Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-24
mEMpHIs AS A COTTON MARKET.

MEMPHIS AZ A COTTON MARKET.
The Cotton Exchange will meet at
three clock pm, Saturday, the 9th
inst. the earliest time at which the new
rooms will be ready for use. We under
stand that the allegations made against
certain commission merchants will be
thoroughly investigated. We hope that
this will be done, aud that the animus of
the charges will likewise be taken into
consideration. There may be personal
reasous for the course taken to inJure
the cotton trade of Memphis, and drive
il to St. Louis. We know full well that
Memphis merchants can Of themselves
be. and that as class they are, invulner-
able TO any attack upon their integrity
and futher, we will venture the assertion
that those who abuse Memphis most bit
terly have been recipients OF kindness
at the hands of Memphis people, and
that in all probability some Of them are
at this moment in debt to Memphis
merchants. These violent attacks are
not without deep-seated luminosity and
pioue. Let the whole truth come out.
If any of our commission merchants
have been guilty of such irregular and
reprehensible practices as intimated, let
them suffer, but not the whole commu-
nifty of cotton men. ST. Louis, as a mat
ter Of course, takes this up as sweet
morsel, rolls it over, spreads it out, adds
to it, and rejoices in the prospect OF add
ing A few more bales to her annual re-
ceipts. The Cotton Exchange of Mem
phis is timely institution, which has an
opportunity right at the outset of demon
strating its power for COED. 1t is com
posed of heightened gentlemen, whose
names are guarantee of its efficiency,
integrity and fair dealing with the pub
lie. The rules by which the Board will
be governed ensure prompt returns
and fair prices for cotton, and in spite
of any rival market or spiteiul attacks,
Memphis will continue 10 be the second
cotton market in the Mississippi valley.
Her position and facilities are such that
our enterprising and liberal merchants
can continue to defy new rivals and jeal-
GUS enemies. We need not say to the
planters, Come in with your cotton, for
they are coming as never before and
pouring a rich trade in the lap of Mem
phis. The cotton receipts Of yesterday,
the 23d instant, we're screen thousand sir
hundred and four bales, the largest
ever known for one day in the history of
Memphis. Our streets are full of PEG
ole; the stores are overlooking with cash
customers, and we do not remember to
have seen such business activity for five
or six years. Memphis has rebounded
from her calamities ike a ball of rub
Der, as it were. andif spared from future
epidemics, as we hope to be for a score
Of years, her prosperity will be the
wonder aud admiration Of the whole
country. We have to repeat what the
LEDGER said a few days ago that
we have more faith in Memphis
than ever before. We have faith in her
brave men and beautiful women who
have so recently illustrated the true and |
the highest heroism Of which mankind |
is capable. We have faith in her real
estate values, in her working classes, in
the integrity CT her merchants and in
their capital. We notice that very few
whe have left Memphis within the last
few years are reported to have grown
rich or overly prosperous, whether they
went North or South, and that quite a
number wish themselves back