The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-10-16
For the CITIZEN.

EDITOR CITIZEN There is a great
and growing evil that have been ex-
posting and hoping to see discussed
through the columns of your useful pa
per for some time, but ms vet 70 one has
seen Tit TO bring forward the subject,
and as it seems every one feels too care
less or indifferent To Introduce it, having
become | suppose so Injured to suffering
wrongs without complain, thought
| would write short article by way of
getting the thing started, hoping by
| getting the minds OF the people upon it,
some one might suggest an anted L..
The evil speak OF, II the secret traffic
/ In cotton between dishonest tenants ant
Others, who, though they make preten-
I tionS TO great respectability. are really
! ia my opinion, lOwRr down By far, than
| the rogues who stesn the cotton and car
| ~ il Ia them. So common has become
1 the trade, that cotton is frequently left
| in the road running by my place. l had
no idea the trade was so extensive, but
/ seeing so many evidences of it, l have
taken some pains 10 inquire into the
/ matter. l find there is nightly traffic
between the negroes and certain pre-
tended to he respectable merchants of
/ your city, who pretend to believe that
the cotton thus carried 10 them is being
sold by parties who came honestly by il.
How easily dollar can blind a mans
eyes To truth, or lull his stricken con-
science TO rest. One of the cotton
"tOaters' rs they are called by their
comrades, was caught in my cotton
house some time since, but made such
fast time on being discovered, that he
succeeded in making his escape.
There are certain pedlars going the
rounds through the country Who ought
To be dealt with i'm mHnner such as
would id the country of such charac-
tiers, who not only trade for all stolen
property they can induce the negroes to
gather up Tor them, such as feathers,
rags, scrap iron, hides, sheepskins, &c.
but Ina ortler 10 induce a more extensive
trade, make appointments at certain
places on the road mt night for all who
ieel inclined TO indulge in such traffic,
to meet them with their produce which
they take in and give in exchange a
few old worthless goods that they mau-
age 10 get mp from some unknown
source.
Now Mr.. Editor, / know these things
10 be so. Tor | could enumerate several
losses that | have sustained through this
source, and | have frequently thought
would never allow another enc of
these rascals ON my place; but when
they come around with their ObseQuious
smiles, snd AN air Of such excessive it-
nocvnce and humility, wishing 10 sup
ply nse With SOME "sheaP goots,' a feel
lng of pity for the poor money loving
wretches comes over ME, and let them
pass.
Can we farmers find no relief from our
grievanceSy We have suffered Il long
time with ut complaint. win we not
be Forced to go into the grange business
although objected 10 by some of your
contributors though without cause l
think, tor have taken some pains 10
post myself IN regard 20 thar order, and
| think IL would be the best thing the
farmers could do as 10 speedily organ
ize Grange Ia every district, and By
thus forming an Organization of such
strength they could certainly remedy q
great many OF the evils they have so
long and 50 uncomplainingly borne.
viii not some ono in the county start
the ball in motion l think 10 once
started, and we become better acquaint-
ell With, we would soon aH be for il, tor
| think il Is bound TO prove the greatest
boom 10 the farmer, destined finally 10
.elieve him from many Of his present
evils that make his lot 80 hard, and force
hin to DC continually crying out hard
times. Respectfully, &C.,
a Farmer.