May 21, 1863, The Ranchero (Corpus Christi, Texas)
The State Military Board have purchased several thousand pairs of Cotton Cards, which have been apportioned to the counties on the basis of the scholastic census. The price is ten dollars per pair, in currency, at Austin, payable on delivery. It is required that the counties wishing the cards shall send for them, and in no case are the cards to be sold for a greater price than cost, including transportation–needy families of those in the army being preference purchasers. In the distribution of these cards the people will save–or rather wrest out of speculator’s hands over two hundred thousand dollars. This is one of the good acts the Military Board, composed of the Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer, have been guilty of, and demonstrates what good things good men can do in a good cause, without trampling upon a good Constitution or the rights of good citizens. Here is the antidote for extortioners.