The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-15
THE COTTON OF THE SOUTH.

AVoAe~AAs
hold his last bves, ths season, this evening Ii
THE COTTON OF THE SOUTH
Ithas often struck US with surprise, that in
speaking Of the motives likely to operate upon
the government Of Great Britain in causing it
to avoid war with this country, almost no
reference has been had to the effect that stop
page Of the supplies Of American cotton would
have upon the manufacturing interests of that
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,
il not entirely, disregarded. In looking to the
probabilities of a war with Great Britain, and
examining into the circumstances most calcu-
lated to 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
to 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-
ratives and practical manufacturers would be
disastrous in the highest degree. To form
something approaching to an adequate estimate
of the consequences Of such a state Of things,
we must in the first place, take into view the
peculiar character of our cotton staple, and then
look to the particular descriptions of goods to the
fabrication of which it is indispensable. Anne
rican cotton differs from that of all other
countries in the length. fneness, and strength of
its fibre, audit is on this account that 1t is not
only preferred above all others but, as is be-
lieved, it's place cannot be supplied by the pro-
ducts 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-
ton. 1t is not there as it is here, where spin
ner or a weaver earns enough IN two or three
days to keep him and his family for the balance
of the week. In England every penny earned
is absolutely indispensable to supply the necessa
ries of life, and any abstraction, however small,
is so much taken from what is already barely
sufficient for that purpose Let us, then ina
CINE, that these poor wretches were made to
undergo not Elimination only, but total pri-
walton Of work, and what must inevitably ensue?
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 mother coun-
try" 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 Deepen
dence above named, they would weigh as fea-
ther in the balance, did it suit the policy of Bril-
tain to commence 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 misin-
formed, a duty of from 100 to 200 per cent is
exacted on most of our agricultural products,
cotton is subjected to charge of only 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 it in Brazil and in Egypt, the
growths of which countries have been for years
past substituted for that of America, whenever
it could be done with even the slightest ad-
vantage.
The subject here presented to the considera-
ton of our readers may not at first glance APP
pear to merit present attention, and we may be
told that long time must elapse before, under
the most favorable circumstances, American
cotton can be superseded in the British market
but it is the part Of wisdom to look to il in time
and take such measures as may be necessary tt
prevent the consequences. In the meanwhile
it il fortunate that we possess so powerful {
check upon British assumption and aggression
and it should be source Of selfgratuiation 4