The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-04
TBE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TgE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
An Interestine Meeting-The Petitions
to Congress-Tne Postonice clock-A
aueer ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
cal Information, &c.
A special meeting Of the Chamber was neiu
Yesterday at their rooms, President Tupper III
the chair. -
The president reported to the Chamber tna1
the several memorials to Congress from tn'e
body, viz: the petition for retaining the outy
upon foreign rice, the petition for refundlug
the tax paid Immediately subsequent 10 tne
war. upon raw cotton, and the petition recenuy
forwarded asking for an appropriation LOT oar
and harbor improvements, have been duly pre-
sented to the two houses of Congress, and re-
ferred to appropriate committees. We have
the assurance from Senator Sawyer and from
Representatives in the House that these In
terests wlll-be properly cared for and adVo-
Gated by them.
He further reported that the clock ordered
by the Chamber for the front OF the Postomee'
facing Broad street, had arrived, and couio %
seen at Mr.. Hayden's store in King street.
He would take this occasion to state that Mr..
oakshot. the superintendent of construction
at the new Customhouse, had kindly under
taken to erect the platform and stairway ior
the clock under the circular window, where
it is to be placed, free of expense to the Cham-
ber. Messrs. Adger & Co., the agents OF the
New York steamers, had also declined receiving
any payment for freight of the clock from New
YoIk to this city. The Acknowledgements OF
the Chamber are due to these gentlemen Tor
their courtesies and valuable assistance In this
matter of public Interest.
Under authority of the Chamber, he had
the satisfaction OF also reporting that the TWO
additional club-rooms mad been secured In the
third story OF the building.
The president submitted the following
memorandum, handed him by Mr.. E. L. Wells,
a member of the Chamber, which he deemed
to be matter of deep Interest to the mercan-
tile community, and upon which he asked the
action of the Chamber:
HEMoRASDUM.
In November, 1868, Messrs. Lesesne d Wells
agreed with respectable factor of this place
to consign to Liverpool, for sale there, about
eleven bags sea island cotton, which belonged
to q planter, q constituent OF the factor.
Messrs. Lesesne & Wells were Instructed to
engage freight per sailing vessel just COM
mencing to load, 10 preference to steamer or
''going ship" the owner wishing that some
time should elapse before the arrival OF the
vessel in Liverpool; they were told to Instruct
their correspondents to sell the produce ~ tae
usual manner for The best interests OF all con-
cerned. Messrs. Lesesne d Wells accordingly
engaged freight per Borneo, good vessel,
then lust put upon the berth tor Liverpool py
her agents, Messrs. Robt Mure j. Co., and no.
tilted the factors thereof 80 o,ua
The cotton was In due course sent aboard
the vessel by the factors, who delivered the
draw receipts to Messrs. Leeesne & Wells, who
then procured bills Of lading, paid over the
advance to the factors, drew upon their ior-
eipn correspondent for such advance, and the
bills of lading passed out OF their possession.
The instructions Of the factor OF the planter
were thus specifically compiled with IN every
respect by Messrs. Lesesne Wells, ana tne
customary usages of business were observed.
Owing 10 the unusual dullness In the freight
market, and from no fault Of Messrs. Lesesne d
Wells, the Borneo was occupied an unexpec-
tedly long time in loading, OF which at the
time the factor and planter were aware, ana
in consequence OF this delay tne cotton
ticipated, when the produce was first shipped.
The sea island market had 10 the mean Time
declined; the cotton was sold at good market
nrice. but at lower price than might prooa-
bly have been re allied some months previous
to the arrival of the vessel. Account safes
were rendered, and balance paid over TO tne
factor, and no fault was then or previously
found with the conduct Of Messrs. Lesesne d
Wells. The planter made no claim upon the
vessel, her agents, or upon Messrs. Lesesne q
Wells before the departure OF tue Vessei,
though aware of the delay and Of the decnoe
the cotton had been sold and accounted for,
the planter Instituted legal proceedinss
against the firm of Messrs. R. Mure Co..
who had been The agents OF the Borneo WnlisV
loading here; but alter the death OF MT. hoot:
Mure, Sr., and about one year ago, lano
had been shipped) the planter suspended
his suit against Messrs R. Mure Co., ana
commenced legal proceedings against Messrs.
Iesesne & Wells, who then Tor the first time
were made aware Of the claim against
them. This claim was for the di1erence in
the value of the cotton in Liverpool at tne
time when It might have drftued tnere oy
vessel loading promptly, ami the price OF sale.
Messrs. Lesesne l. Wells offered to leave the
matter to the arbitration Of the Chamber Oh
Commerce, but this proposition was not agreed
to. It was claimed that Messrs. Lesesne q
Wells were r6SpOusloio loi tuO oS,"y -
Borneo In loading, because they had made
freight with her Sndsr .Sav WsSs
not the agents or consignees of the Vessel, and
had no control or influence over HI 'Shat-
ever. This was the only ground upon "nlcn
their responsibility was claimed.
This case came up for trial the Court OF
Common Pleas, on 18th March, 1872, and yer.
dict was given by the jury for half the amount
claimed.
AS one of the factors concerned In the ship
ment of the cotton alluded 10 In the foregoing
paper, would state that the facts as set iortn
therein are substantially correct.
P. G. GA1LLARD.
Above facts are correct.
EDw. L. WELLS,
OF Lesesne & Wells.
vlce-Presdent Frost moved that the memo
randum be referred to special committee OF
the Chamber to report at an adjourned meet
ing. The motion being unanimously adopted
the chair appointed the following committee:
Messrs. E. Il. Frost, VIM. Ravenel, Henry
Gourdin, Theo. Huchet and R. Lathers.