Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-02-05
FREE TRADE Iy COTTON.


Many far-seeing and sagacioas rnep among
whom is Secretary Chase, are urging the
Government to throw open tho trade in cot
ton, under certain restrictions, to all Who de-
sire to buy, and demanding no oaths of any
kind frosH the planters and others WHIP bring
it within the Union lines for sale; payments
invariably to be- made in United Statesnotcs.
The arguments advanced in support Of this
plan, are good. 1t is claimed that by this
means we would secure large amount of
cotton, and at the same time so discredit the
rebel currency throughout the cotton growing
region, as to strike deadly blow at the re-
bellion. 1t appears that the rebel leaders
greatly fear the adoption of this course, and
complain loudly at the very moderate trade
in this article now carried on,-on account
of its introducing "greenbacks" to the de-
probation Of confederate paper money. In
recent debate in the rebel congress, at Rich
mond, Mr.. Clapp, of Mississippi, said:
"ln the country near the city of Memphis
the traffic in the enemy's currency had been
Of more damage than the armies of the enc
my. The traffic had commenced and was
carried on by people under pretence that it
would enable them to get supplies from with.
in tho enemy's lines which were necessary
for their support; but the country had been
literally deluged with motions" not at oil
necessary to either comfort or subsistence.
Had those persons done according to their
professions, every man, woman and child
would have had three or four pairs of shoes,
and the salt would have been knee deep.
I'm all that section, such had been the eff
feet ctthts traffic, nothing could ao,c be bought
for Confederate money except only aoheq, Qua.
troops ieere there TO enf1rce respect to the con-
federate laws. Citizens had not only refused
to sell their cotton for confederate money,
but concealed it, and when opportunity
served transported il to Memphis and dispos
ed of it for greenbacks. 1t had been shown
that not less than from one thousand to two
thousand bales per week had been delivered
at Memphis, and in return the country was
OVERLOOKED with triaes, creating artificial
wants and producing an utter disregard of
the laws and of the interests Of the Confed
eracy. He would make this law SO as to
bring the men who were creating this state
of affairs, bringing distress and ruin upon
the families and homes of our soldiers, to that
accountability which they dcsere. There
was now no law to reach tho case, and our
courts should at once be furnished with the
authority to deal with it,
The dread the rebel leaders have of the in
PRODUCTION of reen-baeks," is eyinced by
the stringent legislation they have adopted
to prohibit their circulation, viz: Any per-
son selling anything for United States Notes
is liable to penalty Of forfeiture Of the
amount sold, and fine not to exceed twenty
thousand dollars, with Imprisonment not ex-
ceedng three years.
1t seems that our authorities are disposed
to take hint from these rebel fears. In
commenting on this subject the N. Y. Ecen-
ing Pest says:
EVENT. we were TO gain no direct advantage
by throwing open the trade, *e ought still to
do it in the face Of this act, as sure means
to harrass the rebels. 1t may be said that if
we do the leaders will force the planters to
burn their cotton, as an etfectua! preventive
to trade But we reply, let them try that
we shall have gained much if we force the
rebel chiefs to attempt 4 general destruction
Of cotton. The planters would rebel against
Davis the moment he attempted to do this.
1t is notorious that but few Of the planters
on the Mississippi burned their cotton; the
greater number hid theirs away or carried it
into the interior; and some, whose bales
were threatened by rebel gucrillas, defended
their property. Let the government give
permission to all proper persons to buy cotton
within our lines, and let it give notice that
cotton brought to our lines will receive safe
conduct, and no questions asked, and the
balance Of advantage from the traffic will be
greatly on our side; while the spread of U.
S. Treasury Notes through the South will
still more depreciate the rebel currency.