The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-16
NO. 228.
HrteE History OF Cotton Transae-
lions.

original owners OF she cotton, the vyit-
nesses on whose testimony it Wa con.
demned and the 5nfOrmznts who na,ii.
cipated in the proceeds. But we search
the records in vain for light upon tbe,e
points. Nr. Carson, in his published
statement, avow5 himself to be tbe 10
former, but admits that be knowa Dotb-
I ing Of the case, except what sonnebodv ~
Memphis told him. He says further that
this Mr.. Somebody received eleven
twelfths of one half the net proceeds 70
prove which he produces his recent Int
very carefully conceals his name. We
have, then, through the court or THROUGH
Mr.. Carson, no information a 10 the
original owaer5 Of tie cotton: no infer
nation as to the recipients of the prize
money; no information as 10 the real in-
former; but we are told that the proper
ty was confscated upon heersaV tesii-
mony, and the party who thus testifes
acknowledges the reeeipt for his own use
of One-tWelf,h Of One-half the net pro-
ceeds. 1t viii occur 10 the public. no
doubt, that case Of this kind should
have no mystery about it. The trans
actions of Government officials should
not be involved in mystery; because these
men are the servants Of the people and
their acts are legitimate subjects Of crit
icism. But how are the people to Judge
fairly OF the conduct o. their 3, Fvants;
or how can their acts be iutelligenilY
criticised II there are no records, or il
the records are persistently and carefully
concealed? We admit that il is difficult
to unrsvel the mystery that envelopes lie
transactions to which we refer, but We
shall undertake the job, remarking, how
ever, that having TO rely upon ex parto
statements, and having no power to
"send for persons and papers" We may
fall into error; but we use the best eff
forts to avoid doing iajustice 70 any one.
InFegard % a lot OF one hundred aud
sixty-three bales of cotton, referred TO
in former article, we have the follow
ing information There lives near Mem
phis planter named Stewart. lie isa
native Of this State, and his father was
neighbOr and acquaintance of The IA
Their of ThOs. H. Yeatman, Treasury
Agent at Memphis, Tenn. This man Is
70 years old. His two sons Joined the
rebel army, leaving the old man with bis
wife and two daughters At home. When
tho national forces occupied Msmphis,
Mr. Stewards cotton was in the field
Having lost his help, he arranged with
some one to pick, Gin and bale the cot
ton on shares. This was doDe. Me.
Mr. Stewart then visited Mr. Ygatman,
with reference 70 getting the cotton %
market. lie stated bis case fully. After
receiving the information, Mr.. Yeatman
caused the cotton to be seized A
lawyer CT Memphis visited Dir. Yeat-
man to plead for Nc. Stewart, but he was
informed that be had the "dead wood"
on that cotton, aud would hold it. The
lawyer then advised his client % sell the
cotton for S. 600 10 an army officer,
which he consented TO 90. This oGicer
consented 10 make the purchase, and Mr.
Yeatmsn was advised Of the fact and did
not object, but requ sted that tae officer
be sent to him. The officer visited the
treasury agent accordingly, and Mr.
Yeatman informed him that be had seiz d
the cotton, would hold hold it, and adj
vised him TO have no hing 10 do with H.
The officer took bic advice, Of course,
aud the cotton was finally shipped 10
Cincinnati and taken into court for con
fiscation. This is the story, in brief, 60
related to us By q gentleman, who also
says Mr. Stewart is friend Of tie Gov
eminent, and can prove IS good a caarac-
ter for loyalty as any ono who couad
live with his family and hold property
during the reign Of terror in that State.
The next case is that Of 922 bales of
cotton, seized at this port = few DAYS
ago, q copy Of the libel in which case
was published in the Gazette at tune.
While copying the libel our reporter was
informed Dy Mr. Carson that there was
claimant for that cotton, bat be refused
70 give the name Monday we were told
that copy of the bill might Do obtsined
from the mercantile firm with which tho
cotton was stored. We made Application
accordingly, but copy Of the bill was
refused. We ascertained, however,
through other sources, the history Of this
To- Of cotton.
II is claimed By Lacy, Able & Co.
These are extensive operators in militia
~ districts, and by some means or other
have obtained the exclusive right 20 sell
liquors At Memphis. There sgas at the
time this cotton was purchased militia
~ order prohibiting al trade within The
lines, but operators had a way Of airi-
wing ~ an understanding vita treasury
SCENTS, and while they passed tie lines
the agents merely Winked. The cotton
having been purchased and brought Oui,
II was pTiBlg fEcic liable 10 conf scation,
having been procured IL violation Of reg
ulAtiOns. Then il would be seized, some
times confscated, but more frequently
released" and the proceeds divided.
We do not know that this Is the status
Of Lacy, Able & Co.'S cotton, bat 10 il
the history OF other Transactions. A.
any rate, this cotton, after being deiaiE-
Cd At Cairo a short time, came 81 this
city consigned 70 w. +. MelleB, Treasury
agent Here il Was seized and hboied.
Tuesday, however, ths court ordered 10
10 be released on bond. Now g can 30
sold, sud the mex. step viii be 10 pro-
cure an unconditional release. We do
lot know the arrangement f3F q diEisien
Of the proceeds, in TINS case, and have 10
means Of ascerlsiniBg. We zee, h0Weg-
or, that Government odicials are a5s0late
parties 10 an arrangement for a violation
II military orders and regulations, by
which they briag . heavy amount VI
grist into their mill. Military orders
and stringent regulations ars therefore
desirable, and 10 - always, Of course, inn
poriaht hat the Law should BE- strictly
enforced against those who venture 81
trade without contracting Tor q general
division Of the spoils. The rules are 20
enforced against al such sbort-Eishied
and selfish traders.
The way IN which guerrillss are con-
ciiiated By these combinations Of tra-
derl, shows what = power there is Ia
money, and also hos Pliabls los aliy -
where dollars and cents are Involved
This point We shall refer % again, in
connection with further developments
which We are promised Ia connection
with the general 5usiness.
The National Union Lsaugo has mex
islsncs about 4 500 councils Of taai oraer