The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-12
Tho Mississippi Trade Regula.
lions. .5

Ho,0 the Cotton trade is carried on-Mr
Chase's friends and the rebels in partnership
Charges againstmsn inAigh places-Re.
leased rebel prisoners shirpiny supplies
contraband articles smugglea-SOuthsrr
trade in the hands Of the Chassites and tn
rsbels-beauties ofMs present system.
OHIO, December %.
Editors Cincinnati Gazette;
Detained here by missing connections o
trains, cannot keep from writing few
lines on the subject of your leader in yes
terday's Gazette on the "Cotton Trade
have just returned from an extended trip
down the Mississippi river, in connection
with the Sanitory Commission. While per
forming the labors more Immediately de-
volving upon me, could not close my eyes
and ears to what was going on around me
You are right in saying "that the Govern
ment should at once put stop to the pre-
sent system connected with the cotton
trade" There are grave abuses and very
serious charges connected with it, and it is
producing desire to speculate and pesu-
late that Is perfectly rightful. The officers
of the army, think, are fully awake to the
abuses which exist, and will do all they can
to stop them. The abuses mainly arise from
permits or orders. to trade emanating from
the Tr's'y Opt or its agencies. Men in high
places are openly charged with being direct
ly connected with those to whom special
permits are granted, participating in profits,
&c. Distinguished names from Rhode Is
land New York, Ohio and Illinois were
freely spoken Of in this connection. AS to
their truth or falsity, d. not pretend to
decide All that I know is that some change
in the system is necessary, and has been
from the first The custom is for men OF
capital and professed loyalty, | may say un-
doubted loyalty, to procure permits to trade.
These persons send agents of undoubted
loyalty, and these again sub-agents, more
unscrupulous, and who are loyal only to
their own Interests These men are paid
ST. per bale on all the cotton they can pur'
chase at l5c per pound. They proceed to
different points along the river, aud estab-
lish direct connection with guerrilla chiefs
and bands, who, for a consideration, will at
ford protection to the cotton which they
purchase. Supplies are furnished; many
articles contraband of war, doubt not, are
smuggled in, and the enemy in this way are
directly furnished with what they most
stand in need of. These spectators, if 10y
al at home'rrls assume the garb of traitors
and rebels when they 60 beyond our lines,
and to show their sympathy, communicate
all the information they are in possession
of, and curse and abuse the Yankees. More
fully to illustrate this, / will state what oc
Cured under my own eyes on one Of the
Memphis packets in the early part of the
year The boat landed and put out large
lot of whisky, -four, salt, &c,-a
few miles below Randolph, in Arkansas,
then considered within the enemy's lines.
The articles were in the charge of a
man who was pointed out 10 me, and was
we'll known to have been graduate of the
Gratiot street military prison at ST. Louis.
He landed with these goods. and was, as
was informed, to have cotton ready to ship
back by the return trip of the boat. The
soldier and other loyal men n board were
highly indignant that these things should
be permitted and made complaint of it.
The government aid on board the boat,
when asked why be did not stop it, an
sweled that they were Slipped by one Of
the most loyal houses in st. Louis, and un-
der regular permit. l know the extreme
sensitlvehess of our merchants in regard to
trade, and their desire to have it speedily
opened The desire many on this point,
| fear, override their loyalty and patriotism.
l would respectfully suggest that, if the
government would take the cotton trade in
their own hands, agreeing to pay twenty
cents pound to all loyal owners, or those
who would take the oath prescribed by the
President, one quarter to be paid in cash at
the time to enable them to purchase sup
plies, and the balance in three months time,