, 1863-02-10
COTTON BUYING In TEE SOUTH
FVFET

WEST.
We have for months past protested
against the practice pursued By the Gov
ernmcnt in allowing private traffic in cot
ton in the Southwest The extraordinary
license given at the outset, has cngendered
evils Of the most monstrous character. 4
few sltmrscs into the iniquity are given on
the second page Of this issue, ana this is
but a single ieat torn at random from tho
mass Of enormities piled up By Federal
officers, swept away by cupidity and car
1ied into crimes from which in the begin
ming these very men would haycrcyoltcd at.
The blame is to be laid at the feet of the
Government in allowing a single bale Of
cotton in the rebel States to he bought,
handled or trafticked in BY private parties.
1t should hare all been seized and disposed
Of by Government Quarternasters for tic
benefit Of loyal men at the North, who are
paying the expenses Of this war, and have
right to claim, that Us far as it may hon
cst]y and properly be done, the war shal1
hclp pay its Own bills. There is no plea
or argument that can prevail to the con-
trary, against the plain fact and duty, based
On war usage. Every pound Of cotton
should have been secured to the uses and
profit Of the Federal Government
As it is, the spectacle is sickcning and
aggggravating beyond all description. Whole
divisions Of the army hayc been held and
welded solely Us guard for cotton buyers,
| and scores of officers wearing the Federal
UNIFORM have used the men and means Of
transportation entrusted to them, for uses
solely TO their personal aggrandizemcnt.
These men have been willing that the war
should wait until they could reap their
share Of the cotton crop, and to further this
what cnoru1itics some Of them hare
stopped TO, let the pngc elsewhere in this
Issue tell.
The TRIBUNE will shield no one in this
matter. It has had kindly and pleasant
words to say Of Horcy, who left n high po-
sition in the educational interests Of this
Statc to enter the service, wherein he has
won promotion. Gen. HoTey's name now
stands sullied by charges uuof1ccrlikc, in
human and djsgracefu1. We hope he
may, underneath all this, wear the defense
ofinnocence. 1t is due 10 him, and to the
country, that 4 thorough investigation bc
madc,aud he be cleared, or punished. Cor
mans case also demands examination.
Have these officers really been selling f1si-
tive negroes back into scrvitude and taken
tlcir pay in cotton? Let the country
know it, and give US the full list Of similar
| offenders, that tllcir shoulder-straps be
stripped from them.
Let there be IN investigation at once
but let tue Government not wait for its 70
luminous findings to be made up. 1tmus,
wait until then, to punish past offenders. Il
Gail prevent future of1cnscs by putting q
] full stop to the cotton trade. Il is mock
cry to hold the line of blockade about the
| rcbel States, and maintain our fleets at
coast hafbors, and search the baggage of
! stray passengers and females going South
/ ward from Washington, while through
those broad aud unrestricted channels in
tie Southwest, a steady stream Of gold is
pouring into the Confederacy. On this
point an Intelligent correspondent writes
4 gscat deal OF gold ands its way into cottor
buyers trousers i'll the South They travel in
couples. j. goes to Tcnncssce or Mississippi
rlantlr sEd buys his cotton at sixty ccnts-payine
With sgeeMbacks. Planter wants gold. 4 Gays ls!t
iricE,l II, is Just convenient md has gold Don't
| krow whittier he willpan With it or not. Planter
rias toD.-seils his ErccnbatEs for h!ty cents OF
lie dollar ncsuA: Cotton netts the i>aitst1~ jus
thirty vents per pound. Worth eighty cents il
New York. Nice little spccu1aton-in fact. "bis
Thing. n. nnd .. divide profits, and 60 OF
cvaling the strict letter Of the law in regard tt
paying gold to rebels Every regiment captnrct
o: rehcis tan tnss, out more gold and silver from
This reason. tfan any regiment capturing them
| Is 1t not time for the authorities q
| Washington 10 move, and put in force til
| llainest usagcs ofwar: The robbery come
cut OF the blood and treasure Of loyal men
It's inEan.ics cry aloud from the disgrace
and delays Of the campaigns in the South
west, they have largely caused, Wilitber
he IN cuiis