Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-03
ataioa and Amrritan.
Reading Matter on Each Page.


Upon the subject Of the amount of cotton
still on hand at the South, correspondent
writing from Macon, Ca, to the New York
Nacs, of late date, says;
Passing through the place. one is sur
prised to find such large supply of cotton
still on hand, crowding the commission mer-
chants and cotton packers. Notwithstand-
ing the vast destruction of this staple by
sherman and the remorseless Wilson, yet
with no material expectation during four
wears and half, and its continued accumu-
lation by small CROPS each year, the supply
on hand had become far greater than those
supposed who merely noted the fact that no
planter annually produced the half Of a
crop and very few so much as that while
the great amount burned by both belliger-
ents, and the exaggerated statements of
what had run the blockade, still further mis-
led many Of the best judges. For some
time afer the Southern trade re-opened there
was rush of ships southwark to bring of
at once the supply they supposed TO be so
small such was their eagerness that they in
few weeks crowded the wharves and store
houses of New York and Boston with more
cotton than was ever seen there before.
As the broken railroads were rebuilt il
was said that the distressed inhabitants were
sending off their last bale 70 command ne
cessarics, but these had often found relief by
selling 10 spectators in the country, and the
largest holders are many Of them still hold
ing up for still better prices. | know one
planter who has still over three million
pounds, and many others in the same section
and elsewhere Prospecting his Judgment are
also holding various lots, from a million
pounds down TO two or three bags. i saw
one poor man begging very hard TO borrow
500 that he might not have TO sell his little
crop until the next rise.
One passing only through the cities, or
over railroads, does not form just idea Of
what is in the country still. Much was car
ried into the swamps and lonely woods TO
escape the torch of Yankee raiders, and
some remains there still for want Of trans
portation; planters being busy with their
scanty teams preparing for cultivation; more
still is in bad condition from the rotting Of
5agging and rope, and needs TO be carefully
repacked; and still more is kept back TO cs-
cape the depredations Of the shoulder strap
ped cotton grabbers on the alert at every i'm
portant point to seize il in transitu.
Any honest Yankee Il admit such an one
would be a curiosity down here) would
blush for shame to witness the bare faced
and almost universal cotton stealing of the
Federal officials. Protected by their bureaus
and commissioners from the weak arm Of
the law" they roam at will over the land,
clandestinely putting the c. S. mark upon
cotton, and then seizing il, or hiring per-
iured wretches TO make such oath as may
give pretext for the robbery. In many
cases half the cotton thus recovered is given
TO the informer A gentleman here lost a
hundred bales the other day at one dash; a
great many Of the victims get of, however,
by making a donation of greenbacks to the
officer in charge. But to return to the sub
subject Of the supply; we know there is a
good deal on hand, which will yet be un
earthed in due time. Much win stay hid
den until civil authority is established, and
also until the Central railroad of Savannah
is repaired. There is still great deal COM
ing forward; / see it in all the chief towns.
There was much more here recently than
now, and the stock on hand at present is es-
timated, at present prices, TO be worth about
S3,000,000.