The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-12-13
OLIVE BRANCHES.
how Grading Bstwoen tho Limos Was Con
Quoted During tho War.

It is the hand Of peace that winds
the silken chain of commerce around
the world. The throbbing of spindles
and the whirring Of shuttles are 81
lenced by the din Of war, and the hus-
bandman gathers no sheayes in the
burrows made by it's red ploughshare.
These truths we're very sensibly felt
by the American people in our great
internecine conflict Of four years.
They came home to mems business
and Blossoms most uncomfortably, ex-
cepting the spectators who enriched
themselves by the sad contributions
Of the public calamity. The sudden
cessation Of al commercial intercourse
between the sections caused a afnan-
cial shook that was enhanced by their
former interdependence. Absolute
free trade had existed betH cen them,
and no custom house officers Lad ever
sentineled their borders. The nom
intercourse pressed heavily on the cot
ton mills Of the north, as the staple
that fed their spindles and looms was
wholly supplied by the cotton fields Of
I the South.
Congress sought to meet the exi-
.gency brought ON by the cotton fam
Inc through curious piecetof legisla-
ton. It appropriated 100000 to
purchase cotton seed for free distribu-
| lltion in the Northern States. A por-
,Iion Of that seed was planted even in
Vermont, under the shadow of the
Green mountains. It has known no
resurrection, for it requires a warm,
mellow soil, and the cotton plant does
not open its feecy. chambers except
under the burning sun Of tropical or
semi tropical countries. They, might
as we'll have planted the traditional
wooden nutmegs. Of Connecticut, and
expected them to yield to The hands Of
the husbandmail the spice Of morning
LANDS. AS it was found impracticable
to change the laws Of climate and con-
vert the rock-riBbed hillsof New Eng
land into a cotton belt by a statute, it
was decided to secure the needed sup
ply Of cotton through a channel of
trade never before dreamed of by pub
slieists. The government of the United
States authorized the issue Of permits
to private parties to trade articles not
contraband Of war for cotton within
the enemy's lines. There was no
enumeration Of articles, that were con-
.traband Of war, the venturers being
evidently remitted to their Vattel and
Pufendorf for any information that
they required upon the subject.
q These permits were intended for use
in the valley Of the Mississippi, and
United States military commanders
we're enjoined, TO respect them, and
pass the holders through their lines
f6r the purpose stated. No official
supervised the delivery Of such ship
ments on the partstof the United
States, bit the Confederate authori-
ties appointed an oficer-Colonel
McKee--to take charge on their part
Of all exchanges under this system in
the States of Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas. The, cotton bartered
through the Confederate agent was
obtained either by voluntary sale OF
by q seizure termed innpressment, the
owners being paid in Confed
treasury notes, the best of all medi-
lums for rapid circulation, since every
man, who received one of them made
diligent effort to pass it on. Those
notes, BY "a singular oversight, were
not made legal tender for any debt
either public or private. They were
all convertible into 4 per cent. bonds
:at the option Of Che holder, with the
privilege Of reconverting the bonds
into Confederate notes. Every note
bore upon its face q Vignettet Of sew
| ieral shorseG, doubtless to impress the
holder that it WAS a stable currency.
There was no actdof the Richmond
Congress that limited the amount Of
the notes to the square inch of the
Confederates States. Hence the
Southern people were happily relieved
of all fear that the supply Of Confed-
crate money would be exhausted.
Citizens were permitted to purchase
goods thus brought from the lines OF
the enemy after the official agent had
made his selection, but they could not
get them for the discredited currency,
and they, too, paid in cotton.
How far the contraband limitation
was respected is shown by the follow
ing incident. I had constructed a fort
on the right bank Of the Red River,
about fifteen miles below Alexandra,
La. It was on high bluff and com.
pletely commanded the channel that
ran within 500 yards Of it's guns. Its
armament had just been placed in it,
and it's. magazine supplied, when a
sentinel walking his beat on the para.
pet announced that steamer was
coming up the river. We saw her
| smoke, and, as we had no steamer be-
low, it was assumed that she was a
United States gunboat, of che class
known to us as ''tin clads, from thei,
rather thin iron plates. The gunners
were at their posts and ready to open
fire when she came within range. But
| as she turned bend in the river we
saw that she was flying white flag.
She hove to opposite the fort, and 6
party of four or FIVE pnt out from her
for the shore in one of her boats.
They were met at the landing by the
officers in command at the fort, whom
I accompanied, and the captain of the
steamer showed permit authorizing
him to trade within the Confederate
lines. It was headed, Executive
Mansion, Washington, D. Co." ano
signed "a. Lincoln. )" A government
agent soon arrived and the captain
handed him manifest, or list, of the
cargo. It consisted chiefly of gray
cloth, blankets, boots, spurs, rifles
and swords, with an ample supply Of
ammunition.
There was also large assortment
of drugs and many hundred gross Of
playing cards.
These last were aboutthe only arti
cles not contraband, for they could moi
be used in the great game of war
That was was in June, 1864.
A little later on, saw battery o1
Napoleon rifed guns, with their car
riages, and 10000 horse shoes deliver
| cd from steamer hyinp the United