Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-17
COMMUNICATED.

No one can read the list Of absurbities known
as the "Blue Laws Of Connecticut and the
blue Laws of Virginia. without being as
toni>hcd how men, and law makers, even Two
hundred years ago, could have framed codes
and laws so cou,caI aud ridiculous; yet, taken
as whole, they arc NOT as stupid aud rldicu-
louS as the blue Law of Alexandria,, called
the "ForestaIIiug Market Law, :" recently re-
pealed, but still the pet Of many who are anx-
ious to see ii again re-ins:ated and enforced.
A huckstcr is a free and independent citizen.
He asks for nothing but his legal and natural
rights but he is not worthy OF the name OF
mau if he tamely submits to wrongs and lmpo-
siioDs from State or local authorities. Ills
tax and license fees by far exceed the amount
paid by other traders with rhc same amount OF
capital invested 10 the eyes Of the law, equity
aid Justice, he is merchant iu the fullest
sense of the word and legally and morally en-
titled to every right, favor, and privilege ex
tended to dry goods, hardware, crockely, aud
every other dealer An attempt to regulate
and dictate TO dry goods merchants the hour,
the quantity, and the place to buy their callcoes
and nutunS, would be 90 more ridiculous and
inconsistent than any attempt to dictate to the
huckSter the precise hour, the quantity, aud
the place where he shall purchase his stock OF
vegetables and fruits. A dry goods merchant
has an urquestionable right to buy up every
yard Of cotton cloth and calico on King street,
and fix his own price for the same, and buck
ster has the same UNREASONABLE right to buy
up the contents OF every country wagon, and
every dealer IN produce, and fix his Owo price
for the same, and it would be a gross piece OF
i'm pudenee for John Smith, or Peter Skinhint,
to Interfere or question that right
If a dry goods merchant has the money and
opportunity to buy up all the cotton aud rai%e
the price from 10 to 80 cents per yard, he is
considered shrcwd and the trade legitimate
and respectable; bur if huckstcr is Shrewd
enough to secure liberal stock of cherries and
blackbcrries, and thus enhance the price one
cent per quart howl of indignation is raised
from one end of the city to the other. When
will old foyyism and humbuygery cease?
repeat, the huckster is merchant in the
fullest sense Of the word. There is not the
slightest difference between the huckster who
deals 10 cotton aud notions and the huckster
who deals 10 vegetables smoked herriogs aud
pea nuts. Even the wayfaring man, though u
con>ummate fool must admit this truiSlu: then
why this everlasting howl Of Indignation in the
one case, and public approval in the other?
After twelve years acquaintance and deal
Ing with the huckSters Of Alexandria, | am
fully Of the opinion that their standard for
honesty, tair-dealiDg, libcraty, aud courtesy,
is not surpassed in this or any other country;
yet it is safe to say that nine out OF ten who
daily visit the market look upon these gentle
men as rings" ''sharpers," and "plundeT-
ers. They have more respect Tor the wander
ing, thicviug gypsies who annually raise their
camps near the borders Of the city. The au-
thors Of the false charges against these worthy
and generous dealers can be readily dstn-
guished by their picayune propensities, who
would not hesitate to chase flee for the sake
of It's taow!! This class Of men seldom pur-
chase to the amount of dollar week, yet
from their dismal bowling, you would think
they were heeced out of fortune every time
they crossed the Threshold of the market
Thus the people have been educated, genera
ton after generation, to mlstrust and Willy
honest generous, aud faithful public servants.
COMMON SENSE