The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-02

world, furnishes no parallel to the prosperity at
this time enjoyed by the people Of the southern
States. The evidences Of this gratifying truth
are apparent everywhere. There is no branch
industry, no department of business which
has not, for the past year, yielded good divi-
dends to those who have been engaged therein.
Every honorable occupation, founded upon the
wants of society, has thriven. Especially is
this applicable to the cultivators of cotton and
grain A crop Of the snowy staple unequalled
in quality and quantity has been produced and
nearly all gathered A price which, heretofore,
has been grudgingly given under the appre-
henson Of greatly neutrality-suspicious., is now
freely offered BY the manufacturers both of Eu-
rope and America. A grain crop unsurpassed
by any of its predecessors has also crowned the
labor Of our planters. This gratifying condi-
ton of things will be short-lived or permanent
precisely as the judgment Of the agriculturist
may determine. There is no error into which
men fall, more common than the assumption
that certain state Of affairs mast or agU be per-
J
produce it. Many, for example, can be found
who profess to entertain conviction that the
price Of cotton will never again recede below
ten cents per pound, and that abebodied ne
gro fellows will never again sell for less than
twelve hundred dollars. It should be remem-
bered BY all such, that the price of negroes is
determined absolutely by the value of their la
/ Dor, and that this latter fact is dependent
clusiyely upon the supply of and demand fer
the product Of that labor. It May be said that,
the present and prospective commercial aspect
of the world gives foundation for the belief that
the demand for our great product is now placed
upon scale Of permanent and rapid progress;
that the opening Of China and Japan to the com
merce of civilized nations will gradually, but
certainly and necessarily, stimulate the con-
sumption and manufacture Of cotton fabrcs
that, as their fabulous millions must be clad,
for which they have heretofore been compelled
to pay high price fer less suitable material
than cotton. But it would be dangerous to as
sumo that the production Of raw cotton cannot
be stimulated in corresponding ratio. The
present price of cotton will necessarily divert a
large amount Of capital and slave labor from
other channels Of industry into that branch OF
agriculture. The rapidity of that conversion
will be proportionate exactly to the excess of
profit in raising cotton over other crops. The
deductions Of common sense, make it apparent
to the most illiterate that, capital will not long
remain unproductive or content with an infe
rior rate of profit while avenues of greater pro-
ductiveness are open to it. The fear, therefore,
is that too many may turn their attention TO pro-
ducing cotton, and that our planters will be-
come so absorbed with the staple, but little
room and time will be devoted to raising corn
and other necessary supplies. Sad experience
should have taught them that when this is done
the price of cotton falls, provisions rise, and the
planter, together with the whole country, suf- /
iers. Let our planters look well to it, and have
a care that their present prosperity be not the
precursor to a period of depression equally as
great Let them raise their own corn, pota
toes and pork, and then what cotton they can;
butbe certain of the provisions. The best plan
by which the price of cotton can be kept up, is
10 keep the crop down, and never allow the
production to exceed the actual consumption /
Every surplus bale tends but to lower the value |
Of the succeeding crop. Just so soon as -
English spnners can obtain in their warehc 3ses
a surplus sufficient tosuPply the mills twelve or
fifteen months, the cotton planters will be at
their mercy, and be compelled to accept the
price it may suit their pleasure to put on our
great staple.
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GREAT REtoLUuoN.-Yes from st. Do
mingo report that, on the 22d December last,
party Of four armed men, headed by one JEFF
fard, landed on the sea beach near Gonayes,
Hayti, proceeded to the town and demanded
entrance of the sentinel and also that the cry Of
give la Republique" should be raised by the
populace. The sentinel refused compliance,
but in the meantime Jetfard's demand had
frightened the jailor into lberating some forty
political prisoners, who Immediately joined JEFF /
fard, and the crowd marched to the governors,
and demanded the immediate surrender Of the .
town. His excellency on the following day sur
rendered, when arepublic was proclaimed, with
Jefard made provisional president. A const-
tuition was framed, and signed BY the late auth
critics. The citizens of Gonaives, under JEFF |
fard, marched against the town Of Ste. Marie,
which .capitulated without resistance. Jefard
then issued decree depriying the emperor Sou
louque of all power. AT the latest adyices the
revolution was spreading, and Soulouque had
marched, with 1000 men, against the prowis-