Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-19
49,
49,
Light in the South.

The increased and increasing popularity Of the Pro-
receive sysiom in the Southern States. and especially in
those OF which Cotton constitutes the staple production. is
one Of tho most gratifying signs Of the times IL illus-
usics the power OF truth 10 dissipatc the mists of prejudice
and error, however widely Infused and however deeply
rooted. This marked change Of opinion, however. is not
st all calculated to surprise any one who has paid even a
slight attention 20 the progress OF events. The people Of
the South have seen tho repeated and uniform failure Of
the predictions Of the opponents Of the system-prc-
dicnous the non-.ul6lment Of which has satisfied thou.
sands OF them that the whole catalogue Of objections
which has bcen from time to time arrayed before them
in saeh fearful eolors IL the offspring Of morbid
imaginauons or Of fallseious theories. Let any one
take up Mr.. Calhoan's great speech-for = grcst speech II
"a. IN despite OF it, erroneous conelusions-against the sys-
TEN, 50 late Ss 1912, and note the CassandrI prophecies
with which it abounds aud then compare his gloomy fore
shsdowing OF The effects Of the adoption Of that measure
with the actual rosulis-and he will find, in these results,
the most triumphant reiutaton Of his predictions. He told
us that foreign commerce would be cripPled-that our re-
venue would be inadoGuste-and that the prices OF all az
ticles imported from abroad, ns well as Of their domestic
rivals would be increased. All these antieipatoas have
been lalsiied. On the latter branch OF the subject, ADAM
doning tho line OF abstract reasoning, for which he is 50 re.
markable, he vcntured to refer 10 an article, in the pnco OF
which the cotton. growers are especially interested. for the
purpose OF satisfying that class OF persons OF the grinding
Oppression" to which they were about TO be subjected
lie declared that the duty on cottoR-baRging would raise
the price TO the extent oi the duty, and thus seriously inlure
the planter and he proceeded to a mathematical as well
rs a logical demonstration Of this assumption, by submit
ting To the Senate n minute and carefully elaborated esti-
mate Of the /" tax +" which the cotton-gtowors would be
compelled TO pay as n 'bounty" 10 the manufacturers. And
this estimate furnishes such j striking commentary on the
remark Of n South Carolina paper, upon which we yesief-
day commented, that I" every thing Mr.. Calhoun had ut
tered has been verified by after events, Z" that we publish it
entire. 1t twill shew that on one occasion, at least, he has
been u false prophet:
"a statement Of the additional cost on The cotton crop
Of the year estimated at 100000 basO IN eOnse-
qHenee Of The proposed duty on cotton bGssing, rope
aud iiciEe. submitted By Mr.. Calhoun:
The cost on a bag. estimated at 400 pounds, 81 yards bag
ging, al 5 cents the square yard, equal TO o l9 cents the
running yard, and equal to 6S per cent. ad Nalorom on
the invoice, $40 80 ILLS
Six pounds Of rope. att cents per pound, and
about equal TO ITO per cent. ad yalorem, 90 36
Quarter OF a pound OF Irvine, at 6 cents duty
per pound, and about equal to 80 or 40 per
cent. I'D yaorem, 10 Ol3