The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-01
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10 THE EDITOR OE TaE NEWS.
Charleston and Savannah have been COM
nercial centres for the sale Of the rice crops OF
South Carolina and Georgiafor at least GEN.
sufy. Both these cities have drawn hand
suus support from the fice growers Of the two
States, and many factors have grown rich upon
incomes derived almost exclusively from this
source. As buainess centres their established
local usages have hitherto governed entirely in
the sails OF this particular grain. These local
customs, with buyers and sellers, have had
the influence Of common law. Thsy have been
considsred the te1 loci and. as such, have ex-
ercisad theforce and dignity OF the k1 scrptd;
and merchants. And factors have conformed
thereto without reference to the local customs
of othr cities or large commercial centres,
lust a. they have conformed to other usuages
dt6ming In Charleston hom those OF New
York, Boston or New Orleans.
u has but recently been discovered that Q
charge for the tierces IN which rice is sold is
pgetadicasl to the commerce OF Charleston.
HtrSnGe that Q custom which has obtained for
ona hundred years should Just at this psrticu-
lAr time prove clog to the City OF Charles,
ton. More strange that the rice buyers should
n0W fnd it necessary to combine together and
Dositiyely refuse to purchase if their demands
are not complied with, viz: the factors de-
cline to give them the tierces in which the rice
ID sold. Each derce costs the planter 81 30,
which must be given away to secure purchas.
or OF his rice; for all the buyers are committed
a. league to stand by this strike against the
planter. The factor, as agent, has either to
nuccumb or ship under instructions to spoth-
er mari ct. No matter at what cost to the
poor struggling plar ter, the commerce Of
Charleston requires the fostering care OF new
II fiedged Board Of Trade, which 1t would seem
Is ready to draw the very Life, blood OF the poor
the rates OF commissions in Charleston as
compared with those Of Northern and Western
cities. There was time when this strike OF
the r1ce buyers would have been met summari-
II by the planters themselves, and their factors
would scarcely have heeitated as to their duty,
acting solely a. agents in the premises:
Formerly. with Q crop Of thousands OF tierces
In the hands Of the growers. such combina-
lion among the buyers could not possibly have
been effected. They know full well that it
would have driven nearly every tlerce from
charleston TO other markets, and that the in
tereets Of the city would have been compro-
missed by ouch ASTON. But now that the plan
ter is not living, but barely breathi1g, lying
proetrate aud dependent for the small means
necessary to carry on his planting operations,
his factor too poor to back him against this
innovation, the blow is struck, and he has to
give up one hundred aud fifty dollars on every
VI flCo oouG U inc CQ6rl66tOQ
market, or lose the privilege OF q sale. To talk
about paying more for the rice if thu tierce is
thrown IN for nothing, ia idle, for no one be-
lieves it.
been we'll considered by those who suggested
It. At first it was mere suggestion from the
rice buyers to the rice faotoIs. Nothing was
positively determined upon, and by some it
was limited that the success Of the movement
vas dependept chiefly upon the mill owners Of
Charleston. There was little fear that the
planters could or would combine against it.
Possibly the interests OF the city had found
antagonism in the pounding mills of the
country, and that more rough nee was neces-
ssry for the city mills. The planter who OBJ
iectsd to paying one dollar and NIFTY cents TO
the millers for tierces, had the opnon OF seilng
In the rough, and the mi!lers who 90 make
profit ON their barrels could very vel anoro 70
lose something for monopoly IN pound'
But be this as it may, 1t 1s pretty we estao-
lished that, with present indebtedness 70 iac.
tors in Charleston, the growing crop cannot
very we'll be shipped elsewhere. ibis esta9-
iished, and the new system fairly lnaugurased,
so reaction is likely to benefit the planter. Inc
Chamber Of Commerce have taken the buyers
npon their shoulders, and, thus mounted their
card is out positively declining, aftel the lst
pf May next. to purchase any rice where
charge is made for the tierces. The acti m OF
The Chamber is Q mere expression OF opinion,
md may be considered ddu,sory-tbe action OF
he rice merchants is uncOmpromlsinS and
,ofuptlso7E. Have the factors, nothing to say |
q the matter2 Do the plan ers acqulesce, or |
ave they no right to voice9 These are ques- ]