The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-24

That the cotton bales of VINCENT NoLTE PLAYED
any such important part, in the Battle of New
Orleans, as has been popularity assigned to them
is one Of those pleasant fctons which OCCASION
ally obtain currency, and which are perpetuated
in spite of repeated denials. More correctly in
formed historians and biographers may say what
lhey please, but there are not a few of our coun-
trymen who will continue to believe that the Sig
nal repulse which was experienced by the British
On the 9Th Of January, 1885, was due, at least
in part, to the adoption of this novel means of
defence.
But however little the staple production of
the South may have aided in promoting the
safety of Louisiana during the war of 1912, its
importance as ''peace-maker" at the present
day cannot he over estimated. What was once a
fiction Is now-thongh in different form, and in
better sense-an established fact Cotton has
become defensive Power of the first order. Ou-
city, and unobtrusively, its delicate fibres have
gradually enclosed, as in an almost inextricable
net, the military and naval forces of England
and are, at this time, about to weave meshes
scarcely less strong around those of France The
requirements Of Commerce have placed the Gov
eminent of Great Britain under the necessity of
cultlvating the closest and kindliest relations with
us. Four millions, or one-seventh of the whole
population of that country, are either directly or
indirectly dependent upon the cotton trade for a
livelihood, and more than seventy-fve per cent
otall the raw material, which is there manufactu-
red into yarns and fabrics of various kinds is i'm
ported from America. If our cotton crop were TO
fail, or If any cause to arise which should in
duce us to prohibit its expectation, the happening
OF either of these contingencies would cut off near
ly one-tourth of the whole exports of England
1t is the consciousness of this fact, and of the
widespread ruin that would inevitably ensue, in
The event OF any interruption to the trade, which
mas given rise TO the various attempts that have
been made TO cultivate Cotton on large scale in
Egypt, India and Africa. But although there are
many parts Of the world where the climate and
soil are favorable to the growth of the cotton
plant the conditions essential to its economical
culture have never yet been attained The homes
OF the Lancashire manufacturers now rest upop
the result of DR.. LIvINGsToNE's expedition up the
Zambesi; but it is evident, from the tenor of his
letters that if the native Africans were dis
posed to meet the wishes of the intrepid mission
airy, the Ieuds which exist between the various
tribes Of the interior would prevent them from
doing So What may be accomplished in the fu-
ture it is, of course, impossible to say. 1t is
enough for us to know that our Southern States
are destined to enjoy, for many years vet to come
almost monopoly of the production of cotton
wool; that its successful cultivation is confined
within q comparatively limited area, and that the
i'll,
demand
The aggregate product Of the cotton crop of
1859 was g. 700, 600 bales 1t was the largest ever
grown in this country, showing an excess of
$50, 600 bales the crops of 1857 and 1853 re-
specGvely, and of l50 600 bales over the extraor-
binary crop of 1856. OF the crop of 1859, England
took 600 900 bales; France, and the Northern
States of Europe 100000 bales the remaining
100000 bales being purchased for home consump-
ton As the whole number of bales reserved in
1853, to supply our domestic wants, was but
450, 900, or one third less than were required
in 1859, it is evident that our manufacturers have
Shared to some extent, in the extraordinary i'm
petus which has been given to this trade in foreign
countries, and that new markets are constantly
opening, their field of operations will be proper
tionably extended. The commercial convention
recently entered into between England and France
by enabling the French tabriquant to obtain his
coal and iron at cheaper rate than formerly. will
also have the effect of creating an increased demand
for the raw cotton of Southern States, the market
value Of which must, under such circumstances,
continue TO rise gradually until it touches the
point at which its manufacture ceases to be
profitable
These facts indicate the vast influence that cot
ton is destined to exert, as pacifcator, not only
upon the principal nations of Europe, but also in
modifying the extreme opinions now held by q
certain class of our own countrymen in relation to
slavery. 1t so happens, that the principal seat OIL
the manufacture of cotton goods is in that section
OF the UNITED STATES where the spirit of antago-
nism to 'the peculiar institution" has most
strongly manifested ITSELF Is it therefore unreas-
enable to believe that as the demand for these
fabrics increases, as new mills are erected, and
larger number fperSons are engaged in this par
tcuar branch of business they will be disposed to
be more tolerant of system of servitude which.
II be an evil, is productive of many comforts to
themselves, and Of much good to the world at
large? There must always be some well mean
ing, but narrow-minded men, who will continue
to denounce slavery as a crime but if-as is not
at all improbable "a change in popular sentiment
should occur in the manufacturing States to the
Eastward, similar to that which has taken place
in England, these impracticabe philanthropists
will be called upon to show their faith by their
works. They will be required to give the world a
proof of their sincerity by adopting sef-denying
ordinance; for so long as they contribute towards
sustaining slavery by purchasing the slave-grown
coffee of BRAZIL the sugar of Cuba; or the cotton
of South Carolina, Louisiana and Mississippi.
their practice alsfes their preaching, and if they
should happen TO be dealers in any of these com.
modites they lay themselves open TO the praver
charge of declaiming against a reputed SIM o.
which they are content to share in the profits
There seems TO be very grave misrepresentation
on the part of many police officers concerning the
nature of their duties, and The manner in which
they should discharge them, which, if not prompt