Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-18
sales on the 18th inst. wero as fol.
Fnlsc Pnckcd COTTON.

The following which We find in the Mem
phis Appeal is worthy of being passed
around, inasmuch as considerable false
packed cotton found its way to this market
during the season:
Our attention has been called to an evil
that is difficult of remedy, and to which we
must, in the performance of our duty, call
the attention of our planters, the mercan-
tile community, unfortunately for them
selves, being already too familiar with it.
II is that much cotton has been received in
this market falsely and fraudulently packed,
the bales filed in with trash OF all sorts,
and sometimes water packed We learn
that one of our leading cotton houses has
had to allow several rebates on their Liver
pool bills on account of stones and mud
taken from the heart Of bales of cotton
packed in the Mississippi Valley, and sold
with purpose to rob the spinner, or first
oonf1ding purchaser. 1t so happens that in
all the instances under our knowledge, the
Memphis purchaser has had to suffer and
endure this robbery and refund to the
spinner in proportion to its amount. The
honor of the planting community is at
stake in this matter, and we hope our ap-
peal will reach every member, that this
thing of fraud be stopped, be suppressed,
If In no other way by local associations
formed for the maintenance of the credit
and good name of q class who heretofore
have stood high, as beyond any possibility
of resch by the corrupting influences of the
day. And while the planters are redress
ing this grievance, it would be well for
them to take into consideration another
that threatens to grow and assume danger
GUS proportions; that is the putting up cot
ton in small bales, and the use of unneces-
sary quantities Of bailing and rope. Sooner
or later we are bound to hear from the
Northern and European customer on this
head and to have trouble The recoil Is
sure to come, and when it does, ii will be
sweeping in measures for the prevention of
all such penny-wise and pound foolish
schemes. 1t is as necessary to maintain
mercantile character as mercantile credit.
Indeed, the one argues the other. It is
therefore to the interest of all engaged in
cotton-producer and seller-that it should
should reach the manufacturer clean, free
from trash, carefully and honestly packed,
! and with as little bagging and rope as may
be necessary for its safe carriage and con-
veyance to market. Memphis has q good
name abroad, she must preserve it. To do
so she relies and must rely upon the plant
ers who make this their market for the sale
of their cotton crop. It is in the cotton as
in all other business Honesty is the best
| policy" TO illustrate this, we will tell a
story that is vouched for tous as being true
in every particular Before the war, in the
vicinity of q pretty little town in a neigh
| boring State, not 800 miles from Memphis,
| q well-to do planter packed IN the middle
| of bale of fine cotton an old and very
large grindstone, that had done good
| service in its time, and had been thrown
aside. He sold this bale to merchant of
| the town alluded to, who in turn sold it to
| o merchant of Mobile, and he to a mer-
chant of Liverpool The Liverpool mer-
chant sold it to French manufacturer
who, in opening the bale, found the old
stone on which the planters negroes had
whetted their knives and axes, and he i'm
mediately returned it to Liverpool, whence
it was shipped to Mobile, and from there
to the little town, whence it found its way
to the yard of the planter, to the astonish-
ment and amazement of the negroes, who
could not believe that the stone they had
| packed under the direction of their master
had been to France and back in SO short a
time. 1t is needless to say that all the
| parties were reimbursed The neighbors
| of the unfortunate man made up purse
and paid the amount of the fund, and then
| tarred and feathered him previous to
driving him from them in disgrace. This
severe punishment served as an example
for long time. We hope it will not have
to be repeated in order that the honor and
credit Of the planters of the South may be
upheld. {