Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-22
From the N. b. picaxnna
THE PLANTING INTEREST.

of one of our great staples, cotton, the
suddenness with which the decline has ta-
ken place, and the dreary prospect OF
reaction that the future presents, have
given birth to various suggestions design
ed to foster the idea that a combination be
brought about on this side OF the Attain |
tic. Of an extent and potency equalto sus-
tanning prices at point that would remu-
nerate The producer. The plans shadow
ed forth of effecting this object are, many
IF them. so wild and impraticnbIe, as to
betrav their oripin-a depressed and dis
appointed state of mind produced by dis
asters that have come upon large class
Of citizens with rapidly that allowed
brief preparation for crisis so over
whelming. This decline seems to have
been owing to natural causes, as every
speculation that has been entered into to
arrest it has resulted in loss to the parties
concerned. Now that over production
has worked its legitimate consequence, il
is curious to reflect upon the infatuation
that urged the great body Of Southern
planters upon a catastrophe that mode
rate degree of sagacity and caution must
have foreseen. But as prices receded, the
planters strove TO make up the difference
in increased crops--the very policy that
was sure to aggravate the evil.
Amongst the numerous remedies pro-
posed for the existing state of things,
Convention of Cotton planters has been
suggested. The object of this body will
be to devise means for reducing the guam
tity raised. 1t is much TO be feared that
a convention could not come to any def
mite arrangement, either in respect to the
ratio of decrease, or the modes of effect
ing it. 1t would have, in the first place,
TO determine the amount of the crop 10 be
raised it would be necessary to appor-
lion this amount among the cotton grow
ing States, and then again among indivi-
dual planters. Any general rule of re-
duction would bear so heavily upon GER
tain districts as would make it oppressive.
Say, for instance, that it should be deter
mined that the crop is one-third too large,
and to reduce it within the limits agreed
upon, it should be further decided that eve
ry planter should reduce the production
on his estate one-third, by planting one.
third less acres in cotton. Would not this
be an onerous condition with the young
planter who has just begun business with
force. disproportionately large in compa-
rison with the number of acres he has
prepared for cultivation2 Or should any
other arbitrary measure be adopted, the
instances of hardship under it would make
it unpopular. Suppose it was agreed
that no more than certain number of
bales should be raised to the hand, how
would this effect the cultivators of uplands?
The tillers of the rich bottom soils would
be the only sufferers; the reduction would
fall on them exclusively. II is almost, il
not quite, impossible to devise any rule or
measure that will not work unequalIy,
when applied 10 such an extent Of coun-
try, to such a variety of soil and modes of
cultivation. Besides, were a convention
to agree to any fixed measure, that promi-
sed success, if faithfully carried out, what
sanctions could it give of enforcing acqui-
escence in its mandates? The DEGREES OF
the convention would be binding only up
on those who were members of it, or who
sent delegates to represent them in that
would be merely moral one--such as
the upright and honorable would fulfil
with scrupulous fidelity. But many would
not. The planters might denounce such
and justly too, as recreant members Of
society, and ostracise them from all tel
lowship-yet denunciations of this sorI
would have little weight with those whose
sense of honor would not keep them within
the terms of their engagement. And then
again, the large numbers who would no
agree to be represented in the convention
could scarcely be held amenable 10 it
DEGREES.
Is there then no remedyl Although We
doubt the power Of conventions to furnish
one, we think the good sense of the plan
Ter may-and this too will be dones j
done at all-withou: any combination o
concerted action. Self-interest should Ion!
ago have done that which self-defencl
will soon make necessary to be done
When it is known that crop of seventeen
hundred thousand bales will fetch NOR
money than one of twenty-four hun
dred thousand, it seems strange that plan
tiers do not employ their labor in raising
other products than cotton. That tn
smaller crop would sell for more actua
money thanthe largeron needs no othe
demonstration than the commercial histor
of the past year. Just twelve months age
the impression was very general that tn
crop in the United States would fall shol
Of the preceding year by six hundre
thousand bales. The effect of this belle
was to rase prices TO point nearly 10
per cent. above what they rule now
this, too, in the face of large surpIuse