The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-27
PROF. STOWE AND THE COTTON QUESTION.


! We take pleasure in publishing the follow
1 ing extract from letter received by us lately
| from Professor Stowe. The reporters OF his
speeches in England evidently did him injustice
in representing him as willing to degrade and
cheaper free labor for the sake of putting an
end to slave labor His views in regard to the
cotton growing monopoly certainly do not diff
fer much from those entertained by slavehold-
ers themselves 1t is this monopoly which, IN
their opinion, makes slave labor profitable and
they tell us that so long as this shall continue
they will maintain the system. We are not
prepared to say that the growth of free cotton
is an essential and Indispensable requisite to
the abolition of Slavery" but it is evident that
whatever tends to interfere with the slayehold-
ers monopoly of cotton-growing or to reduce
the profits of slave labor, will favor the aboli-
ton of the system.
There is nothing in the views of Professor
Stowe, as presented in the following extract,
which can expose him justly to denuncation
on any question, or subject to suspicion his pa
triotism or his philanthropy Era
"Cotton has now come to be, in the civilized
world, as much necessary of life as corn.
Shareholders have now, in effect, the monopoly
of cOtton-growing So long as they have this
monopoly they never wiH take any measures
for the abolition of Slavery.
"As matters now stand, therefore, free
grown cotton is an essential, an indispensable,
requisite to the abolition of Slavery.
" 1t is possible to raise cotton by free labor
and though at first it may be attended by some
loss, it can eventually be raised by free more
economically than by slave labor. This is made
obvious, by comparing the moderate price OF
free labor with the enormous outlay of capital
and constant risk of heavy loss attendant on
slave labor.
1t is, therefore, plain duty of all who de-
sire the abolition of Slavery to do what in
them lies to encourage free labor produce, and
discourage slave-labor produce. To do what
they can, and all they can, in this way, is their
obvious duty though imPOSSibifties are not re-
quired of them, nor of anybody else A little
consultation, a little concert little self-denial,
and little effort would soon show them that
they have vastly more of power u this direc
ton than they now have any idea Of
"As Great Britain is the greatest consumer
of cotton in the world, and derives the great
est pecunary advantage from it; as her colo,
MES have the best soil and climate for cotton
growing, and the best means for procuring
free laborers and as she stands prominently
before the world as the great Anti-Slavery ma
ton of the earth, with resources both of CAPT
tai and intelect-of enterprise and political
inhueuce-of military and naval strength, and
of territorial extent almost boundless-it is pc
culiary the duty of Great Britain to attend to
this matter, and at least TO make the effort to
supply herself with free-grown cotton, at what
ever cost of money or labor. This she must
do if she will work effectively to the dostruc-
ton of Slavery throughout the world.
"This is what have thought and said, and
this is all that haze thought and said, on this
matter; and though bitterly reproached for it.
both by Pro.Slavery men and Anti Slavery
men, ! still believe it all to be true and right,
and shall still insist upon it as such, till the
contrary is shown.
As to urging the cessation of moral means,
,r advising the transportation of coolies or
China men to work for sixpence day nothing |
Of the kind ever entered my head or fell from
my lips"