The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-20


pound
The southern planters need not look far from
home to see that the consumption of cotton is
annually declining. In lS4S-49 the South
worked up 10000 bales-in 1880, l07, :
600, and in lS50-5l, but GO, 900 bales Well,
they commenced their manufacturing operations
in lS42, under the tariff Of that year, and that
tariff, had it remained intact, by this time the
South would have driven both British and
northern coarse fabrics from the market. 1t
can place its factories by the side of its cotton
fields, thereby saving all the expense Of trans
portatlon, wharfage, drayage, commissions, in
surance, &C.. on the raw article, with all which
it goes charged to the Old England and
to the New England manufactures. The
North being unable. under these circumstances,
to compete with the South in the manufacture
of coarse articles, would have turned its atten-
ton to making the finer qualities of goods;
and thus both the South and the North would
have moved on prosperously and with true
harmony of interests. Instead of this, cotton
factories, both South and North, are closed or
are closing or working short time, consuming
only paltry 1000 bales of cotton per an
mum, when they should and ought to have
been able by this time to consume one million
of bales.
How long will the southern planters continue
to seek some new and untried method to better
their condition, in preference to that which is
~, LIZ. IL Il
long since, convention at Macon to effect
this. 1t ended in something much like
smoke. Another convention is to be held,
at the same place, in May next, having in
view the same object. We predict nothing
practicable will grow out of it, unless, profit
ing by bitter expernce, they resolve that the
restoration Of the tariff of 1912, with some
amendments, perhaps, is what is needed
to enable the South. in a comparatively short
period, to supply the markets of the world
with coarse cotton fabrics. Such resolution,
followed by the erection of factories commen-
surate with their ability, would soon emanci-
pate the cotton-growers from the thraldom of
British dictation. Without protection they
will in vain continue to struggle against the
competition which now bears them down. Con-
ventlons and central committees, with all the
mssives and suggestions that may emanate
from either, will prove of no avail unless &C
companied by measures that will promote the
development Of home manufactures.
The plan Swallowed forth by Mr.. JOHN G.
GAMBLE, in DE Bows Rerie,c for the current
month, is, substantially, that the planters shall
be pledged to hold back portion of their crop
until diminished production shall bring down
the surplus supply to an equality with the for
eign demand But, though Mr.. GAMBLE sees
the evil, it is plain that he mistakes the rene
dy: He's says:
"The fluctuations lin prices) cause differ
of from thirty to sixty millions of dollars in
the sales of two crops-a difference productive not
only of loss TO the planter, but which sometimes
tells with disastrous effect upon foreign exchanges
and banking institutions. These fluctuations are
always in the inverse ratio of the production. Thus
while a crop Of only two millions two hundred
thousand bales of cotton yield to the producers one
hundred and ten millions of dollars, a crop OF two
millions eight hundred thousand bales will pay
only sixty Millions"
The evil is indeed apparent; but the plan
proposed furnishes no remedy.
We would, with all Difference say to the
cotton planters, "Shake off the chains with
you; take from them the power Of lording it
over you by an arbitrary dictation of prices; no
longer permit the cotton to go to them, but com
pei them TO come to the cotton. This result
can only be obtained by largely increasing the
home consumption-and this increase of con-
sumption can only be obtained by protective
tariff" This done, the planters could, IN a
great measure dictate their own prices, and
thus open new avenue to prosperity and
wealth.
Although Mr.. De Bow has been bitten by
the tarantula Of free trade, he not unifequently
talks like a northern protectionist. For in
stance. in his February's Rerielc, he says:
"Let ne suppose that enc fourth Of the labor now
engaged in raising cotton should be thus directed
in making rail and other roads, the amount Of the
cotton crop would be diminished one fourth, and
the increased price consequent thereon would make
up for the diminished quantity, and would enable
the cotton growers TO realize much money as II
the fourth Of the labor had not been turned into
other channels.
Suppose, again, that another fourth shculd be
employed In factories Of different kinds; this would
cause further diminution in the quantity raised,
and a corresponding increase in the price. Should
the cotton crop Of the United states be reduced TO
800 900 bales perannum, Of which third would
be consumed in the southern States s easy TO see
what a fatal effect il would have upon the manu-.
iactures Of the northern States and of Europe"
After speaking Of the quantity and value Of
the cotton consumed in the Northern States for
five years past, he remarks, further
"The profits arising from the manufacture Of
this cotton, and selling il TO the northern people,
amounted perhaps TO double the cost Of the raw
material, whilst it furnished employment TO thou
sands Of operatives, and secured 10 the norLhsr, far
mo mark,f for his produce"
This is precisely the language Of the north
ern protectionists. Increase the home consump-
ton and build up a home market for the far.
mer is sound doctrine; and we are glad to see
that Dir. DE Bow is beginning to appreciate it.
In little time we hope to see his cotton
| growing readers striving IN rive ef1icacv IA