Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-02
THE ECOrTONsgPPLYA AND THE WANTS
OF ENGLAND.

The London Times, of the 10th ultimo, dis
cusses the question of the cotton supply, in a
style which Indicates the desire of England to
provide herself with sources Of production
other than the southern States. We quote the
material parts of its article on this subject, as
bearing directly upon the question of the
southern confederacy and its resources:
mot many days ago we took occasion, in
discussing the sources Of our cotton supply. to
explain the popularity of the difficulties by
which this momentous question is attended.
1t is not that cotton will grow only on particu-
lar soils, like cinnamon or pepper. The ar
Hcle can UndOHbtsdiy be produced fN ffty
different regions of the globe, nor is there
much reason to doubt that any kind of quality
desirable could be impaired to the crop by
cultivation and skill. This is not the secret of
the matter. The real difficulty consists in this
that America has got fair possession of the
market, and supplies rs with cotton so excel
lent In quality and so nearly sufficient in guam
tity that only narrow margin is left for fresh
competitors. Since the publication of our re-
marks some statistics hsye been compiled
which place the facts of the case in a very
clear light indeed. Last year was a remark
able year for the cotton trade. The imports
exceed In amount any yet recorded; the con-
sumption was proportionately large and the
stocks in hand at the close of 1860 were still
considerable Coming to figures, we may state
that the weekly consumption of the kingdom
Al 900, as nearly as possible, came from the
United States, about 1000 from Brazil, 800
from Egypt and the West Indies and 200
from India There is the whole case clearly
explained. America sends US six-sevenths of
our entire receipts, and maintains this vast
supply so well and so successfully that the
market is all her own.
But, unfortunately, this source of our raw
material, though so excellent while it lasts,
cannot be Tscdrded NTH the con Hfdence rkich
or so rItGE a question Ics ought to feel, and
short as has been the interval since the ap-
pearance of our observations, it has been long
enough to illustrate ruth ALARMING force The
PrsedTtoNsnesS of the support on lctieh ice
depeJ1d. The cotton states Of America are
actudlly on the brink Of tremendous conyul-
SION The contingency so long forcseen as
possible Is now imminent, and if we should
near by any OF the next mails that the cotton
crop Is In danger from the arrangement of in
dustry AMI business we should not be sur
prised. Already the Americans themselves
appear to be scared at the prospect. We are
told that the price Of negroes has fallen enor-
mously, and the value of slave property could
hardly have been affected except through
some misgivings as to slave produce. At any
rate, even If We assume, as perhaps we may,
that the interests of the cotton grower will be
stror enough to protect the cotton consumer
against any very or serious or immediate mis-
chief, 1t can no longer be denied that our DO
sition is becoming unsafe in the extreme We
are holdiag on by a single anchor, and the
strands OF the cable seem actually parting
Nobody can tell what may be the effect of po-
hucal Reorganization upon the cotton States
of the Union; and in what condition should we
hnd ourselves If the six-sevenths of our supply
which these countries now furnish should be
suddenly cut of Suppose the imports re-
daced even by a half q third, what are we
to do? The distress at Coventry gives but
faint idea of the p sery and ruin which would
overwhelm Us if our staple manufacture were
abruptly stopped.
" 1t behooves us, then, tsithout an hours
delay, to take this Icork iu hand Except for
the single difficulty we have described, it is a
perfectly easy work. Three-quarters of the
globe are actually competing for the favor of
our orders. Asia gives as India. and India
as is invariably found, offers anything we want
Tea, fax, silk, Gnseed, cotton-whateyer crop
fails elsewhere Is sure to be produeible in In
dia. As it is, the Iadian cotton sXppky comes
ne1t TO tile Anlericzn IN point Of Magnitude,
though with long interval between, and it
Is already calculated that these imports will
be materially increased during the current
year. Then there is Australia bidding for
notice We are assured upon the evidence Of
excellent authorities that nothing ic0HLd be
easier than to make australia as good a cot
ton feld as america as nolc. Invest the cap
ital, organize the trade, invite Chinese labor
ers, and the desired results will follow with
the most infallible certainty. Hardly have
we opened our eyes to these agreeable visions
when the advocates of African civilization in
terpOse their claims. Africa as the Uerv land
sf cotton In those regions the plant is not
an exotic. 1t requires no naturalization. 1t
grows there already, and is even cultivated, as
far as the ignorance of the natives will permit
the process. Then trhy NOT erte7sd a hand to
the struggling negro, and beneft an OPpresS-
ed race By the same policy which would pro-
vide our manufacturers with inexhaustible
supplies?