The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-03

pool American Chamber of Commerce and the
Cotton Brokers' Association, respecting the
multifarious evils arising from the false and dis
honest packing Of cotton appeared in the Lon
don Times of the 29th ult. The high sources
whence the statement emanates entities it to
wide spread consideration. Weuust the cham
bers of commerce to Which it is addressed will
take such action as may be deemed ex-
pedient, and that planters or others directly or
indirectly interested, will pay to it that atten-
ton its importance deserves and should com
mand. With this preliminary we submit the
document referred to: ... &
.... --.- 'LIvERPooL, October %.
ITO the Chambers of Commerce of New Orleans, Mo-
bile, Charleston and Savannah, and to all con-
cerned in the cotton trade of the United States
"The magnitude and Importance of the COM
merce of Great Britain with the United States
in the article of cotton, is sufficiently known
and to those who are acquainted with the de-
tails of she trade it is matter of satisfaction
that the machinery by which the distribution of
so enormous quantity of material is effected
has, up to this time, worked so smoothly, owing
to the honorable character of all concerned,
from the planter to the manufacturer
'But in order to sustain the character Of the
trade, and to retain the mutual confidence which
has hitherto existed, it is essential that every
sample of cotton offered in the market should
fairly represent the quality of the bulk from
which it is taken, as every deviation from this
rule tends to create distrust.
"Oflate, however, SO many instances of care
less packing have occurred, causing discrep-
yancy between the sample and the bulk, that Sc
rlous loss has been sustained, both BY the man
ufacturer and the merchant, and it has become
duty to call the attention, not only of the
American planters and factors, whose reputa-
ton is thereby injured but also of the trade
generally, to the present growing increase in
the proportion of irregular and false packed
bales, and to invite their serious consideration
of theseyils which must inevitably fellow the
continuance of the practice, and to solicit their
assistance in checking it.
''ln most cases, the irregular packing is only
discovered when the bale has reached its ulti-
mate destination and is opened by the manu-
facturer, and the trouble, cost and nconven-
fence of re- packing and returning the bale, and
the trouble and difficulties which attend the
prosecution ofhis claim, have frequently induced
him to bear the loss in silence. Similar reasons
have prevailed with the merchant to suffer the
loss resulting from such cotton, returned by the
rather than resort to the tedious
and often useless process of seeking redress
against the planter abroad
cit is on this account that so few instances
have occurred in which the real offender has
borne the consequence of his neglect and, pre-
sumlng on this iorbearance, the evil COMPLAIN
ed OF has, from carelessness or otherwise, in
creased to such an extent that, in large pro-
portion OF shipments arriving in Liverpool, in !
stances OF false or irregular packing are discov-
cred, and occasionally whole parcels consist
ng OF twenty, fifty and even one hundred bales |
are found mixed in the bale and sometimes pIa-
DIN other words, the outer layer, from which
he sample is TAKEN is more or less superior in
quality to the interior of the bale.
ut is hoped that all parties will see the ur-
gent necessity Of promptly cooperating to stop
ma remove this serious and increasing evil, +
which will otherwise dsorganse the trade, and
lestroy that mutual trust and confidence with
'ut which such an extensive and important
branch of commerce cannot be carried on. !
THOMAS SELLAR, Pres. Amer. Chamber of Commerce :
HoMAs HA!GH, Pres. Cotton Brokers' Association :
Every planter and merchant on this side should t
xert himself to detect and bring to punishment y
he perpetrators of these fraudulent practices. f.
there are no laws to reach them, the legis- n
atures of the cotton growing States should en- ii
ct such laws at the earliest practicable moment a;
md, IN the meantime, public exposition of the q
ames and acts of the parties implicated, would
o much towards SURPRISING the iniquity. b
This false packing Of cotton has been known II
II years. We have heard of logs and stones 81
ing packed in cotton bales, together with 9TH L
contrivances to increase their weight all of &.
hIch were calculated to bring cotton planters b,
erchants and factors into diSrepute, and to R
stroy that confidence which is the very soul
legitimate commercial transactions. These L;
scredltable instances were few for as class. nj
e planting community of the southern States IS
'nds and always has stood, unsurpassed for gil
diligence, honesty and fair dealing. Oflate W.
wever, 1t appears that these occurrences, or pr
es similar to them, have become SO uumer- to
5 as to call for prompt and effectual action. his
Is represented that the samples do not, fire. is
emily, represent the bulk that serious losses Of
We been caused thereby; that much damage hoI
beng done to the reputation of American est
n'ers and factors IN consequences and an ure- in
call is made tor assistance on this side of the dis
ter to put stop to growing evil. /
We cannot doubt but that the appeal will be pa pa
promptly responded to. It ought to be, with wa W.;
utmost alacrity and with rigor that will er,
ure efficiency. Ift is not what inevitably Mr.
ows? Why, the whole planting interest," son
nberlng IN It's ranks hundreds of thousands doc
S honest men as ever breathed, will rest un- the
dlshonorab'e imputatons, owing to the base stry
clces OF few scores, Or at most, few hun Per
d. OF avaricious and unprncipled knaves! No %
e Is a complete answer in few words, -four
h a state of affairs would be intolerab)e. and I
Id not be endured under any phase of cir ing, ing
'stances the imagination can conceive of. cons con:
N. 0. Crescent oath
m >~ ~ 800 ist c
MOTHER TERRIToRY.-The New York Tri- son
says, another territory, we learn, is about to z
e organised by portion of its inhabitants lia n
the LIST of September, an election was to be WAS
at various points in the Gadsden purchase, then
delegates to the territorial legislature of 1t
Mexico, and for delegate to congress. s W E
latter, it is expected, will present to con- port
S petition for the separation of the Gads- atm
purchase from the northern part of New land
leo, and the erection of an independent pu.e
toual government. To this post Mr.. R.P. cv Il