Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-05-29
From the vicksburg Sentinel.
THE LIST SYSTEM

LlC AAoI 81 - EN-.
Very few 0f our planters are aware ii
the mode OF disposing Of their property,
which has been introduced by The commits.
sion merchants Of New ORLEANS, and It
is our purpose TO present il to them in the
present article so fully, that It will appear
plain to The simples, capacity. 1t 10 de-
nominated the "Lisi SYSTEM" and we
believe is peculiar to New Orleans. Il is
unknown in Liverpool, Charleston, Sa-
vannah. or any other city that we know
"f; and we are surprised that a system
which opens so wide door for fraud and
plumber, should ever have heen introduced
by we'll regulated mercantile communi.
~. 1t srems TO us that every honest aud
cnnsrIeOtIous factor ought to use all his
influence to break up TIE sy stem, because
It enables the INSCRIPTIONS and swindIing
factor ~ sOpersede him, as we will de-
monstrate before we conclude this article.
According TO the List Ss STEM, cotton is
dis. posed Of in ths following mannpr:-
John Shaver 4 Co., Commission Mer-
chants New Orleans, receive per the
sleamboat Homer or Joan dare, from
Mississippi, 300 bales cotion; this cotton
has been consigned To them by SIX differ
eut planters in this Siate--John Swelled-
head, Of Adams county, senns 60 bales !;
Henry Hardy, Of C"piah, sends 80; Ro.
bert Borrowall, Of Kinds so Th"ma.
'rrus'aII, Of Claiborne, go; WIN. Watch.
rm, OF Warren, 60; and james Laoh, Of
Yazon, 80 bales. John Shaver a. Co.,
"Gder il 10 he hauled direct To Il cotton
press or their own ward, where it is ex.
pose'I most generally 10 the rain aud mud,
!or which they charge the planter storage,
drayage and labor, that they do no, pay +.
When the cotton is offered for sale, list
Of the marks is given tn he hr"kers, who
seLd lads to take few samples from each
mark, which are placed on the hroker's
table, aud sold al an average price,
Sometimes The factors sell by their own
samples, but always at an average price
for the "list."
The cotton belongs TO six different in
dIviduals, and is Of different qualities {;
| L"., instead efseiIi"S ItaI uif1ereni prices,
corresponding TO its quality, the commits
sion merchant offers the whole 800 bales
at 81 cents round, and the Bargain is
closed. To carry through the transaction
we will suppose that each bale weighs
400 pounds, consequently the whole list
will amount 70 10000 pounds, and at o.
cents it will produce ST. 400. Now the
Commission Merchant goes to work to
average the value Of each mans cotton.
according IN his own arbitrary notions Of
Justice. He saws to himself" John
Swellrdhead's cotton is worth l2l cents,
the highest prize in market; Henry Har.
dy's is put down a, It; Rob,. Burrowall's
at 81; Thomas TruslalI's at 7; William
Watchrm's at 10, and James Lamh's AT
a." Here the slronges, temptations are
offered TO the Commission Merchant to
increase his business Ivy extending his
conscience. Even il he Is dlsp sed to be
honest, lis dangeroug 70 have the tempt
alton constantly bei"re him, by which h.
can pro'nole his own interest wnhon,
the possibility oi his injustice being detect
ed. How can he promote his o~ n inter.
est? John Swelledhead Is au extensive
planter, and makes 1000 bales OF co,,on 4;
oesIdes his Own large crop, ne ffueucps
an extensive circle Of cOhrexinns. Tn.
Commission Merchant has strong induce.
'nenls tn believe tina, his CT ton is the very
nest IN market, and he averages it acror-
DINGHY, Oreven half cent ahove The mar
ke,. Hsary Hardy, the small planter
10 Copmh, who STAYS at home, and m,
being so we'll acquainted with the markets
and having rather interior cotton, gets n.
The other c"nsignees have their cotton
averaged ascending to the sole iudgmen,
Of the factor impercep,ibly influenced by
their respective independence and ln,clIi.
geCce, The Commission Merchan, then
orders his ClEk 10 make out the six &C.
count saIes, nd transmit them IN his Gus
'oTers. WewIll now rccap,tulate the
, transaction itfgures:
Marks. Bah. lbs. Price.
Us. COY 4OO-24,OOO a I2!-ss, 900
Il. H. soy 400 $4,000 a ~ $50
=. K. b. 60 4OO-2A,OOO a ga 2,O4O
r TT. 60 BY 4OO-24,OOO a 1920
= Wv. &C Oy4Oo--aa,OOO a 10 - 94OO
e J. L. 30 by NOo--la,OOO a "a 9I5