Year: 1862

Gen Grant, it viii be recollected, issued,
some time since, an order forbidding the
purchase Of cotton and paying for it with
specie. This policy has been revoked by
later order Of the War Department, who
think it best not simply to remove obsta-
cles in the way Of the purchase and expor-
fa.ion Of cotton, but even to encourage and
increase The trade in that important sta
plcby all means in tbeirpower. Thereasons
which control the government at Washing
ton, and also those which actuated General
Grant in publishing his pro]libitory order,
are very easily explained. Gen Grant saw
clearly thatto permit the rebels to exchange
cotton for specie was to furnish them with
tho means Of securing the necessary sup
plies, AIMS, and munitions of war, that it
would be impossible for them to get with
out the money. With tie gold for which
They have sold their cotton, they buy arms
st Nassau, and other supplies absolutely
Essential to them, and which it seems al
most impossible for them to procure save
With the specie they get from the BUYERS
Of cotton. Particularly is this the case as
regards salt, the supply Of which indispen-
sable article Of food is short in the rebel
States, hut which they manage to smueele
IN after they have been provided with
mears ofpurchasing it IN the British Islands
BY the gold Of Our traders in cotton, Without
salt the rebels could not cure or save their
bacon, and it is beyond a doubt true that
II the rebel armies are well sunplicd with
plenty Of finely cured bacon hereafter. il
Will be because through the order Of the
War Department they have been able to
turn their cotton into good salt meat. It
may he true that the rebels cannot eat
their cotton by the yard, but they can cat it
by the pound and barrel, and gain strength
and courage from it, after it has been
Transformed through the policy at Wash
1ngton and the gold Of the cotton traders.
into well cured sides Of bacon, and the
best Of mess and prime pork.


In this view Of the case, salt has been
pronounced by some soldiers, who knew
what they were talking about, as much
eontraband Of war as powder It cannot
be denied that to furnish the rebels with
salt is to furnish them with means Of sus-
ta1ning their treason and strengthening
their cause, fully as essential as powder
and ball One Of the first things to be
done, In order to subdue the rebellion, is to
cut them off from the external world, TO
which they Look for all their supplies.
lhe Southern country is more dependent
.asn almost any other upon foreign na-
hone for indispensable articles Of food and
clothing One Of the surest ways to Grip
PIE lh strength and make the task to SUBJ
due It N easy one, is to put an end to its
fade With every other people, for it must
depend ypon this trade for It's suppl,ea


Hence 1t ; thatso much pains and expense
have been undertaken to maintain q close
and rigid Mockade of all the Southern
ports and it 1s not unreasonable to ask


WY al this expenditure of money, care


ana power IN enforcing the blockade to
keep al trade away from the Atlantic sea.
pofs' II the great rivers Of the west and
the channels Of intercourse f,on tho
" North, that lead into the very heart Of the e
rebellion, are allowed to be filled with
tn Always in7igorating and stimulating