Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-03-05
Agricultural.

ton crop has undergone considerable dis
cussion in the newspapers recently. We
have published some articles from other
papers on this subject. The following ju-
dicious remarks we copy from The Au-
gus,a Conslitutionalist.
With regard to the first question, the
reduction of the production of cotton,-
we have 10 observe that we would like 10
see the quantity produced, somewhat re-
duccd, but not nn the plan proposed iu the
newspapers that have recommended such
a measure. Reduction is proposed as a
first and principal measure. We believe
that reiuclion should be effected only as
an incident TO change in the course hitf7
erlo pursued by the cotton planters. Our
view Of the suhjec, is this: Every planter
should turn his attention to an indepen-
dence in all his wants, except in the pro-
ductions of tropical climates. He should
be independent for all his bacon, horses,
mules, cattle, and every article in that line.
He should be independent for the clothing
of his negroes. He should be independent
of backsmirhs, taiiors. and other crafts
men. He should be independent for his
cotton bagSing, rope. and all things neces-
sary 10 carry his crop to market. But in
rendering himself independent for all those
things just enumerated, will he moi be oblig-
ed 10 reduce The cultivation Of cotton .
Certainly he will. Then this is the kind
of reduction we should like to see effected
in Georgia. Any other plan of reduction
would not be of any benefit to the planter,
under the present. condition of the southern
states, and Of the cotton trade throughout
the world This is a, all events our view Of
the subject. Besides it is our firm convic-
tion that no other plan of reduction can be
carried into effect. 1t is idle 10 speak Of
Planters Conventions: Conventions Of this
kind have never been able 10 effect any
thing: experience demonstrates the fact,
that commercial conventions, free trade
conventions, aud planters conventions,
have all been Intellectual in accomplishing
any thing. Even the other day there was
to have been large convention of plan
ters al Milledgevile: it was complete
failure. All conventions Of the kind will
be tuilures also. We could assign innu.
/ -merauIe reasons Tor such fu;lu-oo. De-
sides, could any resolution adopted by any
convention be binding on all the planters!
And, besides. could convention recon-
mend or designate better article for cul-
livatiou than cotton? Could cooven-
lion convince every cotton planter that
line cultivation of any other product than
cotton would be more beneficial, while that
planter is dependent for all he wears, calls,
and clothes himself with, un other parts OF
The union? 1t is idle 10 expect that con-
venlion could accomplish all what would
be lnended by and expected from its pro-
ceedings.
If, as we have said, every cutton plan
Ter should strive TO render himself inde-
pendent of other states for the supply Of
those articles we have enumerated above,
il will follow, of necessity, that this cotton
planter will have to reduce The cultivation
Of cU,ton; and if in Georgia, South Caro-
lna, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,
this plan is pursued, we have mol single
doubt that the quantity of cotton now an
nualy produced, will be so reduced, as tc
leave behind 10 a considerable extent, the
supply for consumption in Europe aad in
this country. We are told thai the black
population of Virginia, Maryland, and
North Carolina is decreasing; on accoun,
of the large number of negroes transported
10 the cotton growing states. In some
measure this is true; but we must bear in
mind that The transportation of negroes to
lhe west has for some months past greatly
diminished, aud That The great cotton state
of Mississippi will not admit any mure
slaves from other states. In the consttu-
lion of thai state, it is provided, Section 2,
Article Slaves, that 1.-THE introduction OF
slaves into this State as merchandise, or
for sale, shall be prohibited from and alter
the first dav of May, 1884; Provided, that
the actual settler or settlers sha! mol be
prohibited from purchasing slave, iu any
state n this uIion, and bringing them into
The s,a,e Ior their own individual use, un-
Ill The year l645." So that there is one
state, and that, one of the largest cotton
states, IN which no increase of slave labor
can take place, except in a natural way.
If then tue cotton planters were to pursue
an independent course, as already suggest
ed, the production Of cotton will not be
much iu advance OF the consumption,
which is gradually increasing as the PoPu-
laliun OF every quarter Of the g lobe is IN
creasing in greater ratio than it has done
before the year 1915. up to which Time The
wars which have almost constantly afflicted
mankind, had check by the general peace
that has ever since been maintained, eX-
cept in the southern portion Of this cont
nent. And If the increase Of The produc-
tion of cotton still goes on, Notwithstanding
the independent course that the planters
NAV pursue, il will NOT be in greater
ratio than The increase Of consumption, ei'
fec,ed by natural increase Of population
in the four quarters Of the G lobe.
TO show that there should mol be much
alarm at au extraordinary difference be-
, tween production and consumption, oil
, supply and demand, we would call atten
lion 10 the following statement.
The stock Of cotton of all SORTS in Grea
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