NP, MAP 3/27A/1863

From the Memphis Appeal
 
March 27, 1863
 
Is It True
   We invite the attention of the proper authorities to the following statement made by the Knoxville Register. We have had intimations of collusion between speculators and railroad officials, as alluded to. Should we become definitely informed of such facts, a ventilation may be expected. Such illicit speculation must be stopped:
   We are told that there is a great quantity of sugar and molasses at Vicksburg, and that a gentleman from the army lately visited Richmond to petition the government to permit a portion of it to be shipped to East Tennessee, and exchanged for bacon and other army supplies. There are many who have a surplus of provisions horded up, who will not sell them for either Confederate money or bank notes, but who would readily barter them for sugar and molasses. This scheme for supplying the people of East Tennessee with these much needed commodities, and in return securing provisions for the army, we are told, received the approval of the Tennessee delegation in Congress to whom it was broached, except Senator Haynes. On what ground this co-operation was withheld we are not advised. His influence with the department is represented to be very great, and the parties complain that his withholding it prevented the petition from receiving a favorable consideration.
   We have heard, also, that these vast stores of sugar and molasses are lying useless and in danger of destruction at Vicksburg, because the department refuses to allow transportation for them. Why the cars that carry troops, munitions and supplies to Vicksburg, cannot bring back the sugar and molasses we are at a loss to comprehend. We have heard lately of some transactions between certain railroad and military officials which demonstrate that transportation can be obtained for their private speculations. If this be true, and our informant says he can give the names, it is time the government was looking into the conduct of its agents. Sugar and molasses should not be left to destruction at Vicksburg, if it can possibly be brought away, while speculators and extortionists are running up the prices in Virginia and Tennessee to figures that bid fair to rival the salt swindle of the past season. A little more vigilance upon the part of the government over the conduct of its agents, and a little more regard for the rights and wants of the people, a little more energy and sagacity in regulating its own transportation, and a little less uncalled for restriction upon the use of the public highways for the purposes of legitimate trade, would obviate a great deal of general discontent, and tend more than anything else to keep down exorbitant prices.
   We would not have military exigencies yield to private interest, but where there is no exigency, we would have private rights protected against the operations of unscrupulous speculating government agents.

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