Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-01-23
COTTON AND SLAVERY.


ceivp the important bearing which the prCduc'
ton of cotton has, of late years, been made 10
sustain on the question Of the continuance and
extension Of slavery in this country. AT the
commencement of the present century, India
nearly clothed the world with the fabrics OF this
product; while so little was then raised IN the
United States, that it was not even enumerated
as one of our productions, in our national stats
| tics, much less thought of as an article OF ex
port. Since that period, however, the produc-
ZION Of the article for eXportatioa has gradually
been decreasing in the East, and has now near
" ceased. But during its decadence there, it
has been in the same and even in greater pro-
portion, increasing here so that the tables have
now become reversed. America has taken the
place of India, and, for some years has stood
the undisputed monopolist Of the cotton trade.
All this is a well known matter of fact; and
it is fact also. we believe, that in the same de
rree in which this traffic has approached to a
monopoly in this country, in that degree, other
things being equal, have increased the prices OF
'coton-in that degree have increased the prices
of the slaves required for its production and
in that degree. also has increased the desire OF
| their owners to possess them. and to strengthen
and perpetuate the institution that permits 'heI'
bondage. And what Is equally well worthy OF
note. is the fact that while this state Of things
has been in progress in the South. new SGT o
apolonists and defenders OF this once generally
c,nlemned institution, has obviously beer
springng up among those interested or engaged
m the trade and manufacture of the article q
the Moth By this combination oftwo such IN
duentiaI interests, located at different exlreml
ties of the Union, the slave power has recent,
hedoed itself about with barrier which tn
friends OF human freedom have almost despaire
of ever being able TO overthrow. and which bid
fair. in the view of many of them, to sec1re
slavery, as incompatible as il may be- safe an
permanent place amor g the other institutions
our republic. But it appears to us that is to
so N to despair Providence often furnishes an
tdotes nr the means Of destroying the evils
which, for wise purposes, it permits for Will
to exist, wholly unforeseen and unexpected b
the ialthless and Responding
While this league between the lords of tn
lash and the lords Of the loom, has been formln
an1 strengthening. and while the former hav
been counting on perpetual monopoly OF the
grand staple, another and powerful counter II
terest has been aroused abroad, whlrh is nj
without promise Of eventually working out i'll
oortant results in the abolition Of America
slavery. We allude to the commercial and pr
nical interest of Great Britain. Her statesme
r alarmed at this monopoly by America, OF pr
duct VIII CHI clothes and gives employment
such large proportion of her people, and whic
! is reducing her to huOIiating dependence {
q a foreign power, and perceiying her liability, /
0 the interruption OF friendly relations b twet
the two countries, and the consequent cuitu
off of so necessary a supply, to be disastrous
effected in her most important interests, hay
. been, for several years, rusing about them f
n a place within their own domlnions, where ii
, cultivation Of cotton can he efficiently pursue
, With this object, agencies have been establis
- ed IN India; and though this attempt to revlv
, the growing of the product in that countr
has not, through encouragement, or son
other remedable cause, been very succes
" fuI, yet they are not discouraged.
!. Numbers of the most able articles, the per
: sal of which has led, in part, to this train of
1ections, have appeared, the past season, in
y different English Journals showing the feasib
10 ity of growing cotton at far less prices than
IS now paid for it, not only in India, but in Afrit
e the West India Islands, and in South AmerIc
G. ami urging immediate action in the premises.
An unusual attention indeed, is evidently bel
now directed to that subject and when EHgla
is fairly aroused in the matter, as she soon mi
be- is it too much to expect that she will be 81
n cessul? And with her success, who sees
that the price of American cotton will go dow
Well systenized free labor is cheaper than slG
70 LABOR, and the South could not long wlthsta
- the competition. And again, who sees not, Il
if cotton should be reduced to one third or h
Y its present value, 1t would so effect the prices
J., slaves, as to leave little inducement in the M
= northern of the Southern States, to continue
81 for the only reason it is now continued-thut
breeding slaves for market in the cotion-rais
ID States while the planters in the States
named must then soon be induced by the wo
II in of their proftess system, TO listen to tn
. ideas Of emancipation which the whole surrou
"A ing world, including the dsarmed Northern
&c biologists, would then be urging on their att
le ton.
es These, we know, are but speculadons;