The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-08

Information OF peculiar and grave
character, intimately involving the wei
fare of the country, comes to us from
highly responsible source, aud is of
such nature that we should not be
justified in Withholding it from the
public. Personally knowing nothing
of the facts alleged, we give the state
ment in the language in which it is
made to US as follows:
"a contract for the surrender Of the
trans-Mississippi country 70 the United
States vas made between the Govern
ment of the United States and Kirby
Smith, commanding the rebel forces
West Of the Mississippi river, Casey and
Butler being the agents of both parties
in making the terms of agreement
Casey is from Chicago, and Butler was
formerly State Treasurer of Illinois;
both are in the confidence Of the Adj
ministration
The information IS derived direct
from Casey himself
The terms of the contract were rs
follows:
Kirby Smith agreed TO retire from
the country with his army and then
disband it; he would destroy no prop
erty, but on the contrary, surrender all
Confederate cotton TO the United States
Government.
in order tn increase the amount OF
cotton to be thus given up, heWas large
ly engaged in It's purchase from private
parties, paying double the amount Of
Tered by the agents of the rebel govern
ment, and then branding it &C ). 4.
that there might be no difficulty in the
way OF confscation and seizure by the
United States
In return, the United States GOV
eminent agreed to guarantee a safe ex
it from the country to Kirby Smith ano
ais officers, and pay for all cotton sur
rendered twenty cents per pound il
oreign exchange; with which money
smith i Co. We're 10 retire TO Europe
The government also agreed to respect
private property, and to prevent de
5astation and plumber by the troops il
their march into the interior
Casey was asked whether privat,
parties might not engage in the business
If buying Smiths cotton, and replied
hat the matter had gone too far witt
The Government
"Brigadier General Elicit, command.
ng Marine Brigade, knew the fact o.
Chis arrangement, but 1t IS not certain
whether Maj. General Banks was aware
Of it or not
when General Banks started on his
expedition up Red river, Casey express
ed a fear that Banks would do som,
ict that would interfere with the fulfil
nent Of the contract
1T appears that General Banks and
Admiral Porter had cOlluded IN gigan
tic cotton speculation and sw.ndle
they have been Selling all the cotton
they could lay their hands upon, anC
f it belonged to private parties they
would brand it C. s. a, and then con
iscate it. they were also plUndering the
,ountry-in both acts grossly violating
Inc terms of the agreement between
Inc United States Government and
Kirby Smith
Kirby Smith seeing his hopes Of 8
cetirement in ease and wealth thus
dashed, and the cotton he had bought
With his private means together with
ais prospective riches thus snatched
rom his grasp, was driven to madness
and desperation; instead, therefore, OF
tetiring from the country, he was max
ing AZ much resistance as lay in his |
power, and was burning the cotton he |
would otherwise have gladly delivered
20 the United States Government
Major General Banks may have |
been ignorant Of the contract afore- |
said; but it appears that he had aban-
iOned his duties as commander of an /
army and neglected the real points OF !
ais campaign for the purpose Of lining
ais pockets with cotton-thus sacrifiC-
ny the efficiency and safety of his
army and the success Of the cause to
lis own personal profit Had he been
successful, heI could have defied the
anger of the Administration which bis
with their plans win ex-
lite, and have thrown himself upon the
)opulace, who ever judge of mans
,ctiOns by the degree of success which
attends them, and not by the intentions
which they were entered upon; where
s his failure will cause, if no more
disastrous result, his immediate re-
noval from command, and blast his
lOpes for the Presidency"