New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-28
TIE CHAMBER Oh
COMMERCE..
Fhe savnpnah Consn--Aa Exciting De-
batc.

Che savnBnab Cofton--Aa Exciting De-
bate.
The regular meeting of the Chamber was
POSTPONED in Consequence Of the absence Of the pre-
siding officer An adjourned meeting was hed yesto''
DAY. a. a. Low, osl., presided. Tho following mem
BEES were elected H. l.. Clailin. A. s. Barnes John
Is BOYD. IT,, james T.. Boyd ard Is. c. Morris Inc
inmates we're read and approved. Cyrus W. Field was
appontcd to represent the Chamber at the opening o.
h. Sucz Canal connecting Europe with tie East Inc
Committee appointed "a cooperate with the tohlltee
,of tho Common Council Ia tho celebration oil our VIC
ores reported that all further action was pO,tPohsu
on account Of tie Presidents death. ana esked 10 DC
discharged from farther service. which was gian,ed'
Cob ConkGg on behalf OF the Savannah Cotton Com
nittse renl lengthy report The report stated tnat
:, Tho outbreak 81 the Rebellion s50N1OoJ was owed
IN this CITY by the South. which amount has DOT YET
q been lqudatod. Tho report contained among
other passages the following; .,
''Tfe cty 81 Savannah h4ytng been evacuated Dy
no Rebel forces aud pied by the forces under Gen
Sherman without battle and without siege, ana VIII
DO oancnr chcc Of many OF the inhabitants 1t IS hard
probable that she Government will oonseote any more
OF The cotton found there than shah appear 10 bcong 10
The Rebol Government or 10 convicted traitors In al
o8 to such an act being unpr.ceienled III ,nou.,
mes aud unjust 20 many innocent owners u IS mani
-ty unfair unless provision be made for the pay
mcut of the Just debts due Ivy hs owners To tte North
I'm en- l,nrs The produce OF tlc country Is the sole
~
nnd IN equity and good conscience, ought TO be hed
fr the paymont of them. ny The net OF March lco5
Congress substantially recognizes this equity by pro
sc,tug all claims which can be spechcay inloceu py
law against property made subject 10 conscation I'M
der the act Of July r. l-o2 as mortgages ano other
liens In broad equitable view Of the matter II can
|mako but little difference fir ~ the claim OF tue
ltoyernnent Is concerned whether the debt was So
|ou-ed by LEGAL mortgage ON this speciio prop,
|srty. or whether IL was secured by equity ard
good conscience upon the property Of the debtor
<le
which the credit originally gver. and which Tue
Law would appropriate In peaceful times 70 the pay
mon, Of his lust debts The merchants Of New York
have IN interest In common with the whole American
people that the Government shall observe the well
eco eriKed principles OF pabc Law and the usagos OF
Iu.Uns "a prosecuting the var against the Rebels and
tie committee have an unqualified confidence II VIII do
20 not only account 81 ts OF honor and
Justice, but account Of the ancient and well earned
roEuSn OF the country. They trust tia, the public
authorities will self the cotton taken at Savannah.
fOr my other property taken by the army Ia it, progress
through tho snireciOnary ates. md appropriate the
proccsdS without Irst proceeding 10 decree ~ con
lsoion and sale in the Courts " Justice whore the
rights OF the o iimants and of mortgage creditors can
be projected under the law"
aside from the legal end equitable aspects OF the
subcct the Committee submit that there questions
of oxpediency involved shch cannot properly be- dsre
gprded and which In their view render n matter Of
tho highest importance that tho Government should
publicly disclose the policy Of recognizing the right OF
privnte property within insnrrcconary States. fhis
present 10 is emnent'y befting great snd mnynani
NOUS people Besides the omission 10 make such a.
declaration will almost inevitably In the present coEdi
iion u affairs compel q inhabitants Of those states to
destroy their properly a. east a. permit is dcsruc
tion by the hebe soidicry On the other hand. II the
shall enuBeIate policy which should prove
Ia toe people Of tie Sonh that their tights ~ private
property shall be respected, p0Seral motive will be-
piesontcd IN them 10 return 70 their allegiance Cit
gens and at the same time an important step will be
taken toward the r,tstblshmegt OF peaceful and profit
able commerce between the two sections OF the
The report was signed by all tie members Of tie com.
miteo eKcep, two. Captain Nershall and j. D. Chtten
den.
Captain M.RsHAIr. said he did no, egn the report
He conceived that this matter In the hands of the
Government, eud That II would turn upon one simple
point You by the report the idea il that al the
cotton should 90 10 pay Northern debts. Nov that
cotton is the property az the Government, he could
see no reason way he Goyrlnment should pay these
debts ~ the proceeds o that salo any more than
hat they should pay hem ont # the Treasury Of the
United States Had the Government taken this cotton
Improperly u would b. question 90 lie settled by the
Courts aud by those more familiar with that Kind of
url prudence than h.; nnd for those mainly he
ted TO siga the report. lie believed the policy Of
the Gov Crnment 20 be Tat any man who Is loyal mau
end has taken 10 interest IN tits Eebellion aud who
possesses a claim this cpton shall he entitled and
rho receive to ho aYails Ut that cotton faf he
conc rued.
Con STRONG wa IN favor Of adopting the report
yc GHNNtLI moved that the report be first printed
OF ia, hso or six hundred members Of this Chamber
e
siandiug'y Oh the subject. In his opinion this was
nothing moIe nor lees than attack upon the Govern
oni. lie felt convinced Justice would be done by the
government and he hoped justice would be melted out
- the traitors who nov claim TO bo owners OF that
cO'fOn-l mean the traitors az the South That cotton
Ncs not marked end labeled Mr.. Low" Mr. Grin.
ncl" an' Nh tnittr nden." &c Ii was In warehouses
aud stores. and twohrds OK It belonged 10 the Con
lcteUtr Uot ernnent, and WAS not labeled in many
eases Hut our trOOpe nd possession of tie city This
cotton belongs 10 IL general Government. The in
cblodEcs Of Georgia WAS not subject for this Cham
Dor Ia decide on
"a. ,oNgLING said the policy Of the Government has
bog bep uniform nor had IL boon authoritativcy de-
e nucd upon m reference to this matter Cotton
ccsey The same as rice tobacco nad other proper
y 81 Ao SOUTH IL is great question q. governmental
policy, az q appeared to him Cmincntly proper that
The mcnhur ol this Chamber should prpsOnt their views
pa the subject 10 the Government wish TO say that
an inteiestod in this matter.
Dir. GalASlLL-Ihon you should not be on the Com
mittee
Mr.. CoyKLNo insisted that he had right to DO on
he Committee, and that the Government should not
iepve people of the United states OF the power TO col
ect their debts. Much of the labor and economy OF
life wa thns lost to him.
Mr. GRINNEIL said ,that he hadcstton In South Caro-
ina and he hoped tho Government would cOniscate al
oton found down there, aud punish tho traitors who
irenched This land In blood
Messrs. BAXTER OPD,KR, NYs dnd Low smoke on
bo salo subject when. after further discussion
he Committee directed 20 print 500 copies of the
epor and the second Thursday in May appointed 10
consider the report.
committee to audit the accounts was appointed
Communications from Secretary Seward Dstriot. Al.
oinoy u. +. Dickinson, Commodore WnsIow Tieut
NIf.Hs .l,srf fft.if fr =