The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-07
Tao Farpners and Merchants.


Thatsthe merchants have lost more thar
the farmers BIZ mutual dclinquencies we have
not doubt; and for tho very good reason
that the farmer Is not financially bushes
man, and thas hs has been subjected to dis
appointments which are IN some respects
unexampied. He generally lives far from
the merchant, who makes him advances ant
manages, his affairs without any impressive
reminder, Of bis maturing obligation, and
yieldingto present pressing necessities, fail
to provide for the Obligations given "or
times. 9, these arc causes which no donb
exist In the majority Of cases where tht
farmer is delinquent There are also delin
qucncies from innate faithlessncss and want
Of principle on both sides. Swindling farm
ers send, their crops to other persons than
those to>whom they are pledged, and swim.
ding commission merchants use moneys
which arc the proceeds Of crops con-
signed TO them for their own benefit But il
is gratifying to know that such cases are rare
exceptions on both sides.
We take it, then, that the exceptions
prove the rule that both classes are honest,
and mean to be fair in their relations to one
another. II one side is delinquent to q
greater amount than the other, it Is owing
to circumstances that do not impeach the
honesty of lis intentions, and that In great
degree IRE peculiar to Its pursuits and the
circumstances In which 1t is placed and the
condition OF. The times.
That the interests Of the two classes are
entirely harmonious We think to be fact
that aIl intelligent and rejecting men must
know. They should not be at variance.
Class legislation Is Objectionable, and no class
needs it less than the two whose relations
we are now considering. They can as well
rely upon tho laws and the remedies pro.
vided in regard to property and claims for
money as any other. They can as well pro.
tect themselves With the help of these means
as other classes can. The merchant can learn
from experience bow far be can so in making
advances on promised crops, and the farmer
can learn by experience what merchants are
punctual and what are not. Therefore we
cannot see the propriety Of their mutually
scandaliziug each other by each calling on
the Legislature for the passage of law to
protect 1t from the other.
Yet, il ono Is to be protected the other
also should be; for one needs protection Us
much as the other. And If the merchant
and the farmer nre to be punished for not
repaying advances and turning over pro-
ceeds Of sales, SO, also, should the lawyer
incur exceptionally harsh penalties for failing
to pay ever funds falling into his hands in
the settlement OF suits. We are inclined,
indeed, to think that the delinquency of law
yers In this way is more reprehensible than
any of the shortcomings that impulsiyc
farmers and merchants charge each other
with The lawyer stands in most peculiar
relations to his client, and faithlessness to-
wards him Is an immortality of very grley-
GUS nature.
If the editor Gun be brought in, he, too,
should go in for share of penalties 9lon ..s
viii the.rest. But the editor. aaciinquency
.an ..''on fectcd subscription (ho is moi
srn, .u ~. ,1y considerable sum) and tho
y, au' , invone is so contemplate that it would
~. ~ "Da." % make it cause for invoking
n ,., I'" E the Commonwealth upon hi
.' Equally ridiculous would be the at
~ =; involve the slow-paying subscriber
,, BAR penalties. We, however, shoult
VA Phothipg 10 do with that business, fol
~ our subscribers pay for their paper before
they read it. They want the paper, and there
fore pay for it. They cannot take it, as they
can some papers, because they can getiit Oh
credit, and ,oihdrau thet, patronage the mo
Iuc,t they are presented with the bill fol
subscription.
But, we repeat, there is no necessity TO
all this. Non-remitting, non-paying lawyer
are soon known, and people should not EN-
poy them. All kinds Of trade rest upon tn
common-scnse basis of practical experience
Men are not children, and ought to be able
with the laws already existing, to take car
OF themselves. 1t would be indeed sud
two classes whose interests arc so completed
in.erlocked, and who are 80 indisper
sable to each other, as the farmers an
merchants, should confess that laws nc
needed for the protection of other classes al
necessary for their protection from enc
other-tbat they are mutually so unreliabl
, that added restraints upon infidelity in thei
- intercourse are absolutely necessary.
we don't believe a word of it; and
. will be in accordance with the best interest
Of both, and creditable to their good sense
if they abandon their applications for pre-
lection and mutually rely upon that In
tegrity and good faith which we know ha
distinguished the great body OF both classe
In all times, and still exists In health and VI
gor,
THAp. STEvENs.-ALLEY, the corrupt eS
Honrressnan stated thar the lafa TBaDDEU