Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-10


NEW York CHAMBER OF CoaaEecE-At the late meet
ing IF this Chamber MATTHEW MAURY called attention
t. The subject OF the aduteratuu OF cotton. He had
converscd with many gentlemen interested in the
ton trade, anu they all agreeu that steps ought
to be taken to detect the perpetrators Of the frauds.
He offered the following preamble anu resolution
Whe, cas- The authorization Of cotton with sand, a
form Of fraud unknown unobserved until "A very
few years ago, has become more aud more frequent
until 1t has assumed prevalence and magnitude in
furious and embarrassing To merchants and manufac
turers damaging TO the reputation OF planters and
perhaps endangeri E tho pre-cmnence Of the United
States as the great producer OF tins necessary article.
Inviting the Chambers of Commerce in our South
cities to adopt such measures as shall put end
to this practice, flor wni,h there seems to be no
better than the desire To sell and dirt
the price Of cOitpn,) It is also important that they
should be urged TO press upon their Stale Legislatures
enactmcnis TO facilitate the tracing of fTaudulentv
packed cotton 10 Tie plantations where the fraud ori
naed.
is asked why special legislation is necessary for
the prevention of frauds and the detection Of their
perpetrators resi- cOtt,n in particular the
is PLAN. The interior Of a square bale OF cotton
cannot, practically speaking, be examined without
breaking up the packs aud because the bale is large
and uuwieldy and necess trily subjected 10 much
handling and rough usage after leaving the planta
ton, VIZ: by Two ioadngs two unloadings, three or
four stowages, and as my more cIrtages before
reaching the consumer, by whom alone the contents
Of the interior can be fully examined, the planter 5
marks Or any naturally the first u be defaced
Ob!iteTaed, and even the shippers marks. whIh
the last put upon the bales, often share the Ie
In the Gf sugar. tea, coffee, tOb Geo. -four, rice,
liquors, manufactured goods &c. there Little no
difficulty in either examining the quality thoroughly
before purchase or In tracing the fraud 70 its origin
but IN cotton, practically speaking. there be no
such examination Of the quality discovery OF the
offender. Hence the propriety Of devising some 9TH
er mode OF identify ing the planter and plantation
than the mere marking Of his name and residence
upon the baggage. 1t is said that IN States the
law requires the planter To mark his ,tton in this
way. but 1t has been already stated that such mark
almost necessarily ob.iterated before the interior
Of the package can be examined and it is notorious
that the factors (sellers Of cotton) in New Orleans
Mobile, and southern Cities refuse to pay claims for
fraud unless the piInter's marks are identified, how
clear the proof that the cotton bought from
them snd though probably a resort to the Supreme
Court Of the United states would compel payment,
thu expense would generally exceed the claim.
The only apparently practical suggestions put forth
in remedy for these grievances that the law should
compel the planter TO put three cards theta leadel
tickets, inscribed with his or her name plantation,
county aud STATE into three different places, near the
centre Of each bale, which the factor wuul |
pay TOR the fraud aud have his remedy upon tn pla
but if, upon tie discovery OF such fraud such
tickets should be found, then the factor TO pay the
claim upon proof that he sold the cotton with the
right TO recover from Ia planter II he can find him
out, i've times the amount. Some such plan this
with the additional requirement that the planters
name, &c, should be legibly marked both upon the
outside aud the inside Of the bagging, and making Il
mIsdemetnor punishable with fine, 70 omit either the
ticketug outside marking, would place the Cotton
trade upon correct principles and protect the charac
ter OF the honest planter from the effects of the
OF his unscTupulOus neghbor. Therefore,
Resolved, That the President OF this Chamber is
hereby requested 20 address the Chambers of Com
In the various cities OF the Cotton growing DIS
lets inviting them to urge upon their State egisia-
lures take measures forthwith TO the fraud
ulent packing OF Cotton, in conformity with the pre-
amble herewith, or with such alterations and ndd
tons hereto as may seem To the President Of this
Chamber to be proper.
Heury Bogert urged the necessity OF the action
recommended by Mr.. Maury.
Royal Phelps thought that the portion OF the resell
utoR referring 10 the line Of action 10 be recommend
ed should be stricken out.
The President thought the subject should be refer
red 10 a committee, and It was resolved 10 appoint
committee Of i've for that pur, ose.
The President appointed the following committee
Matthew Aaary, Henry o. Brewer, Thomas Ileston,
+. L. TaIcott, Henry X. Bogert-