The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-17

unfavoTuhle even making every allowance for the
natural tendency to exaggerate any misfortune
which may happen To it at this season of the wear
But the experience of the last year furnishes q
striking example OF the old adage, "Out of evi
comes good" The deficiency in the American
cotton crop of lS49' go with threatened deficien
cy in another succeeding year, has drawn degree
Of attention to the great Importance of an abundant
supply OF that important staple, which, perhaps
no other circumstances could have secured Cotton
Is not now regarded only by the men Of Larca
shire Thanks to the spread Of those enlarged eco
nomical views which the discussions on free trade
during the last few years have 30 much promoted
the success of our manufactures is no longer looked
upon as mere local affair, but as one Of intense
national interest; not as question purely CONNER
cal involving the prosperity, little more a lit
tie less, of small body of manufacturers and
chants; but as one of great political importance,
affecting alike the material condition of the bulk OF
the people at large, the success OF hundreds of mi
nor interests Immediately dependent upon it, and
the great foreign exchange operations through
which many of our daily wants and comforts are
provided, and so large share of the of the
country is secured
Cotton, for the last nine months, has been equally
the subject of the statesmans apprehensions and OF
the merchants alarm. When every thing else
seemed safe, that source Of danger alone feared
But these apprehenslons have not been without
their utility. 1t ia not too much to say that during
the last year, there has been earnestness in the
search for new and more various sources of supply,
never visible at any former time, No doubt the
great advance in price has done something towards
it. The real cure for dearth is high price; and it
is on that account that have always set ourselves
against every attempt to depress by combination,
or by any artificial and unnatural means the value
Of SO important raw material. From all quarters
We receive accounts of the most satisfactory char
ncter as to the attempts which are being made to
introduce and extend the cultivation Of cotton
!. 1t is but week ago that called attention to
the fact that while the West India committee in
London were wasting their energies in meetings,
and in very long reports deploring the loss of pro-
lection and the ruin of the colonies the planters
were everywhere showing symptoms of setting
up for themselves" Even in sugar, showed
that the British colonies have increased in their
production since the adoption of free trade, at q
rate greater than any other country in the world
But that ia not all Other articles of produce,
suitable to the soil and circumstances of some parts
of the West India Islands, also beginning to at
tract serious attention Among these The most
prominentis cotton. The last mail brought us &C
counts of very striking efforts which are being
made in Jamaica, to extend, upon a large and sys-
tematic plan, the culture OF this staple. Many pri
vate persons have already undertaken this culture.
Some of the best of Mr.. Bernal's estateslying, like
many others, in those parts OF the island where,
from the risk Of drought and the absence Of means
of irrigation, good crop of sugar could not be
with certainty reckoned upon oftener than once in
three or four years, and where in fact but for the
high protective duty, the growth of sugar would
never have been attcmpted-have been converted
into cotton plantations. By these accounts, just
ceived, large joint stock company, which promi
ses to be well supported, both with capital and en-
terprise, had been organized for the culture of
cotton In British uiana, also, although the steps
taken with view to that object had been less deci-
svc, we learn from good sources, that not only had
the great capabilities of the soil and climate for
the extensive production of cotton, attracted the at
tention of individuals but also of the local govern
ment.
2. The accounts which we receive from India, by
the present mail, are also extremely encouraging,
in 20 far as the prospects of an extension Of the
cultivation of American cotton is concerned Our
information, derived from the best sources in In
dia. enables US to say, confidently, that its cult
va Ia " fhe Incra i Sn ha
membered that we some time ago noticed that in
Dharwar, in consequence of the unfavorable season
Of ls47, the cultivation Of American cotton had
fallen in lS4S from 30 900 to 1900 acres. 1t ap-
pears. however, that in lS49 it again extended
without any interference whatever the part of
the government, to nearly $4,000 acres; and our
accounts lead us to think that, in the present year.
this cultivation will be greater than in any former
year whatever, even when most fostered and forced
by the local authorities. Again, in the district of
Belgium, the cultivation of American cotton is
rapidly extending. In lS4S it was less than 5000
acres; in l649 had increased to about 600 acres
and in the present year it is still greater. Again.
for the fret time, learn that in Candeish consid
cradle success has attended the recent experiments
in this improved cultivation. And though in the
district OF Breach we hear nothing of American
cotton, yet the great Improvements which are TAX
ing place In the preparation of the native cotton is
circumstance scarcely less important. private
European establishment for purchasing, cleaning,
and forwarding this cotton had, some time ago,
been organized, under the management of Mr.
forward about 900 bales. Another establishment,
with a similar view, formed by Messrs Richie,
Stewart * Co., promised even more important re-
suits. These facts are valuable, chiefly as the be-
ginning OF a more material and healthy source Of
success, than could ever be expected from the
forced care Of government, however judiciously
applied.
in promises, and has indeed, already given us
some pledges Of their fulflment. We gave, on
Wednesday last, the substance Of a letter on the
subject, written by Mr.. Roberts, President of the
"black' republic of Liberia, dated the Sd of July,
and the following is an extract Of another from
him. dated the 9th of July, speaking of the expedi
ton headed by Mr.. j. Il. Straw, "who has the
management OF expedition fitted up by several
eminent mercantile and manufacturing firms in
England for the purpose of testing, by practical
experiment, the possibility of procuring supply
OF cotton from the west coast of Africa There can
be ne question, any how as to the success of the
enterprise, particularly in Liberia, if properly
managed. They have here persons well acquaint-
ed with the culture of cotton, having had many
years experience in the United States. These as
cure me--having demonstrated the fact by actual
cxporiments-that cotton, of IA good quality
in the United States, be raised here, and in
large quantities. If persons of sufficient pecuniary
means will engage in cultivating IT. Cotton in
small quantities is rascd by the natives in the
interior of Liberia; and, If instructed and encour
aged q little az 10 the best mode of cutvating IL,
they may be induced TO raise ii in large quantities;
indeed, to almost any extent" Such the pros
poets in Liberia In the neighborhood of the coast
guarded by the Danish forts, recently cedcd to
England, opening into the extensive dominions Of
the King Of Ashantec, the prospects arc even more
fattering. Again, at Port Natal, experiments
growing into regular and fixed cultivation. There
the only drawback Is the want Of population and
the high price of labor; which, in Liberia and
Ashantce, are, on the contrary, as abundant and
cheap could be wished for.
4. Even Australia, among her other resources be-
gins to hold out hopes of contributing TO supply
ofcotton. Dr. Lang came TO Manchester some three
or four ycars ago, with view of endeavoring 70
promote that culture. But the quiet and peaceful
paths OF commercial enterprise appear 10 have
proved too tame for the impatient spirit Of this Wig
orous divine. EIaspcratcd by tho GOODNESS with
which bis proposals were rcceivod-as, in fact, all
such proposals should bc-and baiiled it is said by
the Colonial Office in fruitful and pleasing lit
tie jobs, he returned to the colony with a mind
made up to sgitate for separation from the parent
state. How little he must have known or appre-
ciated the true commercial spirit and character OF
a British community! The Rev Doctors schemes
are already voted 'fdead faiure;" but, when agi-
taton fails tappears that cotton promises TO thrive
BY the last arrival from the colony receive the
following in local paper: "From tho continued
series OF experiments the production OF cotton in
the Maitland district, n satisfacto result Ia