New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-18
The EioQslence of Cotton.

The materials of eloquence certainly very abund-
ant Every now and then, a fine speech on some I'M
recognized topic surprises into discernment of the
hidden stores Of thought, that await the magical
touch of a master mind Burke made great speech
on the hardy habits of the Englandcrs and Webster
found inspiration in steam engines. Sir Humphrey
Davy would grow sublime over O description of gas,
and the poet Wordsworth was famous for taking any
common topic and investing it with the hues of crea-
tive fancy. Our countryman the Hon. VIM. Elliot,
Commissioner of South Carolina to the Paris Exhib-
ton, has made an address before the Imperial and
Central Agricultural Society of France on cotton
and Judging from the extracts which we have seen,
we should say, that cotton ought to be hereafter con
sdered legitimate subject for literary and oratoricai
treatment " We have authentic information, p says
Mr.. Elliot, "going to prove that the Sea Island
cotton, which, in opinion should be exclusively
known as the gossypium Barbadense, was cultivated
IN South Carolina as early as the year 100, and can
it be d matter of indifference to you, gentlemen,
to know that the field selected orthe first experiment
in the culture of the fine material in Carolina in
cludes the very spot where Jean Ribaut (the pio-
neer OF French discoveries in America,) planted
his column of stone i'll 1862 and claimed the territory
for the crown of France!
"On that very spot on which Ribaut planted the
standard of France, marked down on the charts and
maps OF Ladoniere, now preserved in the Imperial
Library, the cotton seed from Anguia came first to
be planted; which, improving from year to year under
the joint influences of the climate and culture came
to supply France with the material for her unrvaed
cotton fabrics, and has thus proved the indus of nur
sery bed from which Algeria has drawn the Seed from
which she has raised those beautiful specimens of Sea
Island cotton now on exhibition on the Paais de
flndustrie, and which rival the finest specimens of
Carolina production"
After having mentioned the various modes of cnl-
ture practiced in Caolina, Mr. Elliot spoke of the
benefits cotton renders mankind.
Let trace out this delicate, fine FIBRE from its
very origin to its final disposition, and observe what
benefits it has dif1used through its course. When
brought to the domestic market and sold it pays or
should pay rent land cost of labor and transporta
ton, and leaves profit to the grower. When sold it
pays profit to the merchant In its transfer to a
foreign port it pays the freight to the ship owner in
Guiding wages to the mariner. Arrived at foreign
port, it pays its tribute to the customhouse, then
pays for commission and storage, and cost of trans
poraon possibly to Rouen or to Asace to be trans
formed into laces and muslins-possiby to Lyons to
be woven in with tissues of silk. Arriving at the
mandatory, it pays the carder, spinner, weaver,
printer, embroiderer all engaged in the process of
tabrcation-and lastly, the manufacturer who vends
it at profit to the dealer from whose hands it passes
in the consumption Of the country, clothes with rich
draperies the gay saloons of fashion by happier
destiny encrcles with its gossamer folds the rounded
forms Of female loyeness-embellishin and height
ening what in itself is perfect, as floating clouds by
the happy distribution Of their golden tints may be
supposed to have enhanced the spendors even Of the
terrestrial paradise" [SOuthern Times.