Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-04-14
American Cotton Grower, and
American PlOyVs in African.

The Editor of the Utica Herald, in wri-
ting from Tunis, (Barbary States,) Jan.
18th, says, that an English Company
some eighteen months since set on foot a
scheme for raising cotton in Africa, and
selected land near Tunis. The first years
crop was not very promising, the cotton not
being first-rate article, and besides it
was stained. The experiment is again to
be tried. The letter further says:
-"The superintendent of the plantation is
an American citizen. Learning that there
was an American in Tunis, he came down
post haste to see me. He had not seen the
face of live Yankee-with the exception
Of the Consular Agent-since he had been
in the country and regarded me as verita-
BILE prize. He is very home-siek, and disgust
ed with the country and everything in it,
as any ope well could be. He told me his
history and the manner of his coming here,
which is somewhat interesting. He was a
citizen of Louisiana. He had been en-
gagged for the last five-and-:wenty years as
the manager of a large cotton plantation
on the Red River. The owner being sell
dom at home, be was permitted to do
pretty much as he pleased. Though at
heart opposed to slavery, be had never
spoken openly against it. On the break
ing out of the Kansas agitation, however,
he could not iorbear expressing with some
emphasis, his adherence of the attempt to
force slavery upon that young Territory
He had moreover insisted, against the pre-
vailing tendency of that neighborhood, up
on keeping up the good old patriarchal
custom OF preaching the gospel to the
blacks on the Sabbath. 1t was soon dis
covered by the nervous custodians of the
public morals that 'Rese' (such is his name)
was id aboitionist'-an enemy to
the public peace, and an unsafe man to be
trusted with the discipline of niggers. The
place soon became too hot for him; the
owner said he spoiled his niggers by max
ing them pious, and he was compelled to
seek safety in flight. He came to Ohio,
and soon after hearing of the organization
to promote cotton-growing in Africa, sailed
for England and offered his services, which
were accepted. Before entering upon his
duties he wrote pamphlet embodying his
views on the subject. He is an uncom-
monty intelligent man; but like men who
have been deeply wronged is rather fond
of harping upon his grievances.
Mr.. Rose has of course, had great ma
nv difficulties 10 contend with since coming
here. Ignorant of the language and Gus
toms of the country-surrounded by dis
honest and unscrpulous men-compelled
to guard the interest of his employers
against the rapacity at once of the Arab
mob and the Government oficers-an-
noyed in thousand ways by the peo-
pie who looked with distrust, if not indig-
nation, upon the introduction of European
enterprise into their midst-his position
has been such as few men would covet.-
Nor is this all. He fiuds the theories of
his employers constantly opposed to his
as cotton-grower. Men who
never saw n cotton field in their lives die
tate from their snug offices what he must
do. 1t is in vain he tells them he knows
how to raise cotton; they must be perpet-
ually meddling, interfering, debating and
setting all his plans topsy-turvy.
Some time since he told his superiors
that il was impossible to do anything with
the plows they gave him, and suggested
the propriety of getting few from Amer
ica. The proposition was hooted at; what
could they not make better plows in Eng
land than anywhere else in the world -
But as the present one wouldat work, they
finally commissioned him to order two Of
American make. They arrived short
time since, and wee found to work to the
admiration of everybody. The Arabs
flocked from all quarters to see the new
ly arrived wonder. The country was in a
ferment. Nothing else was talked Of. Fl
nally it reached the cars of the Bey, who
couldn't sleep until he had seen the phe-
nomena with his own eyes. He hastened
10 the scene Of action: saw the plows
work; declared be had never seen anything
80 wonderful in his born dsvs; got so ex-
cited he "couldn't hold himself" took off
bis coat; rolled up his sleeves, and went
10 plowing himselfy Nor is this all; he
has lust ordered one hundred american
plo,us to be used on his big farm, King
dom of Tunisl i