New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-24
WHAT WILL THE soUTHERNERs EATr

In TWO previous articles have spoken of the difficult
ties with which the South has TO contend IN carrying
on the present conflict in possessing sodery ncapa-
bic OF thorough discipline, together with country with
on. floating capital and already exhausted by
financial derau genens. These il will be understood,
are now only obstacles but with FESTIVE aud change
FIJI people they will easily become in a long war
absolute barriers. Another difficulty which the really
thinking men Of the enemy already willing privately
10 aeknow ledge il the probable scarcity OF provisions
in the South Upon this ject much has been written,
and stl more conjectured. The Southern press have.
as with once voice, agreed treat the question "a
mere creation of Northern hopes, but the manifest
anxiety with which they insist grea'n 'rease OF
corn lands, and the eagerness with which the most
trivial reports in efereuce the spring crop have
been caught up and repeated would in the absence Of
ANY other knowledge have been sufficient 70 excite the
suspicion that even these feel that the only security
of the South against the want they have dcued rests
in her having n season Of extraordinary propousness
Without entering upon "A statistical examination Of
the question whether the South capable of sustaining
herself independent of the provisions of tie North,
Will be sufficient for to present the real state Of
things as they to residing in the South, and
leave TO each the task Of forming his own deci'iJn.
1t il generally known, | presume, that TWO things
only are essential TO the sustenatOn Of life IN the
South: these are corn and bacon. ! omit whisky not
as less important than either of these, but contained
with sufficient accuracy under the first head On these
two articles depend, not the general wel-being, but
the absolute exltence of ali the higher orders of animal
life in the South. The demand for them is therefore
great and unceasing Three times day, all the year
round hog mule, slave aud master join in common
nd "a, nj of lac
only advantage possessed by the negro and the man is
ss the hog consents surrender bis corn-fed flesh to
The tooth to the dominant race. To meet tie de.
uand for these two articles the supply must be enor
ucus and as might be expected, any deficiency, though
small IL Immediately Attended, somewhere with want
Even bacon though appeals TO I'M TWO oil The Glasses
of eaters which | have mentioned, appeals TO them
with touching power, and cannot be withheld IN any
large quantity without positive suffering. Ia country
which could look for no supply from without, the
mere chance of lack III these products would be sunl-
make them the principal objects of care to the
inhabitants and matter Of fac, oL " few years
ago whole sections of she p,esent eotton-rowiug sec
tons OF the Gun Sizes were devoted almost oNclu-
s'ey TO re cultivation Of corn; but then, in con-
sequence of the uncertainties Of season at no time
very favorable grain raising, the most abundant pre-
cautions proved unavaiing and the cropwas frequently
insufficient. Scarcely year passed in which there
was not in large though disconnected sections OF the
Cotton States, IA condition Of absolute want.
Since the introduction Of railroads and with them the
importation Of corn from the Northwest this state oil
things has passed away. But it is not uncommon, even
now, to meet in purely cottongrowing region an old
planter whose fears of the of those Old seasons of
famine are still 70 great that he continues TO devote the
main strength Of bis plantation to corn, deemng him.
self happy if he can, together with this raise few
bags OF cotton to supply him with ready money. A
great part OF the Gulf States is now however, devoted
TO the cultivation of cotton and depends for its corn
upon the States of the NORTHWEST. Ii supplies from
these sections are cut off, from what sources is the
South to derive its provisions The reply usually
given H. from her own soil and the Border States IL
is worth while to examine these two little
in detail Surprising the climate Of the extreme South
to be, on an average, moderately favorable TO the
growth Of corn-in point of fact il is reacherous be-
yond descripton-it would even then be- required IN
order to supply the Of their inhabitants that tie
Cotton States should devote the pkOte sfrongh o.
rearly all their cleared lands 10 the cult
ration Of corn alone. This, to be sure, is
practically impossible. For notwithstanding all the
arguments used by the Southern press, during the
Winter, to induce the planters to increase this year
the size Of their cornields, l have where seen in
this respect any very marked change. On this point
Northerner travelling through the South, is easily
dsceived Accustomed TO Northern estimates be does