The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-01-27

market rates of cotton, is equal to ten
per cent. discount upon the gross amount
of the annual income of the planter, and
still larger per centage upon the amount
Of his nett income. 1t follows, that by
the careless operations of four months in
gathering the crop, one tenth of its value
is destroyed, and one tenth part of the la
Dor of the whole year is absolutely nulli-
! fled. The labor Of one hundred hands is
reduced in value to that of ninety, and
five hundred bales of cotton are reduced
to four hundred and fifty. Now I conf
dently put it to every practical planter, as
plain question of economy, what posi-
BILE advantage there can be in carelessly
picking out cotton crop, that will COM
pensate the planter for this sacrifice of
fifty bales of cotton, the product of the
whole annual labor Of ten hands? Let it
be admitted, and it is an extreme supposi-
ton, that hands will pick out one tenth
more in tie one mode than they will do
in the other. Even on this hypothesis, one
tenth of the labor of the whole year
would be sacrificed for the sake of one
tenth of the labor for four months, and to
this sacrifice we must add that of the ad-
ditional expenses of the horse power re-
quired to make the additional fifty bales
of cotton. Does not the conclusion, then,
irresistably follow from these premises,
that every cotton planter should lay it
down as cardinal rule, in pitching his
crop, to plant no more than he can pick
out with proper care, giving due attention
to the Other interests of his plantation
This rule. like that relating to live stock,
comes recommended by the twofold con-
sideration, that it not only promotes the
individual interest of each planter, but
still more extensively, the general interest
of the entire class. If it will cause a di-
minished quantity of cotton to be pro-
duced, it will cause the price of that di-
minished quantity to be proportionately
increased, by its superior quality, and still
further, the very circumstance of its di-
minished quantity.
! 1t is not to be doubted, therefore, that
tfe general adoption of the two plain and
practical rules, so perfectly in the power
of every planter, of raising his own sup
plies instead of buying them, and picking
out and preparing his cotton with proper
care and attention, would do moro to pro-
mote the prosperity of the cotton planting
States, than all the morus naulticaulis spe-
culations and political paper nostrums
that ever deluded people with visionary
hopes, while they afflicted them with real
; disasters.
And here, gentlemen, it may not be un-
profitable to indulge in few cautionary
reflections on that wild and extravagant
spirit Of speculative adventure, with which
almost all classes of our countrymen have
been smitten and infatuated for several
years past, and which has exerted a most
pernicious influence, even upon our agri-
cultural economy. 1t has unfortunately
inspired our planters, in too many in
stances, with a sort Of contempt for the
"dull pursuits" of sober industry, and
taught them to look upon every visionary
and ephcmeral humbug as an Ell Dorado
of sudden and unbounded wealth. Now,
if any anticipates from the deliberations
of this society, the discovery of some
new process by which wealth is to be ac-
cumulated without labor, the sooner he
dispcls such delusion the better. There
is no royal hig ghway to wealth, any more
than to learning. As labor is the only true
and ultimate measure of value, wealth is
neither more nor less than the accumu-
i. lated results of labor; and wherever one
man becomes rich without labor, it fol-
lows as necessary consequence, that by
some speculative jugglc, he has managed
to transfer to himself the labors of other
people. Though individuals, therefore,
may become rich by unproductive pro-
, cesses, it is impossible, in the very nature
!, of things. that communities ever can. Let
us, then, realizing these great principles of
industry and sound economy, and discard
ing all visionary schemes, steadily pursue
the beaten track of honest industry, con-
soled by the patriotic reflection, that eve
ry dollar we thus add to our own fortunes,
is so much added to the wealth of the
State, and that the losses of others con-
stitute no one of the elements of our pros
perity.
As intimately connected with this view
of the subject, l may venture to offer
| co,,, ,,,rroctione colcuIatad to chow that