Scanlan to J. H. Burnley, February 23, 1865

Mr. Scanlan to Mr. Burnley

Sir: I have seen a letter from the Secretary of State of the United States to the Secretary of the Treasury, calling his early attention to your official communication in my case, and the instructions of the letter to the general supervising agent here, authorizing him to act on the matter.

I understand he has referred the case back again to the Secretary of the Treasury for final action, with the suggestion that all others in the same district were equally entitled to the privilege I asked. These people, with very few exceptions, are now petitioners for pardon for past treasonable acts towards their government. Moreover, they cannot exhibit any written contracts with the agents of the government.

I am inside the lines of the federal navy, and recognized as such by the military authorities, who are presumed to be the proper judges.

The supervising agent here gave a neighbor of mine, a Mr. Dunlop, living eight miles from the river, a permit to ship his cotton to New York; also a Mrs. Dale. The former could not be considered as inside the lines of the federal navy, and neither had a contract with the authorized agent of the government. I could mention several cases of the kind. Nay, even certain speculators have the right to buy and ship my cotton without giving it over to the purchasing agent of the government. If I am obliged to deliver over my cotton now in this city, it will realize less than if I sold it to the speculators referred to on my plantation. Cotton placed in the hands of the purchasing agent may net thirty-five cents per pound, while the speculator, having the right to buy and ship without this restraint, would give fifty cents per pound for it on my plantation. Captain Watson, commanding the gunboat Hastings, can testify that he shelled guerillas who were taking by force some of my cotton. What they had taken they sold to a speculator belonging to the firm of Parkman, Apperson &Co. This firm, because this cotton went through the singular process of being unjustly seized by guerillas, were permitted to ship said cotton, while that right is denied by Mr. Orme.

If I be forced to give my cotton into the hands of the purchasing agent here, it will be as flagrant a breach of faith and as base an injustice as was ever perpetrated on any subject of any friendly neutral power. I have been always friendly to the United States, have been well treated by her military officers, and trust that no adverse decision will be come to affecting very materially my pecuniary interests.

I have, &C.,