The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-09
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. It is indisputable that
the present wasteful and wicked policy of the
Administration touching the disposition of cot
ton is depriving the country of the use of inn
mense quantities of that precious staple.
system that compels the Wholesale destruction
of one of the necessities of civilization is es-
sentially barbarious. But read the article.
Those who were expecting that the occupa-
ton of the Lower Mississippi region by the
Federal armies would place at the disposal of
Northern manufacturers an abundance of cot
ton are beginning to realize their mistake
That 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
fall of Vicksburg and the retreat of Johnston's
army in Alabama, there is 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 property? Recent accounts
from the Southwest state that vast conhagra-
tion of cotton is raging throughout the State
of Mississippi-up and down the fertile. val
leys of the Yazoo, Pearl and Tombigbee riv-
ers, from the Tallahatchie on the north to
the Pascagoula on the southland that only
heaps of charred ruins await the advance of
General Grant toward Mobile. But here the
question arrises-why this wanton and whole
sale destruction of private property by its own
ers, unparalleled in the history of civilized
warfare Why should the rebels destroy this
particular kind of private property, which af
fords neither subsistence to man nor beast,
and is rather an obstacle than an aid to our
offensive military operations /? Why do they
not also destroy their other. personal property
in the same reckless manner when compelled
to leave it to the tender mercies of the. inya-
der? The answer to these questions will
give the key to the suicidal policy pursued
by the Government in its dealings with the
aud show why the opening up of that fertile
region is not followed by the commercial results
anticipated. Under the rules adopted by the
War Department at Washington, in constru-
ing the radical acts of the last Congress-, it is
not question with the people of the Con-
federate States wether they shall destroy their
cotton or sell it to their conquerors for bona
fde consideration. IF they were at liberty to
adopt the latter alternative there is no ques-
t1On DUG LnaG Jley WOulu prefer sven d cQHl-
pulsory sale of their property at one-half or
one quarter of its value, to its utter and ire
parable loss. This has been definitely ascer-
tanned by persons who have been among them
and learned their animus in regard to these
But the uncompensated loss of
their property with the restoration Of Federal |
authority, as it extends itself over their soil. |
is foregone conclusion, and they have only |
to choose between the flames and confscation
by the Yankees. What more natural decision
could they make under the circumstances p
Under this confscation policy, our Govern-
ment agents seize cotton wherever they can
ay hands on it, and unless the owner shall
orove that he has ola0ays been loyal to the
Union and neuer, by word or deed, acknowl-
edged the authority of Davis's domination
which of course not one Southernor in thou
and could do, If disposed), his property is
forfeited. Not to speak of the
nonstrously unjust operation of this practice
n many cases, it is most short-sighted and
atal as regards cur own political and material
interest. 1t can only embtter and protract
he war, crush out the last spark of Union
entiments among Southern planters, and lead
hem to choose death rather than submission. /:
! liberal commercial policy is now wanted
'herever our arms have gained us a foothold
pop Southern soil This in the end will
rove to be the most potent conquerer, after !
le Union armies shall have done their appoin-
d work, and will not only save millions worth
cotton from the torch, but re-establish the q
oral foundations of the Union. !