The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-01-31
The Cotton Market and other Things.


The late news from the "old country has had some
effect upon the Cotton Market here although we must
confess there is strange inconsistency in things ch
battles ingenuity to understand clearly demonsra
ting the fact that there are fixed rules principles
by which the cotton market may be Judged, or by
which it is governed. An opinion, in regard to future
prospects, is altogether in the imagination and guess
work must SIMPLY the place ofwisdom. The prospect
of general European war has effected the price Of
cotton-notwthstanding the uncertainty Of it, the eff
feet is very considerable for we are apt to think the
worst Of things, and tho tendency OF human nature
generally is to dsparage, and look upon the dark side
first. Suppose there s war; is that any reason why
cotton should 90 down very greatly il price? We
ask for information-let US make enquiry Or two
further: Will the fact o( there being war lessen great
ly the demand for cotton? Will the balance OF the
world outside of Europe not have the same interests
at stake as heretofore? The increasing mutitudes Of
human beings which daily to be clothed, will need
the same supply as heretoore manufactures must be
kept in operation cotton must be made bought, sold,
and manufactured to supply the demands Of the world,
as heretofore soldiers must be fed and clothed in
war as well citizens in peace; and the great ruling
commodity of the commercial world will be sought af-
ter still One thing is certain cotton is obliged to be
had, and the manufacturers Of Europe arc obliged to
buy it and pay for it. as well with war as without it,
And all this mucha.do about putting cotton down,
is, perhaps one of the many popular humbugs OF the
day. for the world abounds with the article and there
is any quantity Of it among business men, and great
deal in buying and selling cotton. The estimate of
the falling of Of the CROP so far, is something over
six hundred thousand bales
Certain kinds of spectators across the water, as
we'll as good many OH this sde are largely interest
ed at this time in crying down cotton Ofcourse, if
they get it down very low they will invest large
ly, and await with greedy impatence the climax
which will enrich their coers at the mstortunes
of the producer Now, we do not pretend to be an
oracle upon the subject. We know, perhaps as little
what cotton will do as any ono else and the Whole
matter begins and ends in speculation, for verify
believe there breathes not man who can tell us
much abost it, and whose opinion will amount to
much more than the chap who is said to have sagey
remarked when askedhi opinion in regard to the pro-
bable condition ola vessel at sea- that the vessel had
gone down it waslost but fupon further investigation,
it should be found out that the vessel had not gone
down. then the said vessel was safe. Talking about
the fluctuations in the cotton markets reminds us that
it is pretty fair specimen of the world we live IN for
at this time there greater number Of stranger in
consisenccs than at any former period in its history
This rrll age for rapid conLlusions-opnions
formed and convictions expressed with the velocity of
thought itself We need not refer to any particular
circumstance to Illustrate position, that too many
Of the word act first and think aftcrwards-the expe
ricnce of most men confirms this But there may be
for hasty conclusions where they do not
seriously involve the reputation and wcilbcing 9TH
ers but where hastv concl sions do an absolute inu
ry TO individual society, the indulgence of the
passion is highly reprehensiblc There is loo great
disposition among people for excitement and variety;
so much is this the case, among right good peo-
pie in many respects, that vague and uncertain rumor
usurps the place Of ard facts and leaves large
work to be done by hasty conclusions which never
fails to illustrate with too much truh-carrying the
idea little furthcr-that
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