Mobile Register

June 30, 1861

Page 2

 

The Cotton Loan

Messrs. R. H. Smith and C. J. McRae, Representatives in Confederate States Congress, returned to this city yesterday from a laborious canvass of the 9th Congressional District in behalf of the cotton loan.  We are happy to state that their patriotic and unpaid labors have been eminently successful.  They represent the existence of the most ardent spirit of loyal devotion to the great cause among the people in the interior.  The subscription in the district will reach the amount of 23,000, perhaps 30,000 bales.  Should the other districts do as well, Alabama will have contributed to the loan the handsome sum of $7,500,000.  Our representatives met with many distinguished instances of patriotic devotion.  One of them deserves to be chronicled, and a monument erected to his public spirit, in the admiration of his fellow citizens.  His name and his deeds are recorded in the following letter from the Hon. F. S. Lyon, of Marengo, addressed to Messrs. Smith and McRae:

Demopolis, June 23, 1861

Hon. R. H. Smith and C. J. McRae:

            GENTLEMEN—I am requested by my friend and neighbor, Mr. Alfred Hatch, to ask you to cause to be entered on the list of subscribers to the Confederate loan in Mobile county, fifty bags of cotton for his grandchildren, residing in Mobile—to be delivered to Mr. J. A. Wemyss.  He will in due time furnish their names.

            Mr. Hatch, when the first loan was offered, subscribed in cash about $10,000 and liberally lent more to others to subscribe.  When the books were opened in this county for subscriptions in cotton, he put down 250 bags.  In Greene he has subscribed 50 bags for certain grandchildren in that county, and now he adds 50 bags to the list in your county.

            When volunteer companies were being raised in this county, and in Greene, he almost literally carried his purse in his hand.  No matter where he happened to be found, he was ready at all times to contribute most liberally to the equipment of volunteers and to the support of the families of those who might need aid.

            Such a man is of course known and appreciated at home, and ought to be known everywhere.

Very truly yours,            F. S. LYON

            P. S. The report of the Commissioners for this county to the Secretary of the Treasury up to the 17th inst. showed a subscription to that date in cotton bags amounting to 6,444 bags.  We are still making further progress, and hope to reach in this county 10,000 bags.

            Another instance was found in the person of Mr. P. Molette, Esq., of Dallas county.  He had previously taken $10,000 in the State loan, $10,000 in the first Confederate loan, and he now subscribes $10,000 more to the cotton loan, payable in cash.

            With such examples before them from the people of the interior, who are safe and remote from immediate visitations of the enemy, will the taxpayers of Mobile refuse to submit to the 20 cents per hundred dollars tax proposed to support the city and defend their homes against a probable invasion?