The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-02-23
Cotton Stealing.

Tho bill introduced by Mr.. Fer
r'tcr, of Sumter, to regulate tho
sale of cotton and designed to af.
ford some remedy for tho terrible
evil OF cotton stealing, and tho
Illicit tl,f1ic in seed cotton, from
which tho planting community
suffered SO much the past season,
came up for consideration, in tho
llouse, on tho 9TH ult., and was
lost by q voto Of 62 to 2.
We annex the following report
OF the discussion on tho bill, taken
from tho "Couricr," in order that
our honest farmers may SEQ how
their interests stand with those
who assume to be their rcprcscn-
tatives. Mr.. Fcrritcr has discharged
his duty in the matter, in the in
tcrcsts Of honesty and tho coun-
try, and tho result is before us. We
say, cmphatically, let there be no
more burning, but let every man
protect his own property. This
he has a right to do, and this our
honest people will do.
Sumter Waterman.
DcLargo moved to strike out tho
cnacting clause. Ferriter, Of Sum-
tor, who introduced tho bill, said
that in his section of tho country
Csumtcr) cotton stealing is an
OWL, and tho pcoplo demanded
some remedy. Little stores were
opened in different parts Of the
country, and at night thieves
would steal cotton and sell to
these stores. The people both
rich, and poor, demanded protcc-
ton from these midnight maraud-
ors, and this bill will givo the
remedy. ITc said although the
bill could not prevent tho thieves
from stealing cotton, yet it would
provont persons from realizing on
tho stolen cotton. 1t would pro-
tcct the poor colorcd man who
raises q few bales, as we'll as the
rich man who raises q thousand
bales. 1t was for tho benefit Of
the whole people. Ito said he
could tell Of casos whore tho fields
wcrc white with cotton at sunset,
and at sunrise it had been entire
ly stripped. Such actions had cx-
aspcratcd tho people, and n short
timo ago tho storo Of Mr.. Robert
son who had been accused of buy
ing stolen cotton was burned to
the ground, and if tho citizcns can
not be protected they will again
tako tho law in their own hands.
This evil Of cotton stealing was
growing, and in one county Of this
State thirty littlo stores had boon
started in thirty days, who wcro
carrying on tho illicit trado Of
buying stolen, and no doubt urged
parties to steal it. Tho trado is
all carried on between 8 o'clock,
p. NJ. and daylight. IIo said tho
idea OF cotton wcighcrs was no
now thing, for fourteen years ago
in the town of Cheraw, they had
cotton weighors. Cotton is tho
great staple Of our country, and
the planter, be ho rich or Door,
must bo protected. 1t was tho
wish of tho colorcd pooplo that
some such measure as this should
pass, as he had boon among them
in the fold and on tho highway,
had convorscd with thom and
know their wants. He hoped tho
cnacting clause would not bo
stricken out.
Tomlinson opposed tho bill, and
said the Legislature might rs we'll
pass an Act to regulate the sale of
rico (and plenty Of that had been
stolen,) corn or any othor commo-
dity. Ho did not boliovo tho
amount Of cotton had boon stolen
as has been assorted. Tho gen.
tleman from Sumtor (Forriter)
had referred to tho burning of Mr..
Robcrtson's store in Sumtor "by
indignant citizens" Ho would
ask, had il bccn shown that Mr..