The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-17
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as to it, quality. This conceded. we are
clearly Of the opinion that the sooner that
we are rid OF these laws the better ior al
Interested in the prosperity OF TINS l1npoi-
tant branch of u trade. u
."Any branch Of business depending LOT
existence upon Legislative interference mus
necessarily he hulnpcred and Impeded Ill us
deycloDmcnt. Experience teaches US that
if is very difficult to have laws amended or
rcncaled 10 SUIT the cXigencics OF the occa-
sion whereas were the matter lett 10 the
ronoocuent Of those directly interested Ill
il. regulations (f II all rcquired) would be
readily adopted 10 sntt the emergency.
SIN Il reseaI, hes 1oL light on the SUD-
iect OF Inspections, We discovered lnAt ~
early az 1855 the state Agricultural eocie!s
npnointed a committee TO investigate II.
That committee consisted OF three lntelll-
gent and experienced gentlemen, Two oil
them known to many Of you rs experienced
merchants OF our city and yerscd III the TO-
hacco trade-Mcssrs. Samuel Mordecai ana
| Charles L. Williams-the third being Ar.
Edmund Rutlin, who was so intimately anu
closely connected with everything tena-
ing to benefit his state, and particularly
so the agricultural interest, the 1oun-
tain head Of all. These gentlemen, we
think, were pretty well agreed as to The
usclessncss of all inspections. We observe,
however, that the two first, in alludlng TO
the laws referring to the inspection OF To-
bacco, appear TO alludc III commemorative
terms to bat one feature in the laws govern
ing the tobacco-viZ., that of duty, as II
was then termed which was, that Tor inc
| consideration OF thirty cents The hogsncau
paid to The State the tobacco, Whilst III
Warehouse bounds, was insured against loss
or damage by fire.
"sincc then this only-to-thcm commend
| able feature has been abolished, II well IL
has. a. the experience Of MANY OF you that
are present can testify.
"Considcring the intelligence, expert
cncc, and sagacity Of these gentlemen, we
cannot but express surprise that they couid
even find anything to commend IN TINS
feature. The business OF underwriting,
like every other branch, can be better
managed by individuals than by STATES.
IN this many Of lis have had some prac-
tiraI experience, to our cost. The cases
in which the state, as an underwater, has
| been called upon to make good the losses
by fire are few, and we believe these were
of comparatively recent origin; the last
one of w%hich-the most lmportant-re-
| mains unsettled, Notwithstanding the large
contingent fund to the credit OF tho state
arising from this Source. The delay
in this case should, we think, be conclusive
evidence Of the i~nutility Of the States med
ding with any matters connected with
trade or commerce. Had no such law eX-
listed, the sufferers in" the case lnstanced
would have protected themselves by in
surfing in offices controlled by individuals
that are operating under the conStralnlng
influences of competition and sound public
sentiment. Justice in that case would have
been long since fulfilled. and the sufferers
reimbursed their losses. some OF whom are
$3.50, ,n,;Ia-+c nf ON. State and pIDn0t h1tf
view such delays as prejudicial TO our char
actcr as 4 community.
..And now that this only 'commendable
feature in the laws no longer exists, we
can the better dispense with those that re-
main. ~ they may be (without rejecting
upon any oncl considered the most worth
less portion.
1--WE would. by way Of illustration, beg
leave to ask of any of YOU gentlemen en-
gagged in the business Of manufacturing
tobacco. or in that Of Stemming, how you
would relish the idea Of Legislative inter-
ference in your business. Suppose, for
instance, through the intervention OF some
hungry aSpirants for office, q law was
passed requiring that your orerseers or
employees should be the appointees OF the
Governor, or of some court. How long,
| we ask. would YOU be able. Gndcr such Il
| state Of things. to keep your heads above
water; and what guarantee would you
have that your business would thrive ana
prosper! such Il state affairs would,
we conceive. be parallel to that ut present
| bearing upon the proprictor> Of the ware
house property that is used for the storage
| of tobtcco. They are, by the intervention
of the law. denied the power and the right
10 elect their " deputies; on the con-
trarv. individuals totally unfit or incompe-
| tent for the duties may he thrust upon
them to the dctrincnt Of both proprietor
and property. inilicting All injury that it
would lie the work of time to remove.
"On the contrary. were the existing laws
abolished those Of the warehouse proprie-
tors proposing to conduct this business
would be men Of character and response
bility. and they would he sure to select
none Others - their assistants or deputies,
in order TO insure patronage and prolt TO
themselves.
THE spirit of competition and emula-
ton that this state of the case would eGgcn-
der would be Of itself Il guarantee that the
business would be faithfully and properly
misunderstanding to keep them alive TO
their duty, ut the same time lnSuring to
their patrons reasonable Il equitable
charges.
"Should it be discovered that regulations
would be required 20 systematiSe the bu-
sincSs, the trade will always have it in its
power to adopt and enforce such, and to
repeal or amend them, rs the eNigencics of
the case may require.
"With the foregoing views and conclu-
sions we most respectfully submit, i'll con-
c%lu>ion, the earnest appeal to your body to
seek, through the intervention Of our Co.
vernon, the total %abrogation Of all laws re-
lating to the inspection Of tobacco. This
acquired, the association can readily frame
and adopt all necdtul regulations requisite
to have the business impartially and faith
fully executed. and we propose the follow
inc resolution for your adoption:
=. ReSolred, That the association Of the
tobacco trade Of the city Of Richmond Will
use I'll fair and honorable measures to OBJ
tain tn, repeal Of all laws relating TO the
inspection Of tobacco in the State. and TO
substitute therefor 4 plan which will bet
ter advance the interests Of all engaged in
the culture, sale, and manufacture Of to-
baccD.''
Mr.. Garrett +. Watson stated that the
committee proposed ut an early day TO have
il conference Of the tobacco men of the
cities Of Petersburg, Lynchburg, Danyille,
Farnyillc, Stanton, and the smaller towns,
and, alter consultation, to prepare Il memo
rial TO the Legislature embodving their
ideas upon this important subject.
The following committee was appointed
to wait upon Governor Walker, to present
the preamble and resolutions, and ask his
assistance in the ahrogation Of existing
laws-viz.. The President, +. o. Noting ];
the Nicc-Prcsidcnt, Walker K. Martin !; and
MeSSrS. Garrett f. Watson, James Scott,
and Peyton Wise.
The meeting then adjourned.