Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-02-09
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! &
sggs EaI.er- u, recaslng 20 the subicc. of my
sssia sfsliish pasliahciin your last, cor.
grstassss .ayself. thutI have 4 in my power to
bsisse yoar readers some very important
facts rslasine 10 hemp. an article which j, IS
proposed 70 sapsrsede by the use of cotton.
aIr. D. Myerle. in reply TO letter from tho
Henorab!o Chiffon Allen. OF Kentucky. states
,hat the quanti.y of Russian hemp purchased
annually Tor the use Of our navy, is about2COo
IONS; and that the quantity Of Russian hemp
used IN the merchant service annually Is about
II 900 ions, which makes the whole quantity
Of foreign hemp supposed 10 be used, about
l30OO tous lie estimates the average cost at
abou, $500 per ton, which nj that rate. VIII
ouioun, 10 the sum Of $3000,0OO % Thus u
will be seen that the large sum OF S3,9oo.oOo
;s sen, IN Russia annually f;i nn article. the use
Of which may be superseded by cotton. And
is il no ohjec, TO the ru,,on grower anu manu-
fac,urc, 10 establish an additional hops market
which will bring into their pockets this srn''
with the cos, Of manufacturing the raw mate
Y;al added to III Nothing. ain sure. but
reckless con,emp, for all the adnoni;ions Of
experience, and disregard ofihe most irnpor-
tan, truths Of political eronomy can induce the
Southern planter and manufacturer TO pass by
q fac, SO vi.aIly affecting their interests
um awere of the difficulties To be cncoun-
tered at the threshold. They arc nothing less
than old habits fixed on erroneois principles,
which have become so inveterate rs alrnos! 30
defy the reforming influence "i those changes
of relation between producer and manu!acu'
rcr. and manufacturer aud consumer. which IN
their effects upon society. have wrough: an en-
tire revolution. The habi, Of tie cotton plan
Ter has been TO make co,iou 10 buy hIs horses,
mules. beef. pork. &c, aud whilst his staple
was worth 10 cents per pound, and pork was
from 3to4 cents per pound, his course thonsh
far from being correct, nigh, be dcicnded by
good sophistry.
But what has been the RESULT He haspnsh.
ed his erroneous principles To such an extent
Us To reduce the price o! cotton. by oyer pro-
duciion, from Is cents TO one hall that slim-
and that loo a, n period Of ne most nnp'ece-
denied commercial and financial emhnrrass.
men,. Should he a,temp; to restace his steps,
he is arrested by the unpeasan, reflection that
his expenses are not easily curiailcd, and that
he owes debts contracted in more prosperous
times: or n, least. under the dclusive and fatal
idea 'ha, what has been, mus; necessarily lie
again: and thus by force Of circumstances, he
farces himself compelled TO pursue the rr'inous
system Of increasing the production, 10 oider 10
-...l.,Sss sIsauryy Iias fs wEntfg iuprtce
Nothing can be more unPhosophical, or mere
q, variance with all the practical lessons Of COM
mon ssl.se and experience. That the value o!
q acommodi:y depends. in great measure. up
on the relation subsis,ing between the supply
and the demand, IS self evident proposition;
and is the fundamental principle upon which
rcs,s the whole supersiracinre Of political
economy. Bu, the importance Of the subject
adn,onisnes me to rccur 10 il again, shonld you
think proper to publish what now send you.
ARATOR.