THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



117 



Large sums would pass through his hands, but 

 would remain there a very short time. He 

 would receive with one hand arid pay out with 

 the other. There might be notes of the mil- 

 lers to a large amount in his hands, but not 

 money, for he would not incur the expense of 

 discounting the notes, unless to obtain money 

 for the farmers. It would certainly be a 

 position of tru-t requiring integrity and 

 capacity, but not more so than that of the 

 commission merchant. All things considered, 

 whatever difference there may be, is in favor 

 of the agent, although there* may be a larger 

 amount of value entrusted to his keeping, for 

 he would be free from those temptations to per- 

 petrate a breach of trust and squander the 

 money of others, to which the Speculations of 

 commercial life subject those engaged in it. 



8. Again, this comparison between the com- 

 mission merchants and the proposed agency, 

 suggests another argument still in favor of the 

 latter. The commission merchant buys grain 

 as well as sells it. It is obvious there is an 

 inconsistency between these two functions. The 

 purchaser of grain is interested in reducing 

 price; the seller in raising it. Here is a con- 

 flict of interests; and it is to be presumed, the 

 farmers suffer by it. Our agent would not 

 undertake any such contradictory duties. His 

 business would be to sell ; and as agent of the 

 Executive Committee, to collect information, 

 on the subject of production, in the grain-grow- 

 ing countries of the world, whose crops in- 

 fluence our markets ; and also, on the various 

 causes that may effect prices, and make report 

 to the Committee, to be published for the in- 

 formation of the farmer. 



9. The Planter seems doubtful if any man 

 could be found competent to perform the 

 duties — and if found, certainly " not in the 

 country." I fear he has little confidence in 

 man, less in the countryman, and small hopes 

 of humanity. If such a man cannot be found, 

 it follows as a consequence, the farmers would 

 better sell their own grain. It seems to me, 

 one need not have a lantern, like Diogenes, in 

 search of an honest man, to discover many such 

 all over the broad lands of Virginia. They 

 may be found in country and in city. 



" Now, where does that gentleman live? Not 

 in the country, if he lives at all." So says 

 the Planter. What means this flouting at the 

 country? Whence this cynic sentiment? I 

 do not believe Diogenes himself even used his 

 lantern at the early age in which my friend 

 luxuriates. Such ideas, when they do exist, 

 are^found in the sombre and acetic brain of 

 morbid age. The roseate thoughts which 

 spring-time suggests, full of hope, beauty, con- 

 fidence and love, would be more appropriate to 

 him and his character. " Not in the country"! 

 Is there not more intelligence, more learning, 

 more wisdom, more integrity, in proportion to 

 population, in the country of Virginia, than in 

 the cities? Whence have emanated all those 



great men in the historic annals of our State, 

 who have left their impress on the sands of 

 time ? — the statesmen, warriors, scholars and 

 divines, who have given character to this Old 

 Dominion, placed her foremost in the constel- 

 lation of States in moral and political influence, 

 and have illustrated and elevated our common 

 country ? Not from the cities ; not one, of 

 whom I have any recollection. They all 

 breathed the pure air of the country, and were 

 reared under those healthful and elevating 

 influences which a constant communion with 

 Nature engenders. And yet it is doubted 

 whether a trustworthy agent to sell wheat and 

 corn, competent to perform the duties, can be 

 found in the country of Virginia. I am sure 

 this idea of his must have been put on paper 

 "currente calamo," if it be not a mistake of 

 the type-setter, and that sober second thought 

 would obliterate it. In the hurry of compo- 

 sition, editors have not always the time for pro- 

 found reflection. 



10. One word as to my individual consisten- 

 cy ; though it is of little moment to any one 

 but myself. The Planter refers to the fact 

 that I made an effort to put down the guano 

 monopoly, and suggests that I am now endeav- 

 ouring to put up a wheat monopoly. If it were 

 so, I will do the Planter the justice to say, that 

 he has been perfectly consistent ; consistently 

 wrong throughout, and in a false position 

 for an organ of the agricultural class. He 

 was opposed to doing anything to pnt down 

 the guano monopoly, and now he is equally op- 

 posed to doing anything to put down the mo- 

 nopoly of the millers. And in both transac- 

 tions he has been working against his own 

 " kith and kin." But my position, so far from 

 being what it is represented, is perfectly con- 

 sistent. The opponent of the guano monop- 

 oly, and equally the opponent of the monopoly 

 of the millers — exerting myself to destroy 

 the former and equally engaged in an ef- 

 fort to render innocuous the other by con- 

 cert among the farmers. But if a trio of mil- 

 lers who control the wheat market be not a mo- 

 nopoly, I would ask if a trio of agents to sell 

 the wheat would be ? And I have no objection 

 to three if it be preferred, though I think one 

 would be better. There is no difference be- 

 tween three and one when there is concert, as 

 regards the principle. I am a free-trade man, 

 of the strictest sect, but I am not content to 

 have it all on one side. 



11. "Farmers somehow imagine that they 

 are 'victims,' and feel themselves abused by 

 those they deal with." Thus says the Planter. 

 Unfortunately there is but little imagination in 

 this idea, and much of strict truth. Not that 

 I would accuse them with whom they have 

 transactions of any intention to " abuse" 

 them, or do them injustice, but the misfortune 

 is, they estimate their own labour too high, 

 and the farmers' too low. Besides, in the con- 

 flicts of traffic, the men who live by their wits 



