The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-18
The Great Cotton Crisis Commenced
I'm EnRland.-HVin 1t End I'm Rev0.
lutiOM r,,. q.

IN AhxA~nOeeWul1 IL END In 6evO.
luti0m .,s,..
From the London Times, Sept. 10th.
The reports from Lancashire apprise us
that the first mutterings of the long ex-
pected storm are already heard. Mills are
working on short time, manufacturers are
reducing wages, and operatives are assem-
bling in trouble and alarm to discuss the
prospects before them. While once more
discussing this m0mentous question, we cam
not omit to observe that since our last no.
tice of the subject, the continuance of the
American supply has become less probable
than ever. 1t is now beyond question that
the liberation of the slaves belonging to seces.
sion proprietors has been proclaimed by
the federal commander in the State of Mis-.
souri, as condition of the war. 1t is diff
cult, however, to imagine that such rule
of action could be confined to single state,
or that General Fremont will not, as he
attempts to descend the Mississippi announce
the same resolution in other States, which
be may succeed in reaching. His colleagues
in command too, will be compelled, prOba-
bly,, to follow the example, so that the
result will be either general emancipation if
northern arms should acquire any con>
siderable ascendancy, or agitation and
tumult, even if the South should hold its
own. 1t is hardly possible that abolition
should be thus loudly and officially pro-
claimed without some effect on the slave
population, so that in any event the industry
OF the South must be seriously jeopardized.
Every successive mail from America makes
it more and more difficult to believe that
either section of the Union can remain as
before. The North will make acquairt-
ance with those burtbens Of establishments
and taxation which have so long tried the
governments of the old world, and the
South, even if it retains with its jndepend-
ence all its territorial privileges, will find
that its monopoly of the European market
has been rudely disturbed.
With all these contingencies looming
darkly around US it is at least satisfaction
to observe both that the condition of the
cotton manufacture is favorable to our pre-
sent efforts and that the operatives Of
Lancashire are looking at the subs
ject like sensible men. The first resource
in such straights as the present, is evidently
to limit tie rate of production, and this
we are told, can be done not only without
much disadvantage to the trade, but with
positive gain. 1t is said that production
has recently been carried too far, and thai
the stocks of manufactured goods are every.
where in excess of the demand.
In this case it certainly can do no harm
to slacken our pace, and allow our pro,
ducts to receive their value. Short time
in fact, would be rather desirable, ever
if our supplies of material were in nc
jeopardy at ALL In the mean time the
operatives have recognized the exigen.
cies OF the crisis by unanimous resolutions
They demur, indeed, to the alleged ne
cessity of the reduction of wages, but al
a large meeting of delegates at Manches.
ter, it was freely admitted that the pres
ent scarcity of cotton "aforded we'll
grounded reason" for running the mills on
short time, and thus diminishing the rate oil
consumption. Such a view of the case
speaks well for the good sense and the
sagacity of men. We must face the i'm
pending trial as we'll as we can. The long
expected dearth has now overtaken US. II
is a serious matter, but not quite so bad as
we feared We have two resources-one
in economy of consumption, the other in the
discovery of rev supplies. Both, we trust
will stand US in good stead, while we feel
our way to such position as will exempt
us from any future return of the liability.
The unnatural check that has been given
to our cotton supply in consequence Of po-
litical events, which have rendered the
bountiful harvest nugatory, has placed US in
imminent danger of great national ca
lamity. This may be averted by termi.
nation of the American civil war, and q
consequent renewal of commercial relations
with the continent ; but the obstacle of this
arrangement is the determination of the
Northern States to impose their rule on an
unwilling population. Regarding recent
events in the calmest spirit, it is impossible
to avoid the conclusion that this determi-
nation must prove disastrous, and it is a
question whether the federal government is
not following mistaken course in contend
ing any longer against the new political Or
ganization, the necessity Of which is shown
by the extraordinary difficulty of prevent
ing its accomplishment.