Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-08-27
Why We Don't Get Cotton.

The article We give below, from the Boston
commercial Bulletin, is deserving the serious
attention of our whole commercial and manu-
featuring community. IL is indisputable thai
she present wasteful and wicked policy Of the
Administration touching the disposition Of cot
ton 10 depriving the country Of the use of i'm
mense quantities of that precious staple. A
system that compels the wholesale destruction
OF one of the necessities Of civilization is es.-
sentially barbarous. But read the article.
Those who were expecting that the oocups.
patton of the Lower Mississippi region bv Inc
Federal armies would place at the disposal of
Northern manufacturers an abundance Of cot
ton are beginning to realize their mistake
mat there was an immense amount of this sta-
pie stored along the lines of the Mississippi
southern and the New Orleans, jackson and
Mississippi Central railroads, previous to the
fail OF Vickeburg and the retreat of Johnston q
army into Alabama, there 10 no question. But
what the fugitive Confederates have not been
able to carry with them into the interior has
been burned, and thus lost to its owners and the
great manufacturing interests of the world.
which, after all, are the greatest sufferers by
this vast sacrifice OF property7 Recent sccounts
from the Southwest state that vast conf agra
non OF cotton is raging throughout the State of
Misslssippi-up and down the ferEle valleys of
the Yazoo, Pearl and Tombigbee rivers, from
the Tsllahatchie Oh the north to the Pascagoula
on tne south-aud that only heaps of chsrred
ruins await the advance of General Grant
toward Mobile. Bnt here the question arises
why this Wsnton and Wholesale obstruction of
private property BY lite owners, unparalleled III
| bIatnRu n Oiy,lt naA
the rebels destroy this particular kind of uri-
vate properly, which affords neither subsistance "a
to man nor beast, and is rather an obstacle Than
an aid to our ofensive military operations7 WIN
do they not also destroy their other pereonal
property in the same reckless manner when
compelled to leave II to the tender mercies OF
the invader2 The answer to these Questions
will give the key to the suicidal policy pursued
by the Government In its dealings with the non.
combstant population of the Southwest, and
show why the opening up Of that fertile region
Is not followed by the commercial results sntIc
lpated. Under the rules adopted by the Wa
Department at Washington, in constituting the
radical acts of the last Congress, 10 is NOT q
question with the people Of the Confederate
States whether they shall destroy their cotton
or sell II to their conquerors for bosa fde con-
sidefation. II they were at liberty to adopt the
latter alternative there Ia no question but that
taey would prefer even q compulsory sale OF
their property at one-half or one-quarter Of ite
value, to its utter and ireparable loss. This has
been definitely ascertained by persons who have
been among them and learned their animus In
regard to these transactions. But the uucom-
pensated loss Of their property with the ressor-
alton OF Federal authority, as it extends itselI
over their soil, is foregone conclusion, and
they have only to choose between the flame,
and confsoation by the Yankees What more
natural decision could they make under thf
clrcumstances7 Under this confiscation policy
our Government agents seize cotton whereyc,
they can lay hands on 10, and unless the owner
shall prone that he has aiiosys been loyal to the
Union and aeusy, by word or deed, ackno owledQed
the authority of JEFF. Davis's domination (Whiob
OF course not one Southerner in q thousand
could do, if disposed), his property Ii summari,
ly forfeited. Not to speak Of the monstro1vl,
unjust operation of this practice in many CASES
1t is most short'Highted and fatal % reRards oul
own political and material interest. II can on,
ly embitser and protract the war, crush out the
last spark Of Union sentiment among Southern
planters, and lead them TO choose death rather
than submission. A liberal commercial policy
Is now wanted wherever our arms have gained
us foothold upon Southern soil.J This In the
end will prove to be the most potent conquerer
after the Union armies shall have done their an
pointed work, and will not only save million,
worth of cotton from the torch, but re-establist
the moral foundations of the Union. n