| From the Memphis Appeal |
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| March 27, 1863 |
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| 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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