The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-12
COTTON STEALING.

Tho bill introduced hy Mr.. FnnlrER, Of Sum.
ter to regulate the snle Of cotton nnd designed 10
nfor', some remcdy for tho terrible evil Of cotton
stealing, and tho Illicit tmlic in seed cotton, from
which the planting community suffered so much
tho past season, came up for consideration, in
tho House. on the 7,h Instr and was lost by a
vote of 90 .o2.
Wo annex tho following report Of the discus
sion on the bll. taken from tho "Courcr," in
order that our honest farwcrs may scc how their
interests stand with those who assume to bo
their representatives. Mr.. Fcri,cr bns discharged
his duty IN tho matter, in the interests Of honesty
AMI the country, and tho result is before us. we
say, emPhntically, let there bc no moro burning,
hut let every man protect his own property. This
he has right to do, and this our honost pooplo
will do.
Delargo moved to strike out tho cnncting
clause. Forritcr, of Sumter, who introduced the
Bill, said TINT in hs sccton Of the country (Sum-
teri cotton stealing is an evil. nnd tho pooplo
demanded soIno remedy Little stores were
opcnc, in different parts OF tho country, and Ot
night thieves would steal c"it"n aad sell to these
stores. The people both rich. and poor, denuud-
.d protection from these midnight maraudcrs,
and this Bill will give Tho remedy. lilo said al.
though tho lil could not prevent the thieves
'ioW sNcu'iHS co''OPp Cct ~ "ou'' p'S'Sh' po'o"
from reniizing On the stolen cotton. II would
protect tho p"or colored mnm |!.i raises Jew
bales, as well as the rich man who raises thou
sand bales. 1t was for tho honciit of tho whole
people. lie said he could tell .. cnses where tho
fields wero white With cotton at sunset, and at
sunrise it had boon entirely stripped. Such ac-
tions lind cxaspsra!od the pcopio, and short
timo ago tho store of Mr.. Robertson who huL been
accused of buying stolen cotton was burnod to
the ground, and if the citizens cannot bs protect
cl they will again take ths Inv in their own
hands. This evil Of cotton. .stealing was growing
md in county Of this S,tc thirty little storos
lad bceM started in thirty days, wio woro carry.
ing nm tho Illicit tFu,lc Of buying stolen cotton,
nn'i 10 doubt urgod parties to steal it, Tho trade
IS sal! carried on hrtwcen o'clock. y. NJ. and
daylight. IIo said tho idca of cotton weighers
was new thing. for fouitccn years aga. IN the
town of Choraw, they had cotton wcighcrs. Cot
ton is the great staple of our country. and tho
planter, bc hO rich Or pu"r. must be Protected. 1t
was Tho wish OF the coorcd people TINT sOne
such measure as this should pass. ~ hc had bren
among them in the field aud Oh the highway, Ind
con, ersci with them nu,l knew 'hpir wants. lie
hoprd tho onacting clause would not be strickon
ont.
Tomlinson opposed the Dill, nnd snii the Log
islature might ~ we'll pass an Act TO regulate
tho sa!o Of rico, (and plenty of TINT bad boen
sto!cn.) corn or any other commodity. lie did
not believe tho amount Of cotton had been stolen
as has been often asserted. The gentleman from
Sumter (Ferrisr) Ind roforrea to the burning Of
Mr. Eouv..svn's store IN Sumter "by indignant