Richmond palladium., 1842-06-18
From the Richmond Whig
AMERICAN INTERESTS.
No. |

No. /.
The extraordinary condition of our country a
The present time, without money or sound crcdt
md with all the elements of prosperity IN it, IN
duces TO address fe w observations 10 on
friends engaged IN the cultiva Of cotton; nnt
perhaps the views | shall present, may apply Il
other articles III @ produce OF our soil.
| will here remark, that have been an actor
and close observe Of, and in, the affairs Of this
aud other countries for the last twenty five years
Nv pursuits and condition IN life have led me t(
watch the march of improvement at home ant
abroad--Great Britain IN particular, in her vas
colonial POSSESSIONS, aud colossal power, ha:
been constantly before me. The proceedings o
Parliament, the East India Company, aud IndI
vIIuals engaged in extending the possessions o
the BRUSH Empire, have observed with deel
and abiding interest.
II is Known 10 many persons OF the Southern
and IN fact all the States, that an effort is now
IN progress to increase The quantity and improve
the quality of cotton in British India, and iha,
persons of skill and ln eigence in this branch o
agriculture, have gone from several OF our Cot
ton-growng States to India for tho purpose of car
rying ont the views Of the East India Company,
and the BRUSH Government. | wish now TO call
The serious and candid attention OF the cotton
planters 10 a few facts touching this great inter
est, in the hope that they may be aroused from
their fnncied security, aud look their true
situation.
In order that may understand our own pc
sirIon, il would be well to examine some Of the
remarkable revolutions that have taken place IN
the world. through the instrumenta!ity Of com
merce, within the last two centuries.
These changes have not been confined TO this
continent or that of Europe, but have extended
and become Of late years marked and striking III
the East. The immense production of the soil in
the East Indies have assumed an importance tina
may well engage the attention OF US, IN this new
world.
These revolutions have not generally been
produced or achieved by the sword, but by the
introduction of the mechanic arts, mauuiactures
and agricultural products, which have been trans
ferred from country 10 another and with
them the power OF producing al cheap rates, arr
sing from more genial climates, better soil, great
er skill or cheaper labor; and perhaps, as Is the
case III some instances ALL these advantages com
bined. This adaptation to produce the same
tIcles at lower prices, in different countries, has
been carried out to an extent that seems almos;
miraculous, besides having been of the highest
Importance, in point OF civilization TO comma nd
These commercial enterprises are the great mis-
sonaries, if | NAV SO speak, that have opened up
the way TO the Introduction Of Christianity
VIII ch, think, has always been proceeded by an
IN Introduction of the common arts OF life.
To proceed with my illUstrat tIons of the impor-
tance and increase of commerce with It's changes:
Tea for example. was first brought to England a.
bout the year 1860 and no more than 80 900, 900
pounds are imported into that realm annually,
welding q revenue Of SD 0O0. 900.
There also 10000 900 pounds imported in
TO the United States, which is now admitted free
of duty. Coffee introduced a few years ear.
ier than Tea, into Europe; tho consumption OF
which, upon the continent, is much greater 10
proportion than that of Tea. We import and
consume annually nearly 10000 900 pounds OF
Coffee, and without duty. Sugar, which has be
come almost a necessary Of life, not Ia con-
mon use at Il mneh earlier period than Tea and
Coffee. Rice, which has become one Of the great
staples of South Carolina and Georgia, and verv
important one 10 the whole country, brough,
10 the former State from India not earlier than
the year 1900.
These four grea, articles Of European & Amer
product, Cotton, are all natives of the East. The
duced than 10000 pounds Of Ind igo,
which at that period, constituted an immense com
merce, and hrough, TO her people wealth in the
commodities of foreign countries. Now, what
has become of her Indigo plant? Why, its cult.
vation has been transferred to Bengal, and the
Cotton ot India. transplanted TO the soil Of South
Carolina, has become her mos, valuable produc-
tion.
1t may be asked how this transfer of the Indi-
60 culture was made? And how the quality was
improved. and the quantity increased to the large
amount Of nine millions of pounds for exporta-
ton. which commands the markets of tho world ?
This revolution was accomplished through the
aid furnished in money TO the cuItivators, by the
British Government, combined with the perse-