The New York herald., 1862-03-08
THE REBEL PLAN TO BURN COTTON AND
T0RACCO

mond last Thursday evening, take into consideration
and discuss the question OF burning the present crops
tobacco and cotton should the enemy reach the interior
The Eramner OF Friday gives the following account
seven O'Clock the doors Of hat building we're ass
open, and the crowd, among whom were many ladies,
began Immediately to pour IN. by nan past seven
O'Clock the house filed by one OF the largest veal
thest and most intellectual meetings ever assembled IN
this city. -
At i've minutes past O'Clock DR.. Marshall, Of
Mississippi entered the house, and was greeted by
round Of applause in compliment, We presume, to his
spirited speech delivered at City Han on wednesday
night. 1t was subject OF remark with Gentlemen VINO
had been fequeners of the African church IN old polit
cal times gone by that few Of the faces OF the vast A.
sembage were familiar.
GEN j. Green OF North Carolina called the meeting
order and Hon. C. K Marshall and said This
is Of the most important meetings ever attended.
We have it in our power TO do what will have serious
influence not only within the city OF Richmond but may
ameorate the condition OF the Of maakad at large.
The resolutions am about to read have received the so
Der and serious consideration OF tho appointed
TO draft and introduce them. i respectfully submit
them
Whereas, tho government Of tho United States hive
made an unprovoked, fragrant aud wicked on the
government and people OF the Confederate States and
have conducted that war on principles hitherto unknown
among civilized nations; and Whereas feel that
only safety against ruthless and unrelsnng foe is to
be found in the courage, patriotism and efsacricing
spirit of our people, and whereas no sacrifice however
enormous is great if it only brings freedom from
oppressors and whereas the tyrans and despos OF
the North have openly proclaimed their purpose to dcso
late our homes and appropriate property to their own
usc and have in various instances carried the infamous
threat into practical execution by punderng our people
Of cotton tobacco rice and other property and where
fire, when applied by haroic hands, is formidable
than the sword therefore, it is by this meeting
Resolved, That a of national safety dictated
alike by military necessity and true PATRIOTISM deem
it the imperative duty Of this government to adopt
for the purchase OF tho entire crops Of cotton and
tobacco now on hand, with the purpose Of at once pre-
venting the appropriation OF them by the invaders Of
soil and country and making fair and equitable COM
pensation for the to their owners by such arrange
ments shall enable the government to meet the debt
incurred thereby without involving the public treasury
any serious Liability of the sld purchase.
Certificate Of government liability to be given for the en-
tire property.
Resolved That as the owners of these great staples
the government would hold in its hands the power OF
removing great temptation from the path OF the fede
raj army now making its raids into country and rob-
bng citizens under the avowed pledges OF supplying
by force the markets of the world with these valuable
articles Of demand which must necessarily be dono if
those pledges redeemed by the total bankruptcy Of
planting interests the one hand and the utter
subga on and snslavement Of the people Of the South
on the other.
Resolved That possessed Of these products it would
become the solemn duty Of tho government take i'm
mediate action through commissioners appointed tor that
purpose otherwise to take an account of such portions
Of said crops at exposed Places first furnish NJ
the thereof with certificates OF the amount and
value Of their crops evidences Of debt by the govern
men therefor and consgn the property TO the deyourng
flames.
cline accept the terms offered by the government,
Of cents per pound should be assessed and collect
ed from such crops, and finally lost sacrificed
OF public SAFETY thereafter such should
not be allowed any compensation for the same.
Resolved That where other articles Of produce stock
exposed to the raids of tho enemy they should be
moved if practicable and il not practicable inventory
of them should be takon with estimate Of their value,
by military authority or government agent, in the
absence Of either by competent citizens and certified to
by them and said property forthwith destroyed and tho
parties thus deprived of their property should be ndem
The resolutions called for jointly, and the Chair
man announced that any one could address the
meeting who should be called for.
