Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-11-01
For the Southern Standard
The Cotton Growing StateS-- Their True Policy.

For the Southern Standard
The Cotton Growing StateS-- Their True Policy.
While the South is on her watch for enemies a
broad she should not neglect to look into and cor
rect the evils which dwell in her midst. The re-
aton which the Southern bear TO the Northern
States of this Union and to the world, in conse-
quence of her peculiar Institution, demands that
she should make herself as independent of each as
prudent and wise forecast will enable her to do.
What, then are the evils, which the people of the
South especially the cotton growing States should
look to and correct The over production of cot
ton will be the ready response to this inquiry, by
all those who have thought upon the subject; this is
the chief and leading error of the cotton growing
States. And how, it may be asked, are you to
establish this proposition Cotton, it may be an
swered, is pre- eminently governed by the principle
of supply and demand. The quantity consumed
by the various manufactures of the world, is the
measure of the demand and there can be no diff
ticulty, therefore, in arriving at knowledge of The
needed supply. II the supply reaches the demand
the prices viii be uniform, if it goes beyond the
price will be entirely under the control of the pur
chaser and ruinous to the producer, and if short
ofthe demand, prices will advance under the con
troll of the planter. Looking to these principles
of trade, what line of policy is it the interest and
duty of the cotton-growing States TO pursue? They
should fall as far short of the demand or con-
sumption, of their staple as is compatible with her
interest and independence; because She can more
prohtably grow corn and small grain and raise her
own pork horses and mules. This is dcmonstra-
ted by the course now pursued by the cotton
growers of the South, being the reverse Of the po-
Icy above mentoned-an over production Of co.,
ton, neglect of corn and small grain, and conse-
quent necessity topurchase pork horses and mules,
and frequently corn. The result is, that the plant
er gets low and frequently ruinous price for his
cotton, and has corn, -four horses and mules to
purchase Ii the cotton planters would reduce
their acres one half, and double their corn and
small grain crops and thus be able to raise their
own pork, flour, horses and mules, thcy would get
more money than they now do, to be expended in
their own section, in the erection of anuac Dries of
various kinds and in the construction of Railroads
and Uther internal improvements Let the cotton
growing States pursue this policy, and they will
render themselves the wealthiest and most indie
pendent community On tie globe, and this will ne
cessarly beget respect and dependence on The pars
of foreign States and nations. This policy would
multiply and diversity labor, open new avenues 10
wealth, invite, instead now, repelliHg emigration.
aud do much to harmonic political sentiment. and
give stability to Slavery; and of necessity arouse
for It's emancipation the South, would have some
resources at hand to fall back upon. In the wal
of all this, would follow necessity for direct trade
with European nations and all the benefits deriya
bic from vast commerce with every part Of the
world
These desultory hints are thrown out upon his
subject with the hope of elicitiny The at
ehtlon and securing the services of an ADLER pen
The people of the cotton growing States should /
have their minds directed to this subject: and in
-erest will lead them to abandon the suicidal course
hey are now pursuing. Who will enlist in a cause
50 good and great? and do more to build nm tba
south and her institutions than all the political
iemagogues, who are seeking to make the States
he mere Stepstones to Federal preferment that IN
iaoiV the hepubhc Increase the power, wealth
md responsibility of the States, and direct tho
'uolc mind from The dazzling deception and liberty
influence of huge national Govern
nent Oxp W. -
Noxubee Co, Miss, Sept. 22nd 1851.