Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-15


bags at 81 e,6125S9
Hay, /, 1877. 7s4 bis at 1120 1274s.lsO
Hemp, "a, 673 bales at $1i2 3,ss3,37e
Cane Sugar, 2,971 $3.50 bbls.
at$7 16,599,3lO
--$l3s, 6o5,s19
Balance in favor of free States $s,5ss,275
We have not the slightest suspicion Of the source
from whence Mr.. Helper drew his statistics, unless
from that sublmest faculty Of the human mind, the
faculty Of imagination We are only left to wonder
why while he was about it. he did not make the
balance in favor Of free labor greater than it appears
1t was hardly worth while to publish large mis-
representation for little profit AS for his figures
the most ordinary intelligence would suffice to detect
the falsity Of their statements Southern staples do
not sell at the prices above quoted, as whoever has
had any for them very well knows. We shall
take the liberty Of helping Mr.. Helper to little bet
ter information both in the matter of statistics and
the conclusions that should be drawn from them.
AS far as the production of hay in the Southern
States is concerned, it might well be thrown in
our teeth that we do not produce ice or manufac-
ture wooden nutmegs We grow all the hay we
have any use for-enough to support our stock
through the few weeks of cold weather when the
grass does not grow greenly. 1t is more profitable
to employ our labor in the production of cotton and
rice, and sugar, and tobacco, and so we do it. In
fact hay is considered Of little importance that it
is to very great extent never returned in the Gen.
Reports; and this accounts for it that New York
seems to produce more of this crop than all the
Southern States together conclusion that is as far
as possible from what is really the fact
Mr.. Helpers statistics were correct, there would
be nothing very alarming in any legitimate argu.
ment that could be drawn from it The number of
acres devoted to the cultivation of hay in 1850 was
1000 600, while the number of acres of cotton was
less than half many, or 5, 900, 900. Moreover
and particularly beg the attention Of the apostles
Of Northern industry to this point-the crop of hay
is eaten up upon the very ground where it is pro-
duced. 1t is to be taken into consideration only rs
included in the value of the stock The North has
right to say its domestic animals worth GER
tain sum, that the necessary to their pro-
ducon is worth a certain other sum, and then make
each separate item in its sum total Of absolute
wealth. There is not single pound of hay export
ed to foreign ports, but, with the exception of few
bales which are consumed in Southern cities, it is
eaten up in the very section where it is produced
The value of the Indian of 1850 estimated
in round numbers at $296, 600 900. more than
three times the value of the hay the wheat at $780,
100000 or 81 100000 more than the hay the live
stock at $195 OOO 900, about twice the value of
the hay while even the potatoe crop amounted to
the half of the sum which Mr.. Helper makes such =
fuss about. Yet these entitled to little conside
ration in comparison between the products of
North and South, for the reason that their produc-
ton is not peculiar to either section 1t is only by
examination and presentation of the exclusive
products that any fair comparison can be made be-
tween Northern and Southern industry.
But Mr.. Helpers statistics are not correct. In
the Census Reports, which probably as reliable
as any source to which there is access, and which
certainly do in favor Of section the value
Of the crop of hay is estimated at $50, $40 49, in
stead of $l42, 1875, 1898, according to Mr. Helper;
the cotton crop the low figure Of $98 603. 72O,-
$4,000 900 greater than the crop Of hay-instead Of
$7S 264 $685. the hemp at s. 247, 430 instead of 3d.
1884, 376 And We once more request our Northern
friends to bear in mind that this cotton and tobacco
and rice and sugar and hemp are exclusively South.
ern productions. We raise our bread and meat and
potatoes, and have this other "stuff" to carry to
market 1t is not for home consumption, but for
export; and would be SO many dollars in our pock.
ct, but for that they who reve our institutions and
rdcule the products of our industry conrive to put
the greater part of them into their own. However,
it is all for the wealth and glory of the country
and as we somehow manage-though such IS Mr..
Helper think ought to be very poor-to make .
very comfortable living, We don't know as we should
make any very loud complaint about it. II our
Northern friends cannot support themselves it is but
the evidence Of our friendship and good will, that we
allow them to exc out subsistence from the profits
of Southern labor. Only it does seem rather hard
that we should meet with persecution and revilings
at the hands of people from whom we should have
the right to expect something like gratitude and az
lection. ...-.-
~ a.. n1A~& as