Holly Springs gazette., 1845-02-01

to the true interest of the planters OF the
South, now pervades the public mind every
where.
Below we present our readers with The
proceedings OF meeting held in .hls place
on Monday last By reference to these pro-
ceedings. it viii be seen that the low price
of cotton has at last opened The eyes and
perhaps the understandings of a. least some
of our citizens. Whatever may be the true
cause of the decline in the value of our sta
pie commodity-whether it be the over pro-
duction, or the election of Mr. Polk, matters
nothing. When our eye is directed 10 the
search of remedy for the evil that exists,
such a remedy is clearly within our reach,
if we only had wisdom enough to grasp IT,
and patience to hold on until the cure was
effected. The cotton mania has hitherto
possessed US TO such an extent, that we were
induced to regard 1T as sane qua non" 1t
has failed, and will for ever fail, when relied
on "per Sc" AS the first step in the way of
wisdom has now been taken. we trust all
will persevere until the objects ofthe meet>
ing will have been accomplished. We see
no good reason why we are so entlrely de-
pendent on other States for our bread, meat
and wearing apparel; nor do we see any
good reason why planters should adhere to
the ruInous practice OF raising nothing but
cotton, when portion of the labor employed
in the production of that article, ,smie ht be
much more proftably directed to the grow,
ing of wheat, h emp or tobacco, and the ras-
ing of stock. Another portion of the labor
so unproductive in the growing of cotton,
might be directed to milling and manufactu'
ring, all of which might add to our indepen.
dence and comfort.
We trust that this subject will not be neg
lected, and that all will acquiesce in the rec'
ommendation of the different meetings,
which will be called together to act in ref.
erence to the policy best calculated to pro
duce the rea!est amount of happiness.
PUBLIC MEETING
In pursuance of previous notice, portion Of
the citizens OF Marshall County, met at the
Cour; House, in Holly Springs on Monday the
9Th January, for the purpose OF inquiring into
the causes which have produced the depressed
state Of our cotton market. and to suggest some
remedy therefor.
On motion of Major Thomas Null, Charles
L. Thomas Esq. called TO the chair, and
Thomas A. Falconer, appointed Secretary.
The objects of the meeting having been briefly
stated by the Chair, On motion of Maj. Null il
was
Reso1red, That Committee of five be appoin
ted by the Chairman for the purpose of prepar-
ing and presentingt to this meeting suitable Pie
amb'e and Resolutions
Thefeupon the Chair appointed as said Com
mittee, the following gentlemen, zig:
DR.. Willis L. Lea, Major Benz Williams,
Calvin Chears, Esq, N. R. sledge, Esq, and
Maj. Thomas Null.
The Committee having retired for few min
utes, returned and reported the following pre-
amble and resolutions, which were unanimous
ly adopted by the meeting
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
YoUa committee having duly considered the
subject refel red to it by this meeting, beg leave
TO make the following report. 1t were needless
TO enter into any argument to convince this NEE
ling that cotton, our great staple, is now selling
at price SO low, as barely to meet the expenses
of raising it, And it vii! be the purpose ofyour
committee to enquire into the causes which have
produced this sta:e of things, and suggest a rem
edy therefor, so far as human agency is concern
ed. The Introduction ofcotton into this coun-
Try staple crop, has brough about one of the
most extraordinary revolutions ever known in
the Commercial World. Somew here between
1890 and 1900, few bags of cotton found tbeir
way 20 Liverpool on board one of our vessels
and were entered in that port as the product Of
the . States. They were taken by the custom
house officers as contraband goods. The fact he
ing then unknown that cotton was grown in
this Country. Barely halfa century has eiaps-
ed since that period, and we it the medium
of exchange between all the great nations of the
earth and performing the Offices which peculiar-
ly belonged to gold an silver in past ages. Ii
has become an article of prime necessity as we'll |
10 the rich as the poor. And where ever the |
commerce of the civilized world has found its |
way, there its fabrics constitute an important :
tenn oftrade. Your committee would here re
marx that cotton as well as tobacco, have always
been, and will continue to be the peculiar nro-
oucls Oh slave labor. And it may not be amiss
10 advert Tor moment TO the history of the lat
ter article, to show their mutual bearing and in
huence upon each other. 1t was the great stanla
al one time OF the older States, and oecupiea nc
conspicuous stand in the commerce of tb;S
Couttry with Europe, as does its great rival 1ot-
ION, now. But being unlike cotton an article of
luxury and not prime necessity, it has long since
reached that point where demand and sunni,
meet, and the amount now produced is rather di-
nihished At an early period like cotton. i,
commanded high price. That stimulated its
production, until finally the supply excluded The
lemand' and the crops became almost valueless.