American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-11-16

and practical That son5btbins must be done.
either hy the Confederate cf Ssase Govern
menus for the relief Of the planters ard ths
people generally, all admit.
/ The Proposed Purchase 81 Cotton By
the Government.
FDfrors ESorIRrr The question IS often
. asked. How the people 10 get money to
pay foT the prime necessaries of life, taxes,
dc z Several plans have beer suggested. all
I looking in some degree for aid from the Con-
federate Government. In the cotton district,
cotton is abo ut the only product for raising
money
1t has been proposed that the Government
should become the purchaser of the cotton.
aud pay for it in bonds. treasury notes. DC.
If This is. the best plan that can be devised,
let it be adopted. for the country must be sup
piled with something that viii Circulate as
money / have seen plan by which such
an arrangement is TO be put into practical
5 operation hut to me serious difficulties appear
5 in the WY. The agents that would be re-
quired to buy, settle for, and take charge of
the cotton. must be very numerous. and the
difficulty of getting the requisite number of
suitable persons for agents, men Of dgment
and fidelity. would be no difficult Job. Allow
ing the agents could be found, all good and
true men, and good judges of cotton, how are
prices to be established Shall the Govern
ment fix The price, or will the agents be at
liberty to vary prices other dealers or spec
ulators would do It is also well known
that the locality has much influence on the
price of cotton.
If the agents become absolute purchasers
for tie Government at full prices. I suppose
they would have TO take possession of the
cotton, and must of necessity have it ware
housed. Now, admitting that all the agents
should act with Judgment, discretion and
perfect hcnesty-which is admitting much
the plan must lie very expensive. Agents
must be paid at least a fair compensation. If
the cotton should remain long in the ware
houses, the expenses there would be large
item.
But Their. is one other objection to the plan,
which, to my mind, overriies all others.
allude to the risk and hazard that would be
! Incurred Icy concentrating the cotton crop in
warehouses. Under any condition Of the
country, such a course would be very hazard
Gus: but ia state of w ar with our neighbors.
our enemies all Around US. and perhaps some
among us, the risk would be beyond my com
/ putaton.
Mr.. Editor, have suggestion to make
/ it is but a suggestion-I have no political nor
pecunarv interest to subserve by any plan
that may Re adopted, except what is common
to all Southern citizens but in devotion to
! ii, r II
The suggestion / propose TO make is not
without difficulty. and in some things objec-
tionable. but to my mind promisesfo answer
the demands of the country better, with less
h; card to the rights and interests of the Gov
eminent and of individuals than any other
have seen or heard proposed.
The plan | wo.ld suggest would be for the
Government to advance-say from one half to
three fourths of hat might be considered
fair market valuation of the cotton at the
place where the transaction is to be mace !:
let the cotton remain in the hands of the
planter until the Government may require it
TO be delivered ; let the planter certify to the
agent where the advance is to be made, the
quantity and quality of the cotton upon
which he derives an advance, this certificate
should be made satisfactory as to its correct
ness let the planter receipt for the advance
and oblige himself with security to deliver
hen called fer let the advance bear interest
at or per cent, and the planter to have
! the privilege of eancelling his bond for the
delivery of the cotton at any time by refund
/ ing the money and interest. This plan would
leave sufficient interest of the planter in the
cotton to induce him to take care of and pro-
tect it. If there should be any advance in
the price. the planter would be in condition
10 get the full benefit of it. BY the adoption
of this or some such plan, the cotton would
be in the hands of the planters dispersed
through the country where it was grown, and
no very great loss could occur by destruction
Of cotton.
This plan, think, would put as much
money in circulation as would answer for all
practical purposes. There would still be
some purchasers of cotton on their own ac-
count in all or most of the markets-some
planters would sell to them.
The advances made by the Government
would, by making the circulating medium
more plentiful, cause prices given by purchas-
ers on their own account to range much high
er than they otherwise would.
To carry this plan into operation, but few
agents comparatively with the plan Of making
an absolute purchase would be required. The
chances for. and the temptation to. fraud. /
think, would be very small.
! have made these suggestions, and if yon
think them of sufficient importance to occupy
place in your paper, shall be pleased to
have them published. If they shall be the
means of calling forth any better plan.
shall be more than gratifed. The success of
our country and our eountry's cause ia the
only apology of
A NATIVE GEORGIAN.
AN AFFEcTIxG Modest OF TnE LATE
BATTLE- TIE Liuze F9og-6eorer. Among
the many acts Of heroism told Of those
engaged in the fight up the river. is that
Of 4 mere youth. little boy, who was
attached TO Tappan Arkansas regiment.
and carried two mimic flags. one Ia each
land. The regiment Was driven to the
waters edge. and the enemy poured in
! terrific volley, Killing many of them,
= hf fell int I, The rsvx,r md esxeh - rvap.r