The Placer herald., 1863-12-19
WHY WE DON'T GEE COTTON.


the Federal army would place at the dispo
sal OF Northern manufacturers an abundance
Of cotton, are beginning to realize their
mistake That there was an immense
amount of this staple stored along the line Of
the Mississippi Southern and New Orleans,
jackson and the Mississippi Central railroads,
previous to the fall Of Vicks5urg and the re
treat of Johnston's army into Alabama,
there is no question. But what the fugitive
Conederates have not been able to carry
with them into the interior has been burned,
and thus lost to its owners and the mapufac-
turing interests Of the world, which, after all,
are the greatest sufferers by this vast sacri
flee OF property. Recent accounts from the
south west state that vast contlagra,ou of
cotton is raging throughout the State of
Mssssippi-up and down the fertile valleys
OF the Iazoo, Pearl and Tombigbee rivers,
from tie laIlahatche on the north to the
Pascagoula on the southland that heaps of
charred ruins onl y await the advance of Gen.
eral Grant towards Mobile
But here the question arises, why this
wanton and wholesale destruction of private
property by It's owners, unparalleled in the
history Of civilized warfare? Whv should
The rebels destroy this particular kind of pri-
vate property, which affords neither subsst-
ence TO man or beast, aud is rather an obsta
Gle than an aid to our offensive operations?
Why do they not also destroy their other
personal property in the same reckless man.
ner when compelled to leave it to the tender
mercies Of the invaders? The answer to these
questions will give the key to the suicidal
pc LEY by the government in lis dealings with
the non-combatant opulation Of the South.
west, and show "hy the penning up of that
fertile region is not followed by the CONNER.
cia results anticipated. Under the rules
adapted by the War Department at WASH
iugton, in constructing the radical acts of
The last Congress, 1t Is not question with
the people OF the Con ederate States whether
they shall destroy their cotton or SW it to
their conqueror for a bona fde consideration.
If they were At liberty to adopt the latter
alternative, there is no question but that they
would prefer even compulsory sale of their
property at one half or one-quarter of its
value, to its utter and rreparable loss. This
has Leen definitely aSoerlained by persons
who have been among them and learned
Their anlmus IN regard to these transactions.
but the uucompeusated loss of their prop,
erty with the restoration Of Federal author
ily, as it extends ise If over their SOIL is A
toiegone conclusion, and they have only to
choose between the flames or contistation hv
the Yankees. What more natural decision
could they mike under the circumstances?
Cnder this confscalion policy our govern
ment agents seize cotton wherever they can
lay hands on it. and unless the owner shall
prove that he has always been loyal to the
Uuion. and never by word or deed ackno~l
edged the uhortv of jeff Davis's domina
ton, (Which Of course not one Souhelne,
in IL thousand could d y, if disposed,) his prop
erty is summary forfeited. Not to speak
of the monstrously just operations Of thi,
practice in many cases, it is most short-sight'
ed and fatal as regards our own poIiica and
material interests. 1t can only emblter and
protract the war, crush out the last spark OF
the Union sentiment among Southern plant
ers and lead them to choose death rather
than submission A liberal commercial pol
icy is wanted wherever our army has gained
lis a ioo.hoid upon Southern soil. This in
the end viii prove to be the most potent
conquerer, ;Ster the Union armies shall have
done their appointed work. and will not on
ly save millions worth of cotton from the
torch, but re establish the moral foundation
of the Union. Boston Com. Bullehn.