The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-14
THE COTTON OF THE SOUTH.

speaking OF the motives likely 10 operate upon
The government of Great Britain in causing it
10 avoid war with this country, almost no
reference has been had to the effect that stop
page of the supplies of American cotton would
country. We constantly hear of the amount of
English capital loaned in the United States, and
the importance Of the market furnished by them
for English fabrics, but the relation in which
Southern States stand as suppiers OF the raw
material, seems to have been in great degree,
if not entirely, disregarded. In looking to the
probabilities of war with Great Britain, and
examining into the circumstances most calcu-
lated 10 prevent its occurrence, whilst we have
allowed full weight TO the considerations first
mentioned, we have been forced to look TO the
last named as possessing far more powerful
influence. The United States are not only
consumers of British manufactures, but they are
10 certain extent, the source whence England
derives the means by which she is enabled to
furnish her cotton fabrics to the whole world,
and should any interruption take place in the
supply of these means, the effect upon her ope
rauves and practical manufacturers would be
disastrous in the highest degree. To form
something approaching to an adequate estimate
of the consequences of such state Of things,
we must in the first place, take into view the
peculiar character Of our cotton staple, and then
look 70 the particular descriptions of goods to the
fabrication of which it is indispensable. Anne
rican cotton differs from that of all other
a. l. 4 80
its fibre and it is on this account that it is not
only preferred above all others but, as is be-
leyed, its place cannot be supplied by the pro-
duets of any other part of the world. Nor are
the descriptions of goods for which the Ameri-
can article is necessary limited in their number
or extent, as they compose the varieties on
which the English manufacturer depends for his
best profits. Such being the case, war with
the United States would stop nine-tenths. or at
least large majority Of the looms of Britain,
and would at once reduce millions of poor
wretches who depend on their labors for stint
ed subsistence from day to day, to actual starva-
ion 1t is not there as it is here, where spin
ner or a weaver earns enough IN two or three
lays TO keep him and his family for the balance
Of the week. In England every penny earned
absolutely Indispensable to supply the necessa-
rles of life, and any abstraction, however small,
Is 50 much taken from what is already barely
sufficient for that purpose. Let US, then ina
gne that these poor wretches were made TO
undergo not dimintton only, but total pr-
vatlon CT work, and what must inevitably ensue2
Humanity shudders at the picture of wide
spread famine and heart-rending restitution
that would prevail, and woe to the Ministry to
whose acts such catastrophe could be traced.
Much has been said of the friendly dispositions
entertained towards US by the 9 mother coun-
ny" as it has been called, and of the intimate
social relations that bind England and the Unit
ed States together, but whilst we attach to these
things all the importance that they deserve, we
do not believe that, in the absence of the depen-
dcnce above named, they would weigh as a fea-
Their in the balance, did it suit the policy of Bri
tain TO CONNIE nee hostilities.
That the English Government and people
are perfectly aware of the truth Of what we
have stated in regard to our cotton, is indicated
BY the fact that, whilst, if we are not misn-
formed, duty of from 100 to 200 per cent. is
exacted on most Of our agricultural products,
cotton is subjected to a charge of only 9 per
cent. Nor do we owe this exemption from
charge, to any particular good will on the part
of the powerful nation of which we speak, as
will be proved so soon as an adequate supply of
the same article can be procured from any Of
their own colonies. In proof of this, we have
only to look TO the immense exertions made to
encourage the cotton culture in the East Indies,
TO say nothing of the inducements held out TO
the production of il in Brazil and in Egypt, the
growths of which countries have been for years
past substituted for that Of America, whenever
ii could be done with even the slightest ad-
vantage.
The subject here presented to the considera-
ton OF our readers may not al first glance ap
ear to merit present attention, and we may bt
told that a long time must elapse before, undc
the most favorable circumstances, American
cotton can be superseded in the British market
but it is the part of wisdom to look to it in tim
and take such measures as may be necessary L
prevent the consequences. In the meanwhll
II IS fortunate that we possess so powerful
check upon British assumption and aggression
and il should be source of self-gratulation Il
our Southern friends, that their cotton bags o.
this, as on some other occasions, have prove
The buwark of their country's safety. No mat
Ter TO what circumstance we may owe our con
trolling power over the ambitious views of Brit
ain, it is sufficient that we possess that power
and that its influence will in all probability pre-
vent, in the case of the Creole and others'of
like caste, improper interference on the part
British authorities at home, and in the colonies
with the domestic institutions Of our country