Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-08
nELfpr ron THE ooTTox PLANTERS.

One Of the most serious problems connected with
the present struggle Of the South for political ex
aistence is the blockade of our ports, whereby
amost the entire cotton crop is cut of from expor-
tation and sale.
Other agricultural branches of industry are well
rsmunerated, in consequence of the consumption,
which is stimulated rather than diminished, by the
war. All kinds of grain, breadstuffs. cattle. wool.
and the products of the dairy are in great demand
not only because of the waste, produced by war,
but in consequence of the channels Of supply from
5 the West being entirely stopped.
The actual demand for cotton, on the contrary. ia
limited to the very meagre amount required to run
the few cotton mills at the South 1t follows from
this that the cotton planters are deprived of
their source ofrevenue. And the problem to be
solved is, how that vast and controlling inter
est is to be supplied with the mesns to pur-
chase plantation supplies, support their families
and even pay their taxes, to sustain the State
and Confederate Governments, in the cvent
the blockade should not be broken in time. Unless
some feasible plan is devised, the planters them
selves will not only suffer, bat the finances of the
whole country viii be seriously deranged Hon.
WM-L SHAEKSY, of Mississippi, has proposed plan,
in communication TO the Mississppian, which
seems to US to be sound and practicable. 1t has
substantially been endorsed by the Mobile Register
in the subjOined sensible remarks which we hearth
ly second
We hope that at the coming session of Congress
action will be taken for the benefit of the cotton
planters and of the whole country, II would be
measure of incalculabe relief if the cotton crop
could be converted into money and all the millions
Of its value put in circulation. We hope that the
government will decide TO purchase as much of the
cotton as the planters may choose to SELL paying
70 it in q and special issue of treasury notes
to be called 10 for redemption when peace returns
and the government is able to sell its cotton Never
were paper representatives of value issued on
better basis of security than this cotton secured
currency would be.
Let the Government do this and the blockade
would be shOrn Of nineteuths of its annoyance and
money would be more abundant than we can have
any conception of, for the cotton crop would be
sold and al its price kept in the country instead Of
being sent out of 1t to pay for imports pay north
ern profits etc etc., heretofore, capital would
be abundant for the prosecution of all the man
ufscturing enterprises which are becoming
sentialy important, and the country would support
the war so lightly scarcely to feel its burden
The cotton factors could be the agents of the
government 10 making It's pureases Of Gotten, which
would remain on the plantations and the business of
moving it. etc when sold by the government, would
remain on their hands. The Government having
direct control Of the supply Of cotton, would WELD
a dictatoral power in commanding the interest Of
European nations who want 1t, and could barter OF
the privilege of obtaining it for such advantages or
even assistance might be desirable to shorten the
struggle which we making for independence and
place among the powers of the earth. LIE: the
government buy cotton at q fair price and pay for
it with treasury notes of special cotton-seeuFed
issue-redeemable when the cotton is sOld.