Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-03
The Cotton Question in England.
From the London Times, Nov 8.

From ths London Tines, Nov s.
The accounts from Lancashire state that the par
ayss of trade in the manufacturing districts, oWV
ing to the scarcity of American cotton is becoming
more visible day by day. Each succeeding return
shows numbers Of mills being gradually reduced IN
the hours of working some that were working
six days in the week being reduced il time by not
being lighted up in the morning and evening; some
that were working four days being reduced to
three, and some being closed altogether. From
particulars furnished by correspondents of the
Manchester EGdniaer, the following figures have
Il been compiled, which, although not complete, are
sufficient toshow generally the state of employment
In the various localities of the cotton trade:
This tsble shows total of 81, 1913 people at work
full time, Is 5z2 at work five days in the week;
56,S97 at work four days; 2s 1872 three days, and
S,O63 men now idle.l The Times adds:
These returns are imperfect, as there are sc We
raj important districts not enumerated, and 1t is
feared that the last item Of the number of working
people totally out of employment, and for whom
resources left but the poor rates and chsrita-
BILE subscriptions is below the actual state Of the
case and that the total will continually increase.
With reference to the reiterated recommendations
to mill owners to work only three days week, and
to the speculations as to the effect such course
would have on the cost and supply Of cotton, one
correspondent remarks that they show a very inns
perfect knowledge of the condition of the trade.
There are perhaps four to five hundred mill owns
ers in Lancashire, but the cost of working short
time is comparatively great, that il is question
ed if there are more than a hundred that could
afford to resort to it beyond sixmonths. In corr
roboration of this the fact is cited that numerous
masters are giving notice to the workpeope that
their mills will be entirely closed soon as their
present stock Of cotton is exhausted.
InPrestOn the masters have given notice of re-
duction of seven and half per cent. in the wages
paid to their SINNERS. The latter have determine
ed on strike although support in this suicidal
course can hardly be expected from fellow~work-
men who are Oh the verge of severe want.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT on COTTON AND THE WAR.
Mr.. EDMUND POTTER, in the course of an address
at Carlisle, where about i've thausand working
people are usually employed in the cotton business
remarked as follows:
need hardly, perhaps, tell you of the position in
which we are now with regard to cotton. We get
or have got eightyfve per cent Of our cotton from
America but you know that unfortunately, the
Americans are at war among themselves and we
are not getting bale of cotton from them on the
reverse, they are actually buying cotton in Liver
pool to send back to the States What Is to become
of us unless can get that IS per cent very great
" made up somewhere else? There Is every prob
ability, l ana afraid, that within thu next yesr we
can get very little more than five or ten per cent,
andlWe cannot get that very quickly. If we cannot
get American cotton on account OF the civil war
they are carrying among themselves, we shall
not have bale Of American cotton IN England.
Unless something occurs to settle this silly, fool
1sh, mischleVous, and, think, very wicked quar-
rel, can see no prospect of the working classes
in the cotton trade being kept one-hah one-third
employed. 1t is fearful thing to contemplate.
:" You see the temper in which the
American war ia carried on, and the state of feel
ing, and you can judge well as can of the
probabilities of the cessation of this miserable
quGrreling amongst themselves. You can judge
of our prospects respecting the cotton supply. We
have prospects from India, will admit If you
look to India for cotton, and if they will take our
goods back for 1t, as they will, there is prospect
of trade; but it must be slow, it cannot come rap
idly. The quantity of bales from India last year
was 600 600; while from America the average is
100, OOOor 900 bales. We may get more
from India this year, but nothing TO compensate
for the loss of the American trade,
Indian cotton would not keep at work day
and half eek, and there is no probability that
we can have cotton from any other source to keep
US at work, unless we get the American war at an
end. 1t is question of life and death with us it
is vital question for ALL and we shall have to meet
it In some way other. In conclusion, he appeal
ed to the electors and non electors to support him
a man who could represent their interests in
question, in comparison with which the extension
of the suffrage and the ballot sink into significance
They could afford to wait for them but they could
not afford to wait for cotton.