Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-20
- oo.len8 . b Deposed.

The rash and revolutionary acts Of the re-
beTious eottonocracy of the Southern States,
together with their impudent and ill-timed
boast that Cotton is King " and possesses
the power to compel recognition, by all
manufacturing nations, of the so-cslled Gov
ernmsnt Of the " Confederate States Of Ameri-
oa, are producing their legitimate effect in
England, and are the cause of initiating a
gigantic movement which, it is not improbs-
be, VII result in the final overthrow Of
king Cotton even should the Southern
States now cease their insane attempts to con-
traVene the laws Of trade. A conference of
members Of Parliament and English manu-
factnre-s was held at Manchester on the 3Oth
ultimo, the object being to devise plan for
procuring supplies Of cotton from points
other than those upon which they have hith-
erto relied. A paper was read by a member
of the Manchester Chamber Of Commerce in
relation TO the practicability Of procuring
cotton nom India in which it was stated that
with the comparatively slight attention at
present paid to the cultivation Of this staple
in that country, British India produces an
annual crop Of four million bales. The paper
says:
Undoubtedly, if the alarm created by the
s.ate Of affairs in America continues, a great
stimulus viii be given to the export Of cotton
from India. IteKists in quantity, and mainly
requires improved means of transit to the
sesboard-"
Mr. Buxton, N. P, in speaking upon this
subject before meeting of working men at
Maidstone, said;
aExperience had shown that whenever the
crop in the United States fell short, the small
rise Of price that took place at once created
an immense influx from other countries
Only three years ago India sent US half as
much as the United States sent US. If the
falling Of from the United States were still
greater, there seemed little doubt that India
could send a very much larger supply even
than that which she furnished two years ago.
Egypt Brazil, North Africa, West Africa,
and many other quarters Of the globe would
al5o furnish their quota, and, from all be
conld isarn, It seemed clear that the def
cheney at the very worst would not amount
to more than a quarter Of our usual supply
Tbat, no doubt, would be a serious evil, but
the calamity Wonld not be a crushing one
The general prosperity Of the country would
remain untouched, and after a year or tive
enormous resources would be opened in diff
ferent parts Of the world. Asan illustration,
be might mentien that 8 few years ago &
lady Of bis acquaintance sent out fifty pounds
to an1issionary in West Africa, with the re-
quest that be would spend it in promoting the
growth Of cotton. This trihing beginning soon
produced 20 fair a prospect that Mr.. Clegg,
one Of the great cotton-mill owners Of
Manchester, and two or three other
gentlemen, took the subject up warmly, and
already the trade from Abbeoku'a, in West
Africa, has become a very considerable one.
There had now been some hundreds Of cot
ton gins sent out, which had been purchased
by the native Africans who had learnt to
clean their own cotton. -Four of the chiefs
had ordered out from England, and had
themaelves paid for, hydraulic presