The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-11-06
LETTER PROM WILLIAM.
East MISSISSIPPI. Oct. q, ls7s.

/ would have been writing to you all
along as heretofore, but | have been
poorly, and in addition to that, the cows
have been getting into my cotton. Did
YOU ever have a field, white with cotton,
and wake up every morning to find a
number of your neighbors' COWS assisting
you in getting out the staple? If you
never did, you are not qualified to say
whether such matter can disqualify one
from writing letter to newspaper. |
said no bad words to the cattle, but my
thoughts were not gentle or entirely pious.
The money panic came with the COWS.
We have not sold any cotton for money
over here. All of US, who are mort
gagged to the middle men," can sell to
them at pretty fair figures, but the ''mid-
die men" can get no money, and there is
a general dearth of currency. Merchants,
generally, have good stocks of goods,
aud are disposed to sell on easy terms.
All business, however, that requires
money to take it forward, has stopped.
There is, l lam pleased to write, a general
and commendable spirit Of forbearance
among all classes of people.
Mr.. Jones is rather radical in his views
on the panic question. He says, 'The
money changers at the North trade and
speculate in stocks until they get up a
panic, by shutting up the currency of the
country, and always do it at a time to
ruin the Southern laborer. Now farm
ers are urged to send forward their cot
ton and sell it for certified checks. The
banks furnish these in the morning and
in the evening buy them up at dis
count of 5 or six per cent. Let the
whole traffic in cotton stop, until the
money ring desist from such a game Of
grab. Ii it is objected that the country
merchants must break, we reply let them
suspend. The great banks suspend at
pleasure. Let the merchants suspend to
save the planters. If this is not agreed
to, let the planters suspend, mortgage
men and all-deliver no cotton except
sufficient to purchase the necessary pro-
visions for daily sustenance, until the
game of panics is stopped.
Mr.. Smith, who was present, here in
terrupted Mr.. Jones by suggesting ''that
such a course would demoralize our peo-
pie, already too much disposed to disre-
gard the obligation of contracts, and the
true basis OF all business transactions
would melt away" ''Distrust' said he
would take the place of confidence and
the moneyed man would not know whom
to trust"
sWorse evils" said Mr.. Jones,
Knight befall the country than those
you mention There is too much credit,
too much trust Matters would assume
a better shape in two or three years, if
all enterprises were on cash basis. 1t
is always deplorable, however, to lower
the moral standard of a people, but |
when selfpreservation is involved in any
course, the question Of moral standard,
important as it is, cannot be considered |
by the intended victims. The banks anu /
spectators are responsible, and the
planter cannot afford to contribute one
fifth of his legitimate income to keep up |
the moral standard in society, when the !
merchants and bankers pay nothing l
by declaring that the farmers
should store their cotton on their farms,
and refuse to deliver bale until they
are assured that all combinations to ruin
them are disbanded. Merchants have
no more right to immunity than planters.
When you write to THE CLARION again,
state to that paper the sub
stance of my views, to the end that
other farmers, like myself, may feel en-
to suspend"
am not acquainted with financial mat
ters much, for Inever had much money.
have always been in panic, and, if
the COWS insist on helping to gather my
cotton, the moral standard" question
will not be practical one with me, but
n the last degree speculative.
The bulk of the cotton crop, say two
birds, was housed without being wet.
The other third is in the field
l have bought ticket in the State
Fair especial premium" business. If
draw the two thousand dollars in gold,
am coming to jackson after it. | feel
ike | am going to draw it, and Colonel
Power wrote on the letter containing my
icket that he wished me good luck. {
WILLIAM.
p. Sin Itawanlba county l am in
avor of holding an election, SO that Bro. {
David johnson may beat everybody for
he Legislature, by receiving every bal
ct cast Speak to Attorney General
'Iorris for an opinion for Itawamba. !
ssShe Works for a. Living