Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-07


yincing them Of the fallacy Of asystem which
they regard as essential TO their prosperity,
if not 10 their existence. This, however,
affords no reason why Ue should not look 10
our own interests, and endeavor to ascertain
the best market for our products. II has,
therefore. been the object of these remarks
to show you that what may be at present a
market for cotton, is none for your proddc-
tons, and never can be.
You perceive that deal very frankly with
this question. | know no reeson why we
should shrink from the sane openness with
which the southern writer's and speakers dis
cuss it, aud pres: the peculiar interests of the
cotton growing States. No occasion Of n
public asseGihlage is suffered bv them 10
pass, Without earnest, and soH Chimes men-
acT.g appeals, for the protectiol q the Iro-
9ucss, with but little referenre Go thaee 81
cther States. Still, would con't~t tie dis
cussion in good temper, and with proper re-
spect and regard for our brethren, no sup
pose they have different interests from ours.
deprecate and detest all language and all
conduct calculated 10 exasperate sectional
leaIousies, and state of feeling perious to
our glorious union. But the discussion Is
forced upon us by the very nature Of the
l.bject. We can not shape our own pur-
suits without enquiring into the nature and
extent Of the foreign market, and the KIND
OF agricultural products to which u Is adapt
ed: aud thus the diversity Of those products,
and the different degrees of competition TO
which they are exposed, must he inyestiga'
ted And as a consequence, the opposite III
terests of the north, the east, and the west
on the one side, aud Of portion OF the
south on the other, were developed, certain
IL not in an uniriendly spirit to them, but IN
lust aud honest defence of ourselves.
Must one OF these interests he sacrificed
10 the other, or can they be reconciledt Can
course be adopted TO promote both to a
reasonable extent, so that neither shall en-
croach on the other! ] believe this can be
done; | believe that generally 1t has been
done by the legislation Of Congress.
| In the first place, let us see what are the
comparative numbers 10 be affected by the
antagonist system. There are only eight
States " hich produce cotton To such an eX-
tent rs 10 render IL predominatlng interest,
viz: South Carolina, Georgia, Flordo, Ala
bamn. Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and
Louisiana; the latter also producing sugar
in nearly equal quantity. / he whole popu-
laton Of these States, in 1910, amounted 10
S.OOO. 900 aud half; when the total popula-
ton Of the United States was 1900, 0OO.-
What may he called the cotton interest OF
tho United Statcs Is, therefore, one-fiilh Of
the population. Add 10 this what may be
called the tobacco interest, Mary land, Nir-
rinia and Kentucky, which numbered 2,00O,-
600 and half. and the whole constitu-
ted little more than one-third OF our popu-
lntion M that time. The increase since 1910
has, undoubtedly, been greater at The north;
aud the proportions will, therefore, he still
greater i'm lis favor. In several OF the south
crn States named, there are large numbers
engaged in the production OF breadstutls aud
provisions, and others are producers Of sugar
and hemp, such as Louisiana and Kentucky,
whose interests are identical with ours. but
tive numbers given are sufficiently precise for
general purposes of illustration. Now, 1t
theIo are to ho concessions made to secure
ueae,,, TRANQUILITY, and union, may not the
two-u,irds Of the people of these United
States expect something from the one,third!
Tho comparative values Of the property
involved in their respective interests, must
exhibit .til greater disproporllon. In the
absence OF statistical returns OF the amount
or value of the domestic produce consumed
M home, we Gun refer to the character of the
populntion "a uslitniing the two-thlrds, and
tho vast oxteu of their fields OF operation,
90 show that IN products OF their labor aud
skill must be II. a greater rntin even than
their numbers.
When the oue-th'ul demand a system of
policy TINT destroys ,pt!lely the home mar
ket, and insist on the application Of your
labor, and skill, and capital, in such way
as 10 sustain the workshops OF Europe, AMI
create a demand for cotton, and itc means
Of purchasing it and tobacco, 10 the' not
really aud substantially require speclpi pro-
tecuve policy for their own interests; Aud
vet how much have we heard from that
quarter against legislation for the protection
of local iuteresisf
As the whole is made up Of parts, how can
the Interests of the whole to promoted un.
less by promoting those nf the componenlsf
Aud it Is the first duty ct every government
20 aim az this object. But the next rule Of
political economy is, that where any question
arises, the greatest good of the greatest num-
her is TO be preferred. But the application
of this rule adult to he very difficult, as IT
may involve the oppression ct the smaller
number, and produce injustice. And this,
under no circumstances, shnuld be permitted,
Now, il appears GO me, that with tnutual
respect Tor the rights and interests OF an,
there Is 4 moderate, middle, aad reasonable
course hy which an our interests may with
in reasonable and Just limits, be maintained
and promoted. Let the producers OF cotton
and tobacco continue 10 export TO Europ".
They have the monopoly ln raising these
articles, particularly cogtaL ahd may and do
defy competitions The foreign workshops
can not exist withor; ia. liy keeping the
supply within due limits, they can regulate
the price aud keep il steady. md such linz
iis can be had in two ways. Isi, by ditersi-
Ging their own labor, and net applying it
too exclusively 10 this one kind ct crop; Ga
course OF policy recommended by some of
their own visest slaicsmcn;) and -, hy en-
rouragiug the home market-tbo tRauutlc-
lures OF their own country. In order 60 give
Europe the means OF making exchanges for
H.. 4, l.r,.. L. III. .lrttns -, lhn., rrtirln.