The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05

In New York. and I told him of my appointment
az Mr.. Sranton's assistant. He Immediately re.
peated what 1 had told him to some newspaper
people; 1t was reported In the New York papers
the next morning. The Secretary was greatly
offended. and withdrew the appointment.
When I told Halpine I had. Of course, no idea
he was going to repeat It; besides. / did not
think there was any harm in telling.
immediately after this episode I formed .
partnership with Roscoe ConklinR and George
w. Chadwick to buy cotton. The outcry which
the manufacturer had raised over the inability
to get cotton for their industries had induced
tho Government to permit trading through the
lines OF the army, and the business looked profit
able. ConklinG and I each put $40. 900 into the
firm, and Chadwick gave his services, which, as
he was an expert in cotton, was considered
equal to our capital. To facilitate our opera
tions. I went to Washington to ask Mr. Stanton
for letters of recommendation to the Generals
on and near tho Mississippi. where we proposed
to begin our operations. Mr.. Stanton and I
had several conversations about the adyisa,
biity Of allowing such traffic, but he did
not hesitate about giving me the letters I
asked. There were several of them-one to Gen.
Hurlbut, then at Memphis. another to Gen.
Grant. who was planning his operations against
Vicksburg. and another to Gen. Curtis who
commanded In Arkansas. The general purport
OF them was: "Mr. Dana 10 my friend, you can
rely upon what he says. and If you can DO kind
to him in any way you will oblige me-"
1t was in January. 1858. that Chadwick and I
went to Memphis, where we stayed at tho
Gayoso Hotel, at that time the swell hotel of the
town and the headquarters of several officers.
It was not long after I began to study the
trade In cotton before l saw it was q bad bust.
ness and ought to be stopped. l at once wrote
Mr.. Stanton the following letter, which EN-.
bodied my observations and gave my opinion as
to what should be done:
MEMPHIS, Jan. 81, 1888.
DEAR Sir: You will remember our conversations
on the subject OF excluding cotton spectators from
the regions occupied by our armies in the South. I
now write to urge the matter upon your attention a.
. measure Of military necessity.
The mania for sudden fortunes made in cotton.
raging In q vast population OF Jews and Yankees
scattered throughout this whole country, and In this
town almost exceeding the numbers of the regular
residents, has 20 an alarming extent corrupted and
demoralized the army. Every Colonel, Captain. or
Quartermaster is in secret partnership with some
operator in cotton; every soldier dreams of adding q
bale OF cotton to bis monthly pay. Ihad no concep-
ton Of the extent OF this evil until I came and saw
for myself.
Besides. the resources OF the rebels are Unfortunately
increased from this source. Plenty OF cotton ia
brought in from beyond our lines. especially by the
.ssAo' Va 'faoefS. VINO pay TOT IL ostensibly
in Treasury notes. but really in gold.
800. - - ~ p.isa'o purchaser
r.s,on ~ To- a occupied
y IL y" " hxed price,
20 "en'' '"en'Sh'o Genus per pound. ana for
ward 1t by army transportation to proper centres, saw
Helena. Memphis. or Cincinnati. to bo sold at public
Neoun'' !" the "aies take
~ uu~'"so hH' Ill parties oesir-
Aen '" 20 present.
~ o'oqui'eu such an opera
80 " sAo' ueins ifequen' u ior cash VIII con-
-H-"' IepAaee Il 1hhount emp'o'sa Tor the puF
pose nowa say 'h"' sSoo'ooo "ouid DO sunicient
"voAuue.'n u mo'e''eh''
~ 'nA' M. " huhared thousand
.o,Ais 80 empioseo "ouiu DO more than equal to
|n'' .Hous"nu me auueu 70 d national armies.
= poo"h'Hfs ineereS'" III IN continuance OF the
ncc.s,on. - =. v 'hsfe arc