, 1861-12-18

I
waiying all such questions as whether the
blacks, being free men, will voluntarily expa-
triate themselves in any considerable num-
hers, or whether, If they Will not voluntarily
60, force should be used to compel them
say waiying all such subjects as these let us
come at once to consider the questions OF po-
litical economy involved. Cotton las become
an essential element Of modern civilization,
or perhaps more correctly speaking, one Of
the prime necessities Of the age. Hitherto the
United States has enjoyed virtual monopoly |
Of the cotton supply in the interest Of the
world as well as themselves. We hare the
finest cotton lands upon the GLOBE and the IL
Dor upon the soil adapted by centuries Of ac~ |
climation and experience to their cultivation
There Was an admitted insufficient supply Of |
labor ut the South even before the present diff |
culties arose, while the nation ut large is |
by no means superabundantly supplied. |
Economically considered, the proposal to de- |
port and colouIze the slaTes, is a proposition |
simply to deprive ourselves Of so many Ia |
borers at q time when we have in fact the most |
urgent need Of them, and when foreign na- |
tions arc seriously concerned that We should !
refrain from so suicidal an act. In striking |
contrast to this is the policy and conduct Of
France and England, who are introducing
coolies into their West India possessions,
where a similar want Of labor is experienced.
Already moderate drain Of our labor is cstab-
lishcd to the island of Hayti, while the
"Anst1alian Cotton Supply Assoeiation"
are offering lG 2 bonus & to al, al the ;nee 1ree
to australia to engage in the cultivation Of
cotton on that island. THUS it is seen that
while the United States are unWisely bent up
On driving out the labor which is absolutely
essential to them, if they would preserve their
importance as a cotton producing country,
the powers ne have named arc offering in
ducements to its transfer to their possessions
and for the ayowed purpose Of aiding in de-
| priying us Of advantages heretofore enjoyed
| are We ready and willing to perpetrnte such
suicidal act as this? We cannot avoid the
conclusion that the whole subject should be
well considered first. If we must commit, In
| sense, national suicide, let Us at least be-
ware that we do not add to this the crime Of
national fratricide. # Ee are willing they
should go, the negroes may not be SO incon~
| sidcrate. We cannot diTeat ourselves Of the
idea that great and intelligent nation arc at
tempting to resolve the problems that connect
| themselves with the relations Of the races Is
they exist on this continent, by Legislative
and political cxpedients merely. We appre-
bend that this must prove an entire failure,
but meanwhile there Is no estimating to what
4 ridiculous extent the effort may be carried,
endangering by the means the interests Of the
civilized world, possibly annihi1ating our own.
Is it too much to bespeak the forbearance Of
the nation in this Quixotic adventure
and to ask for general discussion Of the sub
ject, ere We demonstrate to admiring nations
our wretclled folly. Instead Of discriminate
ing against the negro by our own insane legis-
1ation, and thus deprlving ourselves Of the
labor we need, let us encourage his presence
I h1,n n%1H G%ofc 1nriE1 ,ffrr e1
far as it may be necessary. Rather than en-
J force his eXpatriation, let us open wide the
door Of Africa, and soon, instead Of trembling
for our supremacy in the cotton supply, We
shall be able to defy the world in the cultiya-
, tion of that important staple, and that too by
free labor. A well adjusted apprenticeship
, system, with the English allotment system ad-
: ded to it, will secure us these Important ad-
yantages. Practically this plan has already
, been Originated By the General Government
III the superintendent it enforces over the
contraband e1aTes at Beaufort, Fortress Mon.
roc and other places, and it only remains to
/ systematizc the matter BY practical esislAtion.
| The powers Of the General Government, under
State Governments, must probably be limited
5 to the Immediate necessities Of the Genera
n Government connected with the proper con
duct Of the war. ANY arrangements therefor
: adopted By the later must necessarily b.
