American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-08
The Cotton Plant.

ATTITUDES, or rather the climates, within which
cotton fourishes, than the qualities of the cot
ton produced in different countries These qua
lities may be determined by the demand for
them in the great cotton markets Of the world ;
two great markets, that which is most sought
and used in these markets must possess the
best qualities. Why does Mr.. Greeley so strenu-
ously contend for heavy protective duties In
part, because of his belief in the great skin OF
the British dealers and operatives In COTTON.
Long practice and thorough attention nave per-
fected in them knowledge of the qualities OF
different classes of cotton, as well as of the diff
ferent modes of manufacture therefore they
are formidable competitors with our own deal
ers and artizans.
There are three countries from which con-
siderable amounts Of cotton come to the British
market, yet the United States supplies about
two-thirds of all its demand. These countries
are India, Egypt, and Brazil India is an ap-
pendage Of the British crown; and England
has long studied how to render it subservient
to her wealth, and has made the effort to produce
cotton in it equal to that of the United States.
The effort has been entirely unsuccessful. Eng
land would borrow and pay down, deeply as
she is in debt, one hundred millions Of pounds
sterling to any man, or set of men, who would
prove to her certainly, that, by process not
involving great expense in the production, India
could be made to produce as good cotton as the
United States. She would then lay discrimi-
mating duty on American cotton, and give the
,~1t,o ~ Iof lie har
dependence on US for cotton Calling yoke.
That dependence is the principal source Of her
late and interested ciyilities. She has come
slowly and painfully to the conviction, that to
strive to destroy the fat of natures God, who
has created soil and climate in America pecu-
iarly suited to this plant is a worse than use
less effort Egypt supplies her with consider
able cotton, which is so mixed with the fine but
multitudinous sand inseparable from its soil, as
greatly to deteriorate its quality. The cotton
of India has defects seemingly both of climate
and soil. The inferiority Of the Indian and
Egyptian cotton is altogether irremediable.
Brazilian, in process Of time, by more skilful
cultivation, might probably be brought some
aohat to diminish her consumption Of American,
but not to an important extent.
Thus, for at least a century-long enough,
if we act wisely and continue uited, to ac-
cumulate unprecedented wealth-the United
States are likely to continue the great cot
ton producers. Including that part of Texas
fitted for the cotton culture, but small part of
which has yet been employed for that use, the
South has territorial capacity for producing
~ lolo
If the world could be preserved in peace, thirty
years would bring the United States up to that
actual productions cotton crop equal to about
one hundred and fifty millions of dollars per
annum. But inasmuch as there is too much
reason to believe that but few years will bring
on a general war in Europe, the progress of the
cotton culture must necessarily be affected by
the yicissitudes of Empires and States. 1t is
quite mistake to believe, that in the midst of
war the pursuits of industry can thrive as IN
the midst of profound general peace. Popula-
ton is the great basis Of wealth, ordinarily;
even those nations, such as the Romans, who,
in the latter stages of their conquests, behaved
with SO much rapacity and injustice, neverthe-
less looked to the preservation of the population
and industry of the conquered as the sources of
their own opulence; and often were the arts of
a plundering proconsul 'exerted in vain to shield
himself from punishment or contempt, because
Of the deep conviction Of the Roman people that
the prosperity of the subject provinces was in
timately interviewer with their own. 1t was
not until wealth overfowed, and corruption
reached its height, that there men could protect
themselves with the spoils they had wrenched
from grooming people; nor was their immu-
nifty even then universal. Verres sunk beneath
the eloquence of Cicero and Pompey and Mar
cellus were sustained by public opinion for
their integrity and pecuniary incoruptibility,
in an age the most corrupt that Rome ever ex-
perienced.
Still, the culture Of cotton viii not be more
affected or retarded by war than other branches
Of industry. All are in greater or less degree
seriously injured by it, unless under some Pc
culiar circumstances. The arts Of peace are
the true arts of industry-the elements in which
they assume their greatest animation and prom
Use their most extensive diffusion and improve
ment.
II the qualities Of our cotton are such as to
cause for it such pre-eminent demand, what
are the circumstances that are calculated to
diminish its consumption Railroads are null
tiplying to an extent Unprecedented in our own
country. England is growing in population,
with the exception Of Ireland, which creates but
small consumption of cotton fabrics Her
wealth also is augmenting rapidly. And there
is nothing that cotton has to fear, If we can
remove all causes Of disturbance and discon-
tent, north and south, by cordial union on
those compromises of the Constitution in which
our fathers laid the foundation Of our national
greatness, and by strict adherence to which
we may ef6ectually and gloriously secure it.