Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-05-25

In the present state OF things, it is
most clearly our interest to raise here
all our own stocks and provisions, as far
as practicable. This would, to small
extent. diminish our crop of cotton. but
it is now we'll ascertained, that the di-
minished crop, with the consequent in
crease ofprice, would command an cqu-
al amount money whilst all, or near
y all, our vast responsibilities for stock
and provisions, would be saved to the
people. This is now admitted by all,
but practiscd as yet by few. Can we
not encourage this practice, and make
it almost universal, by granting to
planters small premium upon every
bushel Of corn raised in the State
This means Of encouraging, by the
combined power and energy Of the
State, the raising ofan adequate supply
ofuseful agricultural products. has been
adopted from time to time, and with
success, by very many Of the States.-
There was last year paid by the State
of Maine from the State treasury
Sl53,O0O in premiums for corn and
wheat raised in the State during the
last year. A similar premium is allow
ed in several of the other New Eng
land States, and in many Of the wes-
tern, middle and southern States, a
like premium is paid from the State
treasury upon all silk raised in the
State. Whilst agriculture is SO heavi-
ly taxed by banks and tariff, why
should nothing be done here for the
advancement of that great inter est?-
But in this case, the towns as well as
the country would experience the ben
efits of such measure, in the increas-
ed prosperity Of the State, and the de-
creased price Of provisions.
If we will only be true to ourselves,
we can soon be relieved from existing
embarrassment, and become, as we
ought to be, the most prosperous Stale
in the Union. If we will, to a great
extent, raise our own provisions, and
curtail our expanded Currency, much
will have been accomplished.
There never was SO fair a prospect
as at present of good prices for our cot
ton for series of years to come, espe-
cially if we will keep down the amount
raised, by employinga portion of our
labor in raising all our own provisions.
From 1880 10 the present period, the
crop has been increased from l,l5O,O0O
to I,750,000 bales in 1887, being an
increase of600,000 bales in seven years.
Yet with this almostincredtble increase,
the price OF cotton has been greatly
enhanced from the augmented con-
sumption. This consumption is still
increasing, and yet think it demon
strable, that upon every fair principle
OF calculation, the cotton crop of the
United States will not be augmented
100000 bales in the next seven years.
Since the census of 1880, there have
been introduced into the cotton grow
ing States of Georgia, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Arkansas 402,-
900 slaves. THIS is demonstrated by a
by recent State census in each of
these States except Louisiana, where
the last parish assessment of slaves, is
taken as criterion. This is a num-
Der of slaves, thus introduced into these
States within this short period, equal
to one fourth Of the whole number OF
slaves in the Union. at the census OF
1880. Within this same period OF nine
years, there has been acquired within
these States, by treaties with the Choc-
taws, Creeks, Chickasaws, Caddoes,
and Cherokees, 2S,460,000 acres of
cotton land, being an extent equal to
the entire superfcies Of Mississippi
Most of this land has been thrown open
to emigrants, either at the minimum
government price, or by lottery, as in
Georgia, without price. Hence. to-
gether with the operation of our ex-
banded credit system, was produced
this wonderful increase of slaves with
in this period. There are no new cot
ton lands to be acquired by treaty, the
expanded credit system has terminated,
andin the nextseven years, the increase
ofslaves in these States. cannot exceed
one hundred and thirty-three thousand,
being one third only Of the augmenta-
ton exhibited in the nine years which
have just elapsed. 80
Icthen an addition of 100000 slaves
IN seven years, produced an augm.enotdae3
ton ofthe crop amounting to oOO:VOo
bales, an addition Of one third u inc
number of slaves in the same perico;
should produce an increase f2OO,OOOI
bales. Nor would this increase take