f Temporary in their nature They, however
point out the way in which State action cal
+ accomplish what it would be well for all con
|. | cerned if Congress had the power to do. 4
matters stand, the whole subject must proba
bly, be RENTED to the action Of the seyera
8 States, for it may be question whether pub
lie sentiment would tolerate d colonial polio
even if it were within admitted constitutions
l. powers. What is now proposed is that th
c State Of Illinois should originate such sys
~ TEN as this. with reference to the employme1
10 Of negroes in the cultivation Of cotton in th
j. southern part Of the State. 1t is generally &C
- nlitted that the doth parallel makes the Nortl
~ ern boundary of the cotton zone in II
ID Northern hemisphere. By reference to tt
IA map, it will be seen that more than one-thiz
re field being between the 39th and doth degree
in It ia believed that there not less than 000
- COO Of acres Of lands south Of this, well adapts
n By soil and climate to the cultivation Of co
nc ton. 1t is known that it has been raised the
-, successfully for many years. The subject b
Fes Of late attracted limited attention, but Il
an great obstacle to be overcome in engaging
of the business largely will be found, VIC appl
~ hend, in an insufficient M supply Of labor at Il
nd receive all necessary Subsequent atte
'10 tion, for the most part by machiner
Ve the picking the cotton cannot be thus acco1
IN plished, and hence the necessity for lar
~, supply Of labor when the crop natures. T
'ss picking season extends over number
to weeks, and the picking must be done mi
Ia, Der Of times at short intervals, to prevent t
iu- bolls from falling to the ground AS no Il
no chine7y has yet been invented for picking CT
n5s ton, and as from the nature Of the plant q:
- the process Of gathering, none is likely to
bis plies Of hands will be requisite at this scase
~. There seems to be no way in which this c
es he accomplished except By q plan such as
lay suggest. A liberal system OF this kind wo1
the undoubtedly do 1t, and at the same time
-, considered bE the negroes q great boom Z
Vii Inducements ROW held out to the negroes
,ac Canada to cmigratc to Australia to engage
the cultivation of cotton, are a free passa
and an annual payment Of twcnty-one pour
stcrling-thc negroes to take care Of and ST
-, port themselves. Wcdo not believe that tt
a. plan will be as successful as the one NC D
pose, the natural sense Of dependence Of
ted negro determining his preferences for p]
ion by which he is supported as well as modefa
49, Intelligence Of the people Of Illinois, 7
mai have vast bodies Of good cotton lands in
ing, State You can get the requisite labor in
'on- North and in Canada, to say nothing Of g
ing full fruition Of the plans and deTelopm
Of the resources Of the State altogethcr
The parallclcd in its previous history, Is to sec
out the necessary legislation to authorize it.
oo' have no faith in the extensive cultivation
'cn cotton without it, and with it there is no
our son why, within q comparatively limited
,ds riod, l, geo, GOO bales Of cotton should not
~ | nual]y be produced upon your Own soil.
~ have some information In regard to the 70
tab OF gunno in increasing the annual product
cx- cotton upon a given amount Of land. T.
,no far the Indications are extremely fayora
~ ~ This is important, perhaps, under any ciIc'
ad- stances, bnt chiefly SO with reference to
The plan we propose. We have not epace,
,rks ever, to enter into details In tegard to it.
1- The organization Of Cotton Supply a
'ahA ciaion for the State, would lay the toHnda1
ercn for Ill necessary practical action, and thi:
oplc done ut all, should be acted on at once
~, order that steps may be taken to get seed
scS to enter upon liberal experiment the ensg
this season. Steps should be taken to have the
tho ton grown The present year examined
omo | tested Us to its comparative value, and sam
~, OF it forwarded to TIC International exhibit
lttA- which opens in England In the spring. tos
tery er with all necessary Information and statis
cks. VIII intelligent gentlemen in Chicago give
,,,rs subject the attention it merits? W. L.
arc Public Ketrenchmcnt.
nee Secretary Clase's recommendation for
lrcrs reduction Of salaries and expenditures,
lclea the abolition Of sinecuree, is well receive
'e1n- Washington, In tho Department Of p
= IN Printing, rctrenchmcnt has been made,
ught vet all the documents arc printed in flrst-
rtant manner and on the best of paper. In
army expcnscs, it is thought reduction
,ased be prohtab1y made, and Senator Wilson