The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-09

will never be so treacherOus to our
friends as he proved to his in this in
stance. Flow the call of apuGlic meeting
could necessitatc Col. Cochran to run
again for 1ntendant, we cannot under
stand, but we think We understand the fol-
lowing certificate:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
ANDERSON COUNTY.
This is to certify that, in conversation
with Mr.. John r. Cochran, on or about
the 25th day of June, A. D. 1875, re-
quested him to sign my petition for the
appointment of cotton weigher by the
Town Council, to which he Cochran re-
piled, "I am Id sorry of it, for |
wanted Ed. Reese to have that place, and
this petition will necessitate my being In
tendant again." The reason 1 asked him
to sign was that he had previously de-
clared to me that he would not be can
didate, and I wanted his name as former
Intendant to present to the new Council,
as all the merchants except two had
signed my petition.
J. B. MCGEE.
We have already discussed the question
of water in cotton, but we repeat that the
whole question of the weight of cotton is
matter of contract between the parties.
First, they agree upon the price; next
upon the weight. If they choose to leave
it to third man to say what it is worth,
they hsve the right to do SO. They have
the same right to let third party decide
its weight The same is true as to the
water. The merchant and farmer have
the right to decide it, and hence the right
to leave it to third party, and unless
both parties are satisfied the trade is not
binding.
As to whether We misreprescnt Col.
Cochran, in saying he insinuates our
merchants are dishonest or not, we refer
our readers to his and our articles in last
weeks Intelkgescsr. The word market in
the old charter is co.extensive with mar
kets in the new one, despite Col. Coch-
rams doubts on the subject. The petit
ton published by Col. Cochran does not
say the seller is to pay for the weighing,
but it asks for certain changes in the old
system, and states that the compensation
for weighing is too much, and is paid en-
tirely by the seller. 1t then asks that the
compensation be reduced to five cents,
without asking for any change in the
party who pays for the weighing. So OF
course, it would be expected to remain
unchanged in this respect.
Col. Cochran's charge that we say the
ginners' weights are frequently incorrect
is simple attempt at deception, but un-
fortunately for him We went on to state
why they were incorrect, namely, that
the cotton is generally weighed before it
is ginned, and every one who is acquaint-
ed with this business knows that different
gins give different weights of lint from
the same weight of seed cotton, and also
that different varieties of cotton have diff
ferent amounts of lint in given weight
of seed cotton, so of course the ginners'
weights are necessarily frequently in
acurate.
Now there is reason why the Messrs.
FAINT signed the statement that five cents
per bale is enough for weighing cotton,
which has hitherto not been made pub
lie. In the first place when Mr.. O. H.
P. FAINT was weigher the amount of cot
ton sold was comparatively small, being
about five thousand bales year at first,
and another principle comes into play
lust here, which is that one mans services
are worth more than another's, on
account of the difference of their expert
ence, judgment, &C., and while man
might think five cents per bale enough
for weighing cotton he might not be will
ing to take the position at that price.
But when Mr.. j. Reese FAINT became a
candidate for reelection last year Col.
Cochran promised his father to vote for
him. Afterwards he told Mr.. J. Reese
FAINT that if he were elected, Mr.. Pegg,
one of the Wardcns, swore that he should
only have five cents per bale for weigh
ing Mr.. FAINT agreed to take it, as he
was the merchants candidate for the po-
sition, but the next day Col. Cochran,
who was Intendant, and held, as usual,
the casting vote in the election, sent for
Mr.. J. Reese FAINT and told him that he
wanted to take care of Mr.. Reese, or
something to that effect, and that if he
would take Mr.. Reese in rs his clerk and
give him half the proceeds of the weigh
ing he would vote for him, and allow ten
cents per bale for weighing the cotton,
otherwise he would elect Mr.. Reese
weigher. After consultation with his
friends at the solicitation of the mer-
chants and o number of farmers he ac-
cepted the position, and thus Col. Coch-
ran bartcred off his vote to secure an in
come to his brother-in-law, and this was
the real reason that it was found necessa-
ry to reduce the weighing this year.
Our readers will therefore see that some
other than one family, as Col. Cochran
states, has received some of the profits Of
cotton weighing before this time.
Now, as Col. Cochran is so gracious as
to give us unasked-for advice, we will re-
turn the favor by advising him that if he
desires to have the respect and confidence
of the good people of our County, he
must mend his ways, for his loud profes-
sions of reform will no longer avail with
out he acts up to them. His actions in
the last election did deceive great many
cood r,eou1e. az he profcssed to suppOrt