Washington telegraph., 1857-01-21
COTTON.


great staple product Of the South presents
some very interesting facts for considera-
ton. We append the article We are
rejoiced to see this able Journal, speak as
1t does concerning the proposition to revive
the African Slave Trade. We hail it as
sign of the times, boding good to the Re
public, that the thoughtful and conserva-
tive men of the South, are taking (in fact,
have taken) so bold stand against this
project as to ensure its absolute and un-
conditional failure. The Picayune says
The cotton growing interests of the Uni
ted States have right to take great en-
couraeement from the signs of the times
The suggestion for reopening the African
slave trade, with view TO obtain a fresh
supply of labor for the cultivation Of cotton,
project which seems to have been breath
ed openly only to die away under the pres
sure Of adverse public opinion elected
discussions which show how universally
recognized is the strength of their position.
Commercially and politically, it is consid-
cred to be one Of the essential elements Of
| the prosperity and quiet of all civilized ma
tions, and a bond of peace between the two
hemispheres- It mainly supports the COM
merce Of the maritime nations, supplies
the instrument by which their vast pro-
ducts are interchanged, and is the basis Of
support to the industrial occupations which
make the power and the revenues, and sus-
tain the existence of the greatest civilized
states The discussions abroad admit the
indisputable necessity to all these vast in
terests of sure and increasing supply of
cotton; and admit, generally, if not al
ways willingly, that no part of the world
can compete with the cotton growing re-
gions of the United States, and no coun-
try can release itself from a dependence
upon us Cor this indispensable product
Ali experiments which have been made,
and they are numerous and costly, to raise
up elsewhere a rival culture, have proved
to be failures They are not altogether a.
bandoned-for the British anxiety to stim-
uIate the culture within her own Indian
dominions, or in places within her reach
and control, is unabatcd. But the efforts
are destined to end, as they have done
thus fan, in disappointment. There are per-
manent causes in the physical geography of
the cotton-growing States, and the species
of labor which they possess, which viii in
fallibly keep for them the superiority
which they enjoy, and which viii be po-
tent considerations for restraining the po-
litical movements, within or without the
country, the effect of which would be per-
manently to derange the culture, and cut
off seriously the supply from this source.
In the very agitation Of political questions
which threaten the institutions Of these
States, resting upon the labor by which cot
ton is produced, we see the price Of both
steadily sustained, and indeed advancing,
and We hear everywhere of the indispensa-
bic necessity ofincreased supplies to the pre-
sent comforts, the growing wants, and the
absolute necessities Of mankind. The cot
ton growers, looking at this, may feel strong
in the assurance that the material interests
Of half the civilized world are, in a great
degree, dependent upon their continued
prosperity, and enlisted more deeply than
| the owners care to aV0w, IN direct terms,
against any violent interruption of their
peaceful pursuits, either by prosecuting
national controversies to the point Of war,
or fomenting internal strife Cotton may
thus be reckoned among the strongest of
conservative elements, in the present con-
dition OF the world, and one likely to grow
stronger, with every increased want Of I'M
proved civilization, and every increase Of
the capacity of any people to elevate It's
standard of comfort
One Of the most significant signs of the
unhesitating faith in the permanent pros
perity of this great interest is the express
sion of apprehension that the consumption
will in few years, exceed our utmost ca
pacity to supply it; and hence the agita-
ton of various schemes to get the amount
Of fresh labor that may be necessary here
after to enable us to keep pace with the
magnitude of the accumulating annual de-
mand. On this plea the reopening of the
African slave trade was advocated by some.
and something Ike the Coolie plan of ap-
prenticcs in the West Indies, adopted BY
the English, suggested by others, with
reference to negro labor to be introduced
under legislation from the African Coast.
The basis of the argument for either is that
we shall have sure employment for our Ia
Dor, and increased demand for our pro-
ducts until the lands are fully cultivated
up to the whole capacity of our capital and
labor. And when this is done, we may be
distressed, because we have reached to
the limit of cur capacity to grow rich.
Perhaps some relief may be found at that
point, in improved systems of cultivation
and bettcr management of land, and the a.
doption of economics, in which Southern
agriculture is lamentably deficient, and de-
iicient because its prodnctiveness releases
men from the necessity of studying closely
the arts by which the earth is made to
multiply Its bounties, and the means by
which these are made most available for
the prosperity of men and States We
think, however, that we may rest without
any immediate apprehension of the disas-
trous consequences of this anticipated su-
f1r ri aaf~ I Il