The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-03-31
COTTON AND INDIGO.

COTTON AND INDIGO.
We take il for granted that the attention
of the South has been seriously drawn TO
the progress OF the cotton culture IN India.
! |, would be foolish aifeclatlon of indifference
10 pretend to overlook this enterprise oil
1 British policy or 10 undervalue lis lppor-
lance, because It's final results are not yet
before our eyes. The project of making
cotton the great staple OF British ludia is
deliberately cGteualned by a nation that
seldom begins an undertaking without go
ing through with It-by nation, too, pos
sessed ct all the means that wealth, or, and
Industry may supply towards the carrying
on Of work which in lis estimation, is
imperatively required by the strongest con
sidera,ions Of interest and policy.
Whatever may be the views Of our South
err cotton growers OH this subject, we can
not for our own part look with uDconcern
upon the statements which from time 10
time are brought 10 cur view showing the
successful progress already made in the
culture of cotton in ludia. The following
10 iEOtU tue ilDtdu -Ne"o NHttulStS vi
Eastern Affairs" Of the Sih Of November /:
"The commencement is now fairly made.
and the American planters are now active
" engaged 10 carrying on, the schemes &C,
cord'ug 10 their ogn system OF cultivation
We trust to hear 10 due time of the full sue.
cess Of thus important experiment cotton
lie, and has been from tha earliest times,
The natural staple OF India; aud whatever
means viii improve the qualities aud Ia
crease the export, whether arising ttom
individual enterprise or from the efforts of
government, mus, be looked upon with the
deepest interest by those whose views or
whose concern 10 the country, exceed
however short The distance, beyond TO day."
" Lee il be remembered that hail cen
Jury ago, lie cotton produced by the Uoi.
ted States was. both IN quality and value,
merely nomlnal--a trillo not worth consid
erstlon-while at the present tIme its value
IS estimated IA official returns, at the al
mos; .acredtLc sun OF nearly lis millions
OF dollars, or at % millions sterling-a sum
larger Than the yearly revenue Of the whole
British lndla-and result chiefly brought
about BY the dsmaud Of the English mar
ke;. Shall we despair, then, by well jUdg
ed means, o. making our ludan possessions
10 which The growth Of cotton Is lndlgenl.
Gus, and has been so from time lmmemorial,
productive 10 that extent which will be The
means Of again diGusing wealth ard pros
perlty throughout this magnificent but I'm
poyerlshed extent Of Territory. Ii the
groa,h and improvement Of cotton had
been fostered with the same asslduiy as
that unfortunate weed, the poppy, how DIFF.
terent, bow widely different would the re
suits have been at this moment Alas
for such monstsous errors Of policy. Let
Us, however, noa do our best to retrieve
them"
The same paper contains q letter from
Mr.. Flnuie, one Of the American cotton
planters in charge of the Government plan.
tatlon Oh he Sumga. He writes that COT.
ION can be produced there cheaper than Ia
any other part Of the world. q" 1t only re
qures," he adda, 4" The necessary means,
constant application, decision, industry and
perseverance to make thus beautiful aud
productive country The largest producer Of
cotton 10 the world. India possesses a soil
and climate admirably adapted for lis cult
yation-wIlh abundant and cheap labor
England Is ready to furnish capital. =
America has already provided III Is 10 be
hoped skill and exporience-and It oniy
requires the two latter TO be hrou BIT to
bear upon the former, 10 realize The most
sanguine expectations Of those With whom
this great national underiakng--expcrI
men, call il no longer--origIpa,ed."
The cotton growing enterprise now 90
ing on IN BRUSH lnoIa does no, afford the
FIRST instance IN which tina, country has
been made the means Of af.cting a great
Amencan siaple. 1t is welt koosn ahai
indigo was once largely cultivated in our
Southern States, and that now II is not pro.
duced there. The indigo Of the South was
supplanted by the successfUl Efforts Of Bfl
fish capital and labor to produce the article
10 India. A course Of policy was pursued
similar to that which is nav in operation
with regard 10 cotton. The culture Of IN
digo was carefully encouraged; the article
was of great importance TO ii; BRITISH
manufactures the soil and climate of India
were favorable to ITS growth aud the re
suit was tina; indigo became a staple 10
India, and ceased to be staple in America
The foilowing extract, which VIC find 10
the Boston Atlas, from the Report Of the
Proceedings Of the East India Company in
reference to tho culture Of Indigo, will show
some Of the means resorted TO for establish
ing that plan, 10 India:
About the year 1747, most Of the
Planters 10 Jamaica and other British pos
sessions in the West Indies, reIinqbabed
the cultivation Of Indigo, and the Spanish