Hon. Mr.. Marshall was called and arose and said
The resolutions we have presented to are the resou
ons Of the committee appointed last night We live in
world where is really for the question TO be or not
TO be:' We are in the midst Of bloody war. We
have TO contend against great odds. We have been
driven by the blockade to many strange expedients
Men have seized pixies and lanccs for want Of proper
to defend their wives and daughters and mothers
(Applause Hitherto the authorities who have had
destiny charge seem not to have been awake to the
exigency of the times. We have raced the
Merrimac, and clad her in jacket Of iron. Why
government had at first bought the whole cot
ton crop might now have thirty such vessels
The Northern invaders crowd around us to desoae
homes and put equality with slaves. They
crowd upon US in countless numbers; but Southern
heart, worthy Of the name feels downcast (Appsuse
man is tit for no position in life until he has met
verses After the great Of Manassas began
believe the hand OF Providence vsby sie
and that we had nothing to do but our late reverses
have taught must brace to the contest
and no manly bosom quails We como to the cotton
question. The last crop is actually roting unbaed
We have been taught to believe that England and France
dependent on this staple and that they would
and get il. Why do they not como? have begun to
doubt whether tbsrs are snch countries France and
England The enemy found cotton at Ship Island some
it true they found in flames, but not enough of it, At
Florence they went and took an quantity
No one seemed to think Of setting fire to IT, At Nash
vile they will perhaps get SO 600 bales the owners
TO their property, will have TO swear allegiance TO
that miserable tyrsnt Abe Lincoln And presently hoy
will descend the Mississippi with, perhaps, fifty gun
boats and compel the negroes to load them with cotton
and send it to Europe and say have opened cotton
many-something grand. ! want the Confederate 60
vernment to buy all the cotton and, need be- destroy
IT, II Of those pillars which support this temple
and the other tobacco and England France Russia
and the Cntcd states Of America and ourselves depended
them for existence and il necessary, would,
Sanson-ke drag them down. and let universal
overwhelm Civilization. Suppose, these resolutions
propose the government buys the cotton aud tobacco
crops not to be expected that will able
pay for them Hardshps will be the consequence Grea,
numbers must suffer tax will have To imposed
| (Mrs. General Gaines entered the house.) No one
welcome TO such assembly as
this than Mrs General Gaines. (Grcat ap-
plause.) will suppose that half of the cotton and
tobacco crop has been burned Ny cotton has been
burned, and have received seven cents pound from
the government, wilhelm neighbors, whose crop has
not been burned has been enhanced double in value
His small crop Of cotton would be fortune, yet who
among who would hesitate to apply the torch II
than it should fall into the hands Of the enemy
But suppose the government buy the whole croI
| and determine to burn it-as want them do-tha,
the world may see that this little republic, they may
choose to consider us can strike blow that will s.nd
CONSERVATION through the world, while they talking
about conquering the republic and hanging the Prcs
dent want the government TO come forward and say
lor VI COttOn, give
it to her commis soners, and say burn it, want the
government go in search Of the cotton instead Of
leaving il to be captured by her iron clad The
government have 600 900 bales financial measure.
There gentlemen present who raise much
four thousand bales Of cotton and who say they will
themselves burn IT., indemnity not, rather
than the Yankees sha get possession OF 1t. A
lady Of my acquaintance has said she will
not only burn her crop, but her house itself, and
take 70 the Forest rather than the enemy pos
1t. (Applause.) We shall ruin interest by
letting this crop lie here and put another crop upon
Cotton instead Of being ten cents will not command
than three cents. Suppose the blockade opened
now, could not get to market by August The boats
which used TO transport cotton engaged in making
war upon US, and Of them have got well pcppered
at Fort Doneson. They are to-day planting cotton in
Texas and next week they Will begin plant further
North needn't enlarge on this to planters II ~ evi.
dent TO them there will be two crops the market be.
fore next January some will say wo viii force England
20 TO India for cotton will say her. g) England
has spent f350 900 00o snd gotten Louisiana planters TO
20 TO those distant Countries and hss been obliged to
give up fororn hope. But suppose England finds
other cotton fields, I'd like TO know II we lnd other
spnners for crops and be forever independent o her
to the west Of two little countries China and ia