Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-26
ruE Was ANp THE CROPs:

THE WAR AND THE CROPS.
When it first became apparent that a war
between the North and the South was inevitable,
the opinion obtained extensively in both sections
that the South would suffer great Inconvenience
from a want Of provisions, and especially OF
grain, upon which to sUbsist its armies. The
planters of the South, devoting their energies
to the cultivation of the great staples, to the
almost entire neglect Of the cereals, had so long
accustomed themselves to rely upon the border
States. and those of the northwest, for their
plantation supplies and provisions, that it was
not unreasonable to suppose when the supply
from those sources should be cut of, serious in
convenience, if not suffering, would be the
inevitable result.
In the North, where the public mind was less
informed in regard to the vast and inexhaustible
resources of the South, twas confidently predict
ed that if the ordinary channels, through which
the people had been accustomed to draw their
supplies, could be closed, and a strict blockade
maintained. so as TO exclude them from the hope
Of aid from abroad, they would be compelled to
succumb, or perish from atrophy. Hence among
tlfs many schemes winch have been suggested
by Yankee ingenuity for the subjugation of the
rebeuious southrons, none commended Itself
more to the appreciation Of our enemies, than
that Of starving the South into ~su6jugation,
To the efficiency of this humane project some
of these Journals still adhere, notwithstanding
the experience of eight months Of isolation has
demonstrated, that, within ourselves, WE have re.
sources ample for every emergency, and that with
jldicious attention to their development, the wal
may be protracted to three, five, or ten years
and leave as in better condition to profit by the
fruition Of our independence, than If peace were
concluded tomorrow.
Of all the necessaries Of life, we have an abun.
dalcein our midst, and plenty smiles upon the
land. There is no want-no suffering. There
viii. be none. For this gratifying state o.
affairs we are indebted, under the blessing,
of Heaven, to the intelligent forethought of the
planters, who, varying their crops to suit the
new exicencies Of the country, have each con
tributed his share to the great stores under
whose accumulated abundance southern grana.
ries are grooming. For this timely action of the
patriotic people let us award the just need Of
honor, while We bow in humble gratitude to the
great Father, whose blessings thus far in the
progress OF this revolution. have been made sin
gularly manifest
We may now be said to have fairly entered
upon the war. How long its prosecution IS to
continue, Is beyond the power Of human wisdom
to foresce. To us, we say in all candor, there is
nothing that indicates a speedy termination. A
black cloud hangs Ike a pail above the horizon
OF die future. over whose dark border no bright
winged cherub Of peace shows its smiling cOun-
t~eulace. Unless a period is put to the contest,
BY q counter revolution in the North against the
f~lnatical horde who are bounding on LNCOLN's
blood-thirsty administration, we see no reason to
anticipate its termination before the expiration Of
his presidential term. The war viii most prob
ably go on fer a long time to come, and with a
bitterness and animosity intensified by every
new defeat the Yankees encounter.
III view, then, of the prospect before US, we
desire again 20 invite The attention of the plant
ers of the South to what is obviously the best
policy TO be pursued. We have SO often referred
TO this subject heretofore, and with so much
eamestness, that we have little to add to what we
have already advanced. The season which has
Just passed has been one Of extraordinary album
dance, and nature, as Il to compensate for any
deficiency in the extent Of land seeded, reward
ell the labors of the southern husbandman with
an unprecedented harvest.
But while we cannot reasonably expect an
other season ike the past, the necessity for an
increased store of breadstufs, grain, beef, and
Other articles, which enter largely into the con
sumption Of an army, is likely to be greatly
enhanced. Every ear Of wheat, every blade Of
grass, every stalk of corn, every potato, and
every bean which can be grown, win be required
to meet the increased demand at home, and sup
port the gallant army now irnperiiing their lives
Oh the field in defense Of our liberties, our homes
and cur 6resides. The necessities Of the public
defense, the voice of patriotism, and the general
interests Of our section demand that we put
forth all our resources to meet the emergency.
To the planters Of the Southern States this de-
mand for increased army supplies appeals with
peculiar force. In such Of the border States as
are not already the theater Of hostilities, but "a
small additional breadth Of land remains to be
Dedicated to the production Of cereals. In the
others, the presence of the invaders viii seri-
ousiy interfere with the cultivation Of the soil,
so that the cotton and sugar States viii be called
upon to supply this deficiency also. BY them
alone can the demand be met. The country
looks to them for relief The appeal viii not be
in vain. The cheerful alacrity with which every
fresh demand upon them has been met, during
the progress Of the preseS[ revolution, is ample
guaranty Of a ready response to any call which
patriotism may make upon them.
There gge other considerations, which, apart
from the public necessities, obviously point TO
the policy Of diminishing the production of cot
ton and sugarFaRd d~evoting the lands thus left
idle to the cultivation of small crops, to which
we design to advert briefly in another article,
aud by which We propose TO show that such a
course viii rebound to the present. prospective
and permanent advantage Of the planter as well
as the advancement Of the public interests. We
shall return to the subject again tomorrow.
THE NAVAL EXPEDITION.