The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-27


butte most to the comfort, happiness, and peace,
not only of our people, but of the laboring cas-
ses of all other countries.
We are now able to furnish the whole world
with the cheapest and best food, and with the
cheapest aud best raiment We furnish grain,
provisions and coLton--the three staple articles
of commerce--in greater quantities and better
qualities, than any other nation, and the time
is not far distant when we will be able also to
regulate their prices. What boundess field,
then Is open to our agricultural industry !!
What ample reward to the labor of our farmers !!
The command of the word-staples, even without
the acquisition of California, (Which secures to
us the control of the precious metals,) must
have given us the control of the commerce of
the world But independent of these inter-
national considerations, there is yet another
which will naturally suggest itself to your
minds. Our agricultural products, owing to
the vast extent of our territory, and the great
differences Of soil and climate, are so varied as
to furnish abundant exchanges for the domestic
trade between the different States Of the Union.
They furnish in themselves, the materials of a
very extensive internal employment to our
coasting tonnage, and secure constant employ
ment to our steamboats, and railroads.
Planting, and farming are the mutual allies OF
6dCn Otfl6T, AS arc, tiiu6cu, VI
cultural industry, notwith standing the many
prejudices, which, in this respect may be enter
| tanned in various sections OF the country. They
take narrow view of political economy, who
can see but rival interests growing out Of the
different productions of the same country; and
they are worse than bigoted who, in consequence
of it, indulge in unworthy jealousies or hostile
sentiments towards brethren of The same family.
You cannot, by legitimate means, benefit any
one branch Of industry Of great country, with
out Indirectly benefitting all the rest; but when,
as in the case before US, one interest is depend
ent on the other when the producer OF the one
article is the best and often the only consumer
at the other. who is rash rs to assert that the
prosperity Of the one works the injury OF the
other? But it is not my purpose on the present
occasion, further to pursue this train of thought
| Nv object is not to make proselytes for par
ticuar theory but simply to show the necessary
connection, and intimate relationship of all the
branches of the same species of industry, and
their harmonious cooperation in promoting the
wealth, happiness, and power of a great people.
The free international exchanges OF commodi-
ties, so eagerly sought for, as the great com.
mercal desideratum of the different nations OF
Europe, exists already, by the simple operation
of our federal Constitution, between the differ.
ent States of this Union; and the products OF
the different States Of Europe are less varied
than those Of the different geographical divi.
sions of our common country. The domestic
exchanges of every country naturally constitute
the great bulk of its entire commerce but in
none-perhaps not even in China--is so large q
portion of them furnished exclusively by the
products of the soil, as in our own.
have. thus far, briefly referred to agricul.
ture, in connection with other branches of in.
dustry b t propose to go step further, and
consider by themselves some of the agricultural
| products which enter largely into the political
economy of this country do this for the pur
pose of showing, not only how each particular
branch of agriculture may in turn aid in building
up the commercial and maritime importance O
a nation; but also, how one species of agrcul
tura industry may come to the assistance o
another, with which it seems to have no ne
cessary connection. And | may also be able t.
show, from exam les furnished by our history
that even products seemingly competing with
each other in the same markets. may yet have
a tendency to create increased demands for all o.
them. With the theo les and speculation, Of pc
litical economists, have no disposition to med
die before this audience. | shall content myself
with presenting facts, leaving you TO make the
application.
The leading American agricultural staple il
cotton, and ts cultivation and manufacture have
within the last half century acquired an import
ance far exceeding all other similar pursuits
The plant, though indigenous to the tropical re
gions of Asia, Africa, and America, had only
been used to limited extent, for the purpose o.
clothing, when the American invention Of IN,
cotton-on gave its cultivation nm impetus anc
extension unprecedented in the annals Of agri
NJ I'll, .s.,,k ax
risen TO Importance and power so rapidly as tha
Of cotton; none has produced so great revo
luton in the commerce and manufactures Of III,
civilized world. Previous 10 the revolution, anc
even as late as the adoption Of the federal Con
stitution. not single pound Of cotton was ex
ported from America; while il is now not only
the principal article OF our exports, (exceedine
in value all other agricultural exports Of ou
cuuntry,) but the great basis of our foreign ex
changes, and the most powerful lever Of tn
commerce of the world.
The cotton trade alone has sufficed 10 revou
tionize the commerce of the world. Wherevel
a bale Of cotton goes, il carries with il portion
Of American intelligence and power. The abo
lition Of the corn laws OF England-oreninl
the ports Of Great Britain to American bread
stuffs and provisioDs-was triumph achieved
by the American eottoB-growcr over the fonda
aristocracy Of the old world II furnished bread
to the laborng masses Of Great Britain and Ire
land, at the same time that Il clothed them, and
formed the first step towards the amelioration o.
their condition. Il afforded increased markets
rot only to the products Of the South, but from
the necessary relation Of all articles Of commerce
also TO those Of the Northern and Northwestern
States Of the Union. What has been effected
in England by the power Of American ngricul
ture, must, in dde course Of tiTae, extend e
every commercial and manufacturing county or
the continent Of Europe. The battle againS
commercial restrictions is now waging in France
Belgium, Germany, and Italy, and must eventu
n ally terminate in the abrognGon Of all monopo
lies.
i In enumeratng the leading agricultural sta
Piles Of our country, we are naturally Jed TO tn,
consideration ~ the tobacco plant. j. is no
my purpose here to inquire how Far the use o
tobacco, in any OF its forms. may be regarded a'
an elegant accomplishment, or whether its cul
ture should be encouraged AZ one OF the neces
saries of life. In Holland on the shores Of the
| Raliic and ptba, countries of Eurppe \ belipy.