Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-05-29
Tarill. ON Live Stock and Provisions,

Tariff OH Live Stock and Provisions.
1t will perhaps stimulate useful inquiry
to read such views as follow. They are
by writer, in the Cassvillc (Ga.) Stan.
dard, WHO signs himself GARNER. !"
Speaking Of some objections 10 the Con-
lrdcratc Tariff, he goes on 10 argue with
much pla'r>ibiIi,y, thus:
The most hurtful chain from which we
suffer, is that caused by the purchase of
live stock and provisions at the West.
Our commercial dependence upon the
West is more hurtful to US than our COM
mcrcial dependence on the North or
Europe. The Yankee and the English.
man buy our cotton The drover huys
nothing, and carries away specie or its
equivalent.
But there is worse result than the
mere drain Of specie. The agriculture of
no country was ever permanently pros
porous, which bought its bread and meat
There is 10 safe way of keeping up the
fertility Of the land but by tic manure of
the domestic animals: rs our prosperity
depends upon our agriculture, and as this
cannot prosper with Il steadily deteriora
ting soil, and as the rearing Of the domcs
tic animals is essential to prevent this
deterioration, and as it is evidence of true
craftsmanship 50 to direct legislation lis
to stimulate, in fact compel attention to
those branches Of industry which are most
conducive to the public welfare, it follows
that if even incidental protection be atlor-
dcd to any products of labor or mind, it
should certainly be afforded to those, from
the neglect of which the community most
severely suffers. No thoughtful man,
whose attention has even been partially
directed to this subject, will hesitate TO
say. that excessive cotton culture has
BEEN the scoargc Of the South. 1t has
cxcoratcd our soil. 1t has rendered our
people Nomadcs in their habits. 1t has
been y barrier TO permanent improve.
nent. 1t should be arrested. The Con.
gress have it in their power to arrest it.
1t requires revenue. While it collects
this, ut the same moment let it by a duty
render grains and stock so valuable that
it will be the interest of planters to raise
both for consumption and sale.
1t may be objected that such Il duty
will callsc the poor man to pay high for
his provisions. AS We are an agricul-
people, the most o! our poor men raise
their own bread and meat. rhefcw poor
who would be uniarorab!y affected are
rather the exception than the rule. Is
it just that the great body of the people
should pay high for their shoes and clothes
lhat comparatively a few may obtain pro.
visions cheap?
1t would seem to be the most Just rule
That those articles should bcadmittcd free
which we cannot raise or produce to ad-
vantage ourselves, and tllosearticcs should
be protected. the production of which is
most important to the State. The Tariff
has ever been source of complaint Of
the South against the North. There were
diverse interests in different sections Of
the old Government We are now an
unit as to interest. yet our Congress has
actually adopted the free list, with umim.
portant alterations Of the L. S.
What would bc the effect Of prospcc-
tive duty on provisions and stock, to take
effect next fail? 1t would be good in
every way. Less cotton and more corn
would be planted Morcan better live
stock would be raised. The millions Of
dollars which Georgia now annually pays
to the West, would be kept at home.
And above all, Il system Of agriculture
would be pursued, which would result in
the Improvement of the basis of our pros
pcrity, the suil.
The Tariff will come under the revision
of our Convention. Will its members
consider the suggestions which have been
made. The subject is an important one.
Manufactures. Commerce, Arts, arc COM
paratively triles when contrastcd with
Agriculture. Farmers have been so in
the habit of being pushed to the wall by
brazen.faccd corporations, that they expect
it as matter of course. Why should
the value of our corn: oats. wheat, horses,
mules, sheep, and cattle, be kept down by
rinous influx of those articles and
animals from the West, while the few
manufactures in the State are to make us
pay their own prices, because the Tariff,
prevents competition We should be
heard in this matter. We should make
ourselves heard, and that iii very unmIs-
taxable language.