Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-12-05
Belebnte Centre County, Pema, Thursday Morning, Dec s. 1861
The End of Cotton.

Ihe End OF Cotton.
If this rebellion may be attributed to the
existence of any interest, or the development
of any branch of industry or agriculture,
surely it has been the cultivation of cotton.
Cotton has been the staple of the South.
1t has been the source of all its revenue and,
from the fact that it renders necessary an
Objectionable system of labor, the basis of
its political power in the Confederacy. The
most troublesome States of the Union were
the Cotton States. The most ambitious and
treacherous of the Secession politicians are
those who came from the districts where
cotton is cultivated. The legislation neceS-
sary TO the protection of cotton was, in
many cases, antagonistic and injurious to
the other great, and far more material, in
terests of this country, Cotton has been
frivolous, exacting, and arrogant. Claim
ing to be "king" lin the pet phrase Of South
ern rhetoric), it exacted and exercised all
the prerogatives Of the most imperial mon
archs. When it wanted protective tariff
it demanded protective tariff when it de-
sired free trade, its leaders clamored for
free trade, or threatened to dissolve the Un-
ion. Cotton sowed the seed of treason in
1883; it ripened into the full fruit of infa-
my in 1861. Cotton has been the servant
of the Southern leaders, and master of the
Northern public men. Its sway has been
one dark. unrelenting, and grasping tyr
amy and, it was only when it attempted
to stife constitutional liberty in this coun-
try, and to desolate the rich and extensive
Territories Of the West, by establishing per-
petual slavery, that the loyal heart of the
nation rebelled against its usurpations, and
the loyal arm of the nation drew the sword
to resist its progress.
1t is, therefore, with feeling of satisfac-
tion, which we trust will not be mistaken
for selfish thought, that we look forward
to the speedy downfall of this fatal power.
We do not wish to see the cultivation of
cotton terminated upon this continent, any
more than we wish to see the end of the
wheat crop in Pennsylvania, or the hay
crop in Illinois. So long as cotton was a
simple agricultural interest, restrained by
judicious legislation. and recognized by the
Government as other interests are reeogniz-
ed, we looked upon its growth as kind
dispensation of Providence, and the COM
merce it fostered a gratifying element of ma
tional prosperity but when the interests
Of cotton seek to advance at the expense of
national honor and of national existence,
then we greet their overthrow with pleas
ure.
And that overthrow seems to be at hand.
We have heretofore given our own humble
opinion on this question, and rapidly-occur-
ing events now justify what seemed then to
be mere newspaper speculation. The
Prime Minister of England is far-seeing,
sagacious man, and his opinions are before
US. In q recent speech he said to his audi
tors, shat although circumstances may for
time threaten to interfere with the supply
of cotton, the temporary evil will be product
i've of permanent good. England shall find
in various quarters of the globe sure and
ample supply, which will render it no more
dependant"
Lord Palmerston evidently speaks by the
card. He knows the resources of the Brit
ish empire-its agricultural and commercial
capacities. He knows that upon the culti-
walton of the cotton crop, and its supply to
English factors at fair prices, depends the
happiness of large class of her Majesty's
subjects. Lancashire needs cotton; its
people must be employed, or the peace of
the empire will give way to anarchy, riot,
and probably revolution. Accordingly,
with the money of the Crown, he has been
developing the cotton crop in other quarters
of the globe, and stimulating English en-
terprise to bring it to market. His agents
have been in India. Australia, Turkey, the
West Indies, and other countries beyond
the seas, and they report favorable pros
pect for the establishment of cotton trade
independant of America.
Considering all these facts, and especially
the assertion of the Prime Minister, we
may look upon the cotton tyranny as at an
end. No matter what the result of this war
may be, the cotton interest has received a
fatal blow. If peace came tomorrow, the
cotton capitalist of the South would find
that the interest which they cherished and
supported until it became political mon
ster, had been crushed forever. England
will never more be at the mercy of factious
rebels, who plot treason and plant cotton.
And we have no doubt that the peace of
the country,its real greatness, its prosperity,
its agricultural and commercial strength,
will be benefited by the success of English
enterprise.-Phi1. Press.
R@-We learn that the son of distinguish.
ed citizen of Baltimore, in the French army,
writes to his father that the French Minis~
ters at recent meeting voted unanimously
not to recognize the independence of the
southern confederaey. He also stated that