The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-24
THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN AFRICA.


We learn from the London Anti- Slavery Re
porter that two important papers. we're present
ed to Parliament by the Queen, upon the sub
ect of cotton cultivation in Africa. The au-
thor of the report is Consul Campbell, of Lajos,
and we append synopsis of his papers pub
lished in the Reporter:
at is stated that the whole of the Yorubs
and other countries south of the Niger, with
the Haussa and Nuffee countries on the north
aide of the same river, have been, from all time,
cotton-growing countries; and that, notwith-
standing the civil wars, ravages, disorders, and
descriptions, caused by the slave trade, more
than sufficient cotton TO clothe their populations
has always been cultivated, and their fabrics
have found markets and a ready sale in those
lands where the cotton plant is not cultivated,
and into which the fabrics of Manchester and
Glasgow have not yet penetrated. The cult
walton of cotton, therefore, in the countries
already named, is not new to the Inhabitants
all that is required is to offer them market
for the sale of as much as they can cultivate
and, by preventing the export of slaves from
the seaboard, to render some security to life,
freedom, property, and labor. 1t is estimated
that the annual cultivation of cotton in the
Yoruba and the adjacent States is equal to
100000 pounds, and Mr.. Consul Campbell is
of opinion that, whenever the cotton fabrics of
England are introduced, ola the Niger to the
upper part of the Yoruba and the circumiacent
districts, the natives will probably sell their
own cotton, and clothe themselves with the
lighter and cheaper cloths Of Manchester and
Glasgow. he thinks there is no hope of ndu-
cling the natives to cultivate coffee, because it
Is "a new thing" Ohe Africans being 0bsti-
nately conservative and it would require care
attention, intelligence, and, above ALL patience
Cotton alone, therefore, can be looked to as an
agricultural marketable production obtainable
from the interior of Africa. Meanwhile, Eng.
lish cotton fabrics are gradually working their
way into Africa, and supersediug the native
manufacture. The two great staples of the
trade of the Blight of Benin, at present, are
palm oil and ivory, cotton ranking az the third.
In his second despatch, Mr.. Consul Campbell,
answering the leading article which appeared
in the Times on the 18th of December, 1856,
admits that cotton grown in Africa is still the
produce of slave labor, but shows that there is
an Unreasonable distance, and a wide differ
ence in effect and influence between the com.
pulsory labor of the African slave in a foreign
country, the property of the white man. and his
forced LABOR i'll the land of his birth, where be
is the property of his own countryman. With
out entering into details, it would appear that
the natural effect in Africa Of any commerce.
based on the cultivation of the soil, is to un.
shackle the bonds Of the slave-not to tighten
them and that if any attempt should be made
by the Mahommedan African to urge an undue
amonnt Of labor from his slaves, the latter, find
ing the whole country open to them and sure
OF the sympathy of their own countrymen, would
make a vigorous effort to obtain their freedom.
The Government of England and the opponents
of Slavery are therefore strongly urged to give
every encouragement to the development of the
agricultural resources possessed by Africa, in
order to secure and render permanent the vic.
tory gained over the slave trade, and so shut
out all prospect of its revival"
This country is deeply interested in any
movement having for its object the supply of
the English market with cotton grown outside
of the URited States. Could a cotton crop be
grown in Africa or India, that would compete
with the Southern crops, It's effect would be
great in all the cotton-growing States. What
the effect would be, it is impossible now to pro-
nounce; but it is quite likely that slavery would
receive terrible blow.
Whatever Englishmen may do towards de-
veloping the agricultural resources of Africa,
and introducing civilization there, deserves the
praise of the friends of humanity in all parts of
the world, aside from the cotton question. The
Liberian Republic in this respect deserves the
good will of all. 1t is lighting up a spot amid
the impenetrable darkness of Africa, which may
in centuries fill with MONDAY beams the whole
Of that mysterious continent.