The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-08
For the South-Wester.

| CHORCH UolNG.-INe most beautiful seen
this side heaven is the assemblage of who'll
community, young and old, plaising and wor
shipping, with one heart and voice, the grea
God that made heaven and earth and all tha
in them is. We do not know what may be til,
amount or the fervency Of the private devoton
of this city, but public worship seems to be il
a state of sad neglect. There are at least five
thousand persons within easy reach of oul
churches. Of these, to use the most charitable
figures, not more than FIVE hundred, are reg
ular attendants If that '.people only be hap
py whose God is the Lord" we must be mos
miserable set. know that some have nothing
to wear'-certainly they should not come tc
church--some have such commanding intel
lects, and are so jealous of their reputation, tha
they shrink from assuming the attitude of wor
shippers-it migh be construed into confes.
sion of weakness, or of inferiority to the minis
ter. The minister too, poor man, might be
pufed up beyond measure by the presence Of
such an exalted individual. Such should
be commended for their consideration. Some
will not 60 because they will not find crowd
ed house. Let all such go, and pledge them
there will be large multitude in every church
Others, and perhaps the greatmajority, do not
go simply because the ministers are neither
brilliant, theatrical, nor enlertaining-therew viii
be nothing going on that savors of the ball, the
theatre, OF the circus. We admit that the cler-
gy Of this city are not all that they might be
very few men of whatever name or profession
are. Let me, however, gently remind you that
hunt for pleasure in the sanctuary, that
churches are builded for the worship of the
7 CIoI IF md ttott 4
actually protoned, when they are used pri-
marily for either hearing or preaching enter
tanning discourses, for either condemning or ad
miring the officiating minister. Even the
heather do the same
What? ''The members Of the churches
themselves do not attend?" We are rather
confounded at that-we age sorry you men
toned it, but will make the best reply we can
You are obliged to admit that they are pious
and godly persons, or they are not If they
are, then they have some good reason for being
absent-if they are not then their conduct is
not worth observing, nor can be safely initiated.
The bible contains many commands upon this
point, and sets forth many arguments and mo-
tives, but, as those who do not make public
worship matter of conscience cannot be sup
posed to believe the scriptures, we will not men
ton them. There are some arguments lying
outside the bible which cannot be easily con-
troverted viz: public worship promotes clean
illness, sociability, taste and education-protects
life, limb and operty-enhances the value OF
real estate, improves trade, lowers taxes, and, in
Short tends to remove every species Of evil and
to swell the general happiness.
Reader, the new year is at hand; do you
think you could do better thing for yourself,
your family and city than this-to beg in at
once, and to go, at least for twelve months,
every Sabbath morning, rain or shine, hot or
cold (nor sun, nor rain, nor cold keeps you
from business), J, sick or we'll (Sunday sickness,
I mean, to some one particular church, not for
the purpose of hearing this one or that one
preach, but with the desire and purpose to
worship the great God? REGULAR ATTENDANT.
CorroN GROWING IN TExAs.-Last evening
public meeting was held in the town hall, to
hear from Mr.. J. de Cordova, of Texas, some
account Of the cotton growing capabilities of
that State. Mr.. 7. Bailey presided, and there
were also on the platform general R. B. Camp
bell, the consul general of the United States;
count D Alton Shee, of Paris; Mr.. R. B. Kim
ball, of New York; W. Harvey, the mayor of
Salford; J. Radcliffe, the mayor of Oldham; H.
Ashworth, E. Westhead, NJ. Ross, W. Wank-
lyn, of Bury; H. Valance, of London &c.
After a few Introductory observations from the
chairman.
Mr.. de Cordova said that he had come as a
Texas man, to tell the people of Manchester,
while they were thinking of India and Africa
as places from which to receive an increased
cotton supply, of a country within twenty days
sail Of England, which had as yet only contri-
buted small amount, but which was capable
of producing every year from three to five mil
lion bales of cotton. An experience of twenty
five years in the southern States had convinced
him that they could not keep up to the present
demand, much less satisfy the requirements of
the future. The demand for cotton must in
crease. Where, then, would England obtain
the cotton that she would require? Let atten-
ton be turned to the broad, fertile, and healthy
cotton growing lands Of Texas. Let the farm
ing and aboring population be enabled to set
tie in that State, and in less than two years
England would receive large accession to her
supply. Hear-hear.
In Texas alone, ten millions of acres were
capable of producing at least bale of cotton
per acre. But if there were millions of cult
vable acres in the other States, it would matter
little, as sufficient slave labor could not be OBJ
tanned to cultivate them. By the most deter
mined exertion, not more than twenty five per
cent. of land could be added to that already
under cotton cultivation. And even that addi-
ton depended on the introduction Of more
slave labor But the slaves were now at an
almost fabulous price, which would be still
further increased. The importation of laborers
was therefore an obvious and growing necessity.
The extent of Texas was 700 miles from north
to SOUTH and nearly 800 miles from east to
west. 1t contained 267, 900 square miles, or
IT'S, 900, 600 acres of land. Its area was equal
to that of France, Bavaria, Hanover, Wurem-
burg, and Saxony united and it contained a
greater adversely of soil and climate. There
were more than 5000, ,05O of acres of virgin
soil in Texas capable of yielding at least 500
pounds of clean cotton per acre, which would
give the enormous quantity of over 100000
bales, the greater portion of which might
hereafter be produced by white labor. He
estimated, after careful collation. of dataoand
personal observation, that with a proper intro
duction of capital, and the employment of
European labor, from 100000 to 5000, 900
L.