The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-03-30
From he Star Of Temperance.
Land Holders and Cotton Planters.


In your last number, SdtKe Suggestions
were made, on the sHbisEt Of the in-
crease Of the cotton crop, and one Of the
means of checking that increase. That, TO
that end, we should prohibit the further inn
p%OrsatIon Of slaves. But this by itself, will not
be sufficient. By the. natur al increase, we will
see from the tables Of the census, that the
slaves double in less than twenty-five years.
This increase Of ITSELF il nothing be done to
prevent it, will in that period nearly or quite
double the crop, or at any rate inctease Il 80
much 40 to reduce the price Of Cotton, and the
value Of slave labor, to the lowest possible
point at which the business can be carried on.
1t depression will be extreme and ruinouss
Hence it becomes necessary to proceed furth-
err than merely to prohibit the importation of
slaves. We must divert, as fat as possible, la
Dor from cotton planting.
How can this be done? by no one single
means, but by many. Let planters combine
their capital if they have surplus, and if not,
withdraw d portion from planting, and build up
manufacturing establishments of coarse WOOL
en- and cotton goods. By doing so they will
directly withdraw from cotton planting, the
capital necessary for building, machinery, the
wages of manufacturers, the slaves engaged in
manufacturing, &c, they will indirectly with
draw so much labor as will be necessary to
all engaged IN manufacturing, with subsistence
and materials, thus bringing to the door Of the
farmer and Ianter a market for beef, mutton,
pork, corn, peas, potatoes, wool and a thous"
and other things, for which he now has no sale
whatever. This market.at mis- door, will tempt
tine planter Immediately to devote a sufficient
portion Of his land and labor to the production
Of Wuul, and articles Of subsistence to supply
it, and 'hese direct and indirect effects Of man
ufattories will be immense.
Let others having small means combine them
to build up other manufacturing, and mechan-
ical branches. Suppose for example, in each
neighborhood in which it can be effected,
companies be formed 1.-THE members taking
each a small stoek) for the establishment Of
good tanneries, and the manufacture Of coarse
snoes. What will be the effect? That the
: business will be profitable to the stockhOldeTs
if properly conducted, none can doubt. But II
the fathers were to contribute in small eumi
and give to d good and industrious tanner, &
sufficient capital, TO set him up well in that
and the coarse shoe making business, they
would make a high profit on the money thus
givet. The PLATTER would setdte d ready, att
u good market at his door, for his hides and hi
skins, which are now for want Of such market
suffered to rot; or be eaten by worms. In sOm'
i instances he wbdld have sale tor tan bark
from his oak trees, now wholly lost, Tit
hands engaged in tanning and shoe making
!, would be fed by the surplus Of his farm. Thu
money which be now sends to foreign teglons
!, for boots, shoes, gin bands and other articles o
}, leather would remain in his neighborhood, an,
circulate Tor the general benefit,
/ give this but as an instance. We mss
S build up and encourage all the arts of indus
o try, manufacturing and mechanical here q
home. IT w have to give nOninaAy, a lsttI
n more, and get articles Omewh inferior, 4
.frst, this will be Of short duration, and it wi
be but nominally more, at first; really we wi
give less. In exchange for the slight differ
snce in price, we will obtain q market fol- Of
Ficultural productions, which nOw,we haveInO
and thus by diverting labor from cotton plan
ing, will reduce the quantity produced, an
% add consequently to its value. II; theret or
., we have to give a little more at first for OF
2 leather and shoes, we thereby secure a marke
ID which now we have not, fol our hides. If
ID higher price be giyeti Tot linseys and wool ha.
T. made here, we have in exchange d market f
wool. which now we have not. But by Il
present system we are not the beneficial owl
ers of our lands and slaves. We are but Tru
tees for northern and transatlantic nanufaCtI
rers. mechanics and farmers. BY consumin
English goods, we give to England not mere
= " q market for her manufactured articles, bI
for her -four, barley, beef. and all products
4 our land. Her mechanics and manufacture
~ first afford a good market 10 the English Ian
holder and farmer, whilst we furnish the ma
ket to the English mechanic and manufact
rer. Thus indirectly the land owner Of Mi
%sissippi, whilsl his own broad and fertile aCr
lie waste and uncultivated for want Of q mark
al homo, by consuming English bread and be
10 the form Of English merchandise, gives
. market to the English farmer, and renders
!. land profitable whilst ours is q burthen. TIL
We indirectly pay the English land holde
Z, rents, support the farmer, mechanics and ma
uGacturer, and bear the burden Of their enOrI
!" Gus taxes. We have more cause to comPla
of the 5inecures Of the English nobility, a
tho nrodrrnIitv Of the Government Of Gre