to, can bo had
horo in abundance and Mt pricos rs low those
obtaining in New York, the price of freight and
| insurance alone being added II ia manifestly
therefore to the interest OF tho country merchant
| to purchase here, whore ho ia known !; where ho
can como and select his guuds every month, or
every two months, rather thnn go on to New York
once or twice year. Tho old credit system al
| ways great curse to tho country, is abolished.
m
! as rule, are for cash. This ia found tho best,
the safest, nnd altogether tho most satisfactory
method Of ransnctng business now. Such is the
fuctuation in the prco OF gold, tho standard OF
| the circulating medium, that the credit system
must Of necessity be entirely incompatible with
it, to Say nothing of the very unsettled condition
OF political affairs and the general loss OF con-
fi1ence, engendored thereby through oyery circlo
| Of trade, through every walk OF life.
Cash, therefore, ia tho word; or what s consid-
cred equivalent, short credit with city eccept-
nnce. On these terms goods arc purchased, aud
on these they must be sold; and however inconye-
nient The system may be at the outset, in tho end
it will be found that it works best to all parties,
infinitely to tho advantage OF the jobber, scarcely
less 30 to the country merchant and 30 likewise to
the retail purchaser and final consumer. II will
bo easy, by following this plan, at all times for
zach party to lake the measure OF his standing.
The item Of ''bad" and doubtful debts" will no
longer dishgnro the "proflt and loss" sido OF the
| ledger; and the consumer will not be under tho
dagreeable necessity OF mcditating how to pay for
whit has already been consumed. Tho old indis-
criminato credit system was impoitic unfair, and
fniquitous,- ultimately must prove ruin
Gus to any country. Obligations between NOR
| chants and merchants, or merchants and bankers,
!
| actness. But the moment the merchant cnters
| into any negotiations OF this character with an
nnmcrcantilc party, nevor mind what his occupa-
ton or professon what his position in society, or
what his character for honesty or integrity lie can
not foel tho Same confidence and secnrity. This
fact is too well known to need any proof In further
| elucidation. Commercial honesty is oIton sneered
ut by tho rnorast; the poet long ago said: "Honor
sinks whore commerce long prevails" We shall
not ppdertako to say there is no truth in this.
But certain s that tho merchant only OF oil classes
| Of society, feols sacrod obligation to redcem his
plodge to tho very letter. to meet his drafts on the
very day they fall duo. How this Ia to bo dono,
whom his debtors do not mako similar exertions,
unless ho have IN eIhnustless capital, we are at
| loss to ndicnto. sr,, + rr
Let tho merchants then from Florida, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, South and North Carolina,
! como TO Charleston, rs was their wont in othor
| days. They will find good market hore for any
produce they may wish TO bring to market and
thoy will as heretofore, find largo and cIcolontly
assorted stock Of goods md merchandise OF eYory
description, at as reasonable ratos as they can OBJ
tain In New York, Philadelphia, Boston or Dalt-
moro. Lot thom como, and try us once again
Our Merchants Importers and Jobbcrs, all expect
q large trade this Spring, and wo earnestly hopo
fHapY Fall ,u,a kkoi..
| tions.