The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-09-11
Seed Cotton Traffic.

MEssRs. EDITORS: Your article OF
the traffic in seed cotton looks in TIT
right direction. This dishonest traffic
must be suppressed at once. 1t was g
great mistake in the Legislature Will.
limiting the hours within which seed
cotton might bo sold. not also to limit
the quantity to five hundred pounds OF
upwards, and impose on the sale OF
smaller parcels certain conditions neces.
sary TO secure hon. sty. 1t is the sale
IF small parcels. WHITTIER by night or
day, that is ruinous to tho planter. 1t
enables the thief to enter his fells ut
night, pick fifty or hundred pounds
Of his cotton, and dispose of II Drxt
day before Il 6 theft has BEEN discover
ed, thus removing nearly all chance IF
''is detr ction. This might have been
rem died by requiring The vendor Of
mall parcels 10 'nf"rm the TWO n'are>t
landhni i,rs OF his intention 10 sell such
parcel, and obtain their certificate as
to the probablr honesty with which he
came by il, which certificate must be
presented TO the purchaser before he ia
authorized to buy, either " night or
day. | hope SOM" such am-ndm"nt to
the law will b. made by the Leglsla-
tnrc at its next s ssion.
But in the mean time the buyers OF
seed cotton will, through theft, have
gotten possession Of IL large share of
the cntton crop-a share go large that
it will take away more than the plant
er's profit. This must not be. The
thief and his accnmplice, the buyer of
small quantities of seed cotton, whether
by night or day, must be stopped at
once in their nefarious procedure
For this purpose the citizens Of the va
rlous townships should hold meetings
at the earliest practicable day, organize
themselves into associations for the sup
preston of this species of theft, and
adopt such measures as are necessary
for the immediate accomplishment Of
that result. To this end woull sug-
gest the adoption Of a preamble and
resolutions something like the follow
ing:
Whe cas- the purchase of seed cotton
in parcels less than five hundred
pounds, by the encourag' meut and fa-
ciliti's it affords to theft, has become an
iutolerable nuisance to our community
therefore be it
Resolved. That We. the undersigned.
cltiz"ns of - TuHDsh,p, pIrdg'
our faith 10 each other that we will
Zach, to the utmost of his ability, aid.
support and sustain the other in what.
"ver measures may b. determined upnu
by this ASSOCIATION rs necessary to pre-
vent the stealing Of our seed cotton,
aud to prevent h" encouragement and
abettiug Of such theft by those who
hny seed cotton in quantities less than
FIVE hundred pounds, whether by night
or dav
Res>lced. That committees b. ap,
pointed b" this association 20 wai' rth-
with upon pv.ry person IN this towns
ship known to b" engaged in tn" pnr>
chase Of se"d C tim, aud invite him to
give a solemn pledge that he viii not
buy seed ortton either by nig' t or day,
III parcels less than five hundrre
p,uu Is ard that if, after such inv ta-
ton. h d"rlin..s to give such pledge,
lie b. made an "bject fnr the sp"c'a'
v;.il zee and at'"nti n of this ass ola,
:ion.
R",ol'ar', Th'' il sny p'rS"n hncs
,.rd COTTON in nallrr parclls 'fan e
hnudr pounds :" s'I!, h may i'f"r"
any rr,p ct.bi' neighb ring landh"ld"r,
MT ea:ae. d in hnying -ee1 co'tnn, and
obtain his certi6:4te, to b. presented to
til" purchaser.
Res.lred That i is our firm purpose
AMI lu'enrlon that, nn'fS> aS qna tiei
awe. sect cotton .hall ny: be sold in
.,ur township in !. 81 p.rcls than five
"undr.d pounds. and that We will
promptly and vigorously use whatever
means may be n"c"asary to prevent and
suppress practice which is nothing
Iess tran Wholesale theft.
In fine, Messrs. Editors. in order that
the earliest action. NAV be had on this
subject; permit ue to invite the plap,-
ers of the township ip which reside
(DeKslb tovuship) or suoh Of them as
concur in the foregoing views, to meet
on Saturday next. 18th instant, at 2
o'clock p M, at point On the Charles
ION road opposite the Mulberry House
of Gen. James Chespu,, to take coun-
rel as to what course should be adopted
10 the premises.
ONE WILLINa TO ACT.