Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-07-01
G. G. MEMMINGER,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
COLUMBUS, Miss, April 9, 1864.
Condition of the Cotton.

COLUMBUS, MISS, April y, 1904.
Condition Of the Cotton.
From every source Of information, it is certain,
that the cotton in the exposed district is in the
most deplOrable condition. Large plantations
abandoned everywhere, and cotton has been left in
sheds. These tumble down or are blown down.
Stray cattle destroy the cotton soldiers, partica
larly cavalry, strip it of the ropes and bagging
make use of it for beds, scattering it in every d.
rection; fires of frequent occurrence per acct
dent or lncendarism 1; the poor of the county take
away as much as they can make use of runaway
negroes devaState; thieves, with whom the coun-
try aoounds, carry off the cotton by wholesale, ira
ding 1t to the Yankees, hiding it in inaccessible
paces-they do 1t at ught or even in broad day.
light as there is little law in the country. Even
those who have sold their cotton to the Govern
ment in their desperate fortunes, regarding them
selves as beyond the protection reach of the
Conederacy, sell it again to the Yankees upon
the Pretext that they will replace it out of the
next CROP or out of cotton in otho- quarteIs They
justify the act by their necessities There is reason
to fear that the soldiery are sometimes implicated
in the guilt. Parties visit the section with forged
powers, represent themselves as Government agents
and take away the cotton, using force, if necessa-
~. General decentralization prevails throughout
much OF the entire section reaching to every class
Trade Nth the enemy is universal The tempta-
tons to fraud are overwhelming. Even our own
agents are often charged with completely. have
country, and the best recommended. They report
1t to be lmpractcable to prevent the depredatiOns
Quantity Of Cotton in the District.
From the report Of agents, l estimate that there
are about ten thousand bales of cotton, owned by
Government, remaining in the district 1t cost the
Government from eight to fifteen cents in its depre-
GATED issue, and is yet capable of rembursing US
for all losses in the district. The cotton fer rea-
sODS above, is generally in miserable condition.
" hen hest oil md r6oJ tbo L.
gng and rope will burst after several wears Most
OF the representations made To Richmond and
to which the Secretary has frequently called Id
attention, have reference to these cOttons Those
IN other parts of the State receiving constant
supervision from my agents. The owners being
on the estates, makes the matter practicable Large
quantities oil cotton, owned by prigate parties who
reside out Of the State, being greatly neglected,
are frequently reported to be Government cotton.
Burning Cotton by the Military.
This has been accomplished in the widest and
most Irrational manner. Under the influence of
panic thousands and ten thousands of bales have
been burned, which the enemy could not possibly
have reached. Even in presence of mere cavalry
raids the torch has been frequently used The
most incompetent persons are often empIoyed The
greatest possible irregularities occur Whilst the
cotton OF some parties is burned that of others is
spared The charge of collision is frequently
made; certain it is, that no general principle has
been observed. Cotton is burned md no recebt
given. 1t is burned at times aOith the Clubhouse
1t is ordered to be turned out for burning and af
ter beng stripped for the purpose is left un6urned
to be destroyed by the weather or cattle or to be
carried away. 1t is burned ruthlessly and mady.
IN places remote from danger whilst entire dis.
Tlcts, contiguous to the enemy, are spared The
commanding General Johnston admitted this. in
conversation with me, and deplUred it. Thus, the
most intense heartburnngs are engendered, and
much OF. the decentralization among the people. fire.
quenty referred to, is the result. In one county.
("lISlnson) the cavalry burned public cotton oDIy
leaving the private cotton untouched Private par.
ties and holders will not burn, fearing retaliation
from the enemy.
o.. Removal Of the Cotton.
frequent orders from Richmond have emma n
TemoUe the cotton from the exposed districts. and
large organization was set on foot by me for the
purpose. Responsible and competent persons were
sent Into the dstrc! with am pie means and author
ny. After an experiment of nearly six months
the whole may be regarded failure. Tn thai
ume eight hundred bales were brought out from
Ihe southwestern counties, at an expense equal tn
nearly the original COST and sent to Enternrise n
pe stored' Ihls was regarded most eligible
point, but 1t reached there only in time to he
largely used up by the Sherman expedition. which
destroyed also such as was en- route Had the cot
Ion remained on the plantations it would have es.
caPed- Thirteen hundred bales were removed ont
N north western Mississippi and stored in the vi.
'h'ty o! freedman, 10 await transportation ON the
central railroad. More than half of it was imno,
cateiy afterwards fired by incendiaries and de-
Tu"yeu' ms 100, though guard had been or
"ered over It, caused all the cotton to he brouobt
nut oil Pamela county. 1t no sooner reached noi6ts
"n !ne railroad, than it was all DESTROYED by the
,nlltary. Six Thousand bales were nsed in Eort
iemoerton. was in the act of having it re- baiIed
'"u Drought away, when the cavalry dashed in and