, 1864-02-16
FROM CAIRO.
Trade Matters on tho Lower
Missfssipp1. .

Especial Correspondence Of tho Chicago Tribune.]
CA1no, Feb. 1.1s84.
The "tlre In the rear organ having recent
y made some structures upon The conduct Of
officers Of the Treasury Department, having
charge Of the trade regulations at Natchez,
Mississippi considerable pains has been taken
to ind out for the information Of the readers
Of the TRIBUNE, just how much truth the pa
per alluded to has chanced to place inyits col
ums. The examination has resulted in the
elucidation of the fact, that, SO fur as MT
chez is concerned, tho rebel c-o~-.~ tut
stincts, and only given utterancc
to lies regarding the men it has endcayored. to
slime and s1ander. In SO far as 1t has been
consistent, perhups the orgun should be ap-
plauaed. But no further. It's attacks upon
honest and loyal men cannot be too severely
cenEured. "a 80: -
AtNatchcz the special agent Of the Treasury
Department is Judge Ralph 8. HART late Of
Missouri, and more able. moro industrious,
honorable and af1able gentleman could not be
found in the country to take the position.
He is An honor to the State from which he
bnils, and is fast becoming respected and hon
ored by the secesh residents OF the city
Of his adoption. He deyotes his entire time
to tho service, and ltas no SONS or relations
engaged In trading operations who are allow
ed to monopo1ize the business and share with
him the cream Of all the profits to bo realized
In the business. He honestly believes that
when the government pays him specified
sum per day, the government ia entitled to
and should receive his best cDt1clyors and all
his time in the transaction OF thoTaricd busi-
ness that comes before him. A business man,
or any man, no matter how poor or squalidly
to midnight Of anT day, and find the Judge
immersed in business. - I..
Another. thing; Judge Hart has ali along
taken particular pains that no sharper should
succeed In establishing stores In Natchez, and
thus reap the benefits secured by the brave
boys in blue, tie men Of our army who hare
shed their blood that the Mississippi might
again be open to the trade Of the country. or
courea he was not ab1c to give out permits
for all the trade stores he had applications for,
but he gaGo ont Justly and cquitably SO long
as there Was chance to do SO, and used the
utmost impartiality IN the disposal Of the f.
,vors Of the government: Each applicant was
carefully scTutinized, that no -sympathizers'
with rebels might be allowed to open bust
ucss and furnish -0ur enemies With aid and
comfort. 70 one OF the best citizens Of Chicago
who wss m applicant for a"t1ade store at
Natchez, the Judge rtmarkea; My dear eir,
your papers and recommendations arc the
best; both from the military authorities and
the Treasury Department, which hare yet
come before INC. But / cannot yet grant your
request. Another, with equally good certiai-
'catcs Of character might come in. Should
such q person chance to present himself, l
provo the successful one. y: or course the ap-
plicant had to assent. But Lie eventually re-
. ceired his permit .t
He caused to bo published in tho columns
Of the Matches Courier a list Of all the appli-
cants. This gave every man d fair chance
and made each tub stand upon Its oWn bot
TOM. II one upon the list :was tainted with
dieloyalty, Ind been gnllty Of any criminal
act, or there there could be anything rakcd
up against him derogatory to bis character as
man, there were Others readily found, either
to come up and certify to the fact In this
manner, it Ia 10 be presumed, he secured m
immaculate set Of commercial men for the
district over which he pEcsidcs. II not It
certainly cannot be from lack Of canton.
.. As might hare been expected, tlis cause Of
!, sentiments, strengthen the Union men who,
through thick and thin, have clung to the
! cause Of the country, and bring even rebels
to respect the men by whom they suddenly
| found themselves surrounded The loyal and
true were tho ones who received fuyors.
Oldest citizens Of the place. Disabled SOL
/ diers, who had been -honorab1y discharged
| from the service, found in Judge Hart ready
friend, and ono who was prompt to rcc0g-
| nize, and as far Us in his power lay to award
tbeir honorable wounds.
A friend, we'll known aud respected citf-
zen of Chicago, and who has performed In
valuable services fol" the Government, las
Just returned to Cairo from Natchez, en- ro9fe
for his home, uud from him I have learned
the facts nboyc set forth. BE vouches for all
| I have said, and more. ...
In connection with Judge Hart, the special
Treasury Agent at Natchez, mention should
also be made Of Messrs: =. 3: smith, & iate
With Messrs. .Tuttlc, Hibbard & Co., Of Chlca'
70, Qnnrtetmaster j. z Jones, Alfred Clap,
IT. L. E. Geo. De la{-tle latter tae speelai "a!
! NisWauder, Mendcnhal1: and Miles, all con
nected with the Treasury Department and all
| men Of standing and reliability.
Natchez may be set down aa In fonrlshing
condition, considering the difficulties through
which he place has passed since the war
broke ont: 1The Union feeling is on the In
crease 1t Ii; In taet, Better than In vicks- M
burr: The population may be about 1900,
4 400 Of which aIe the remains Of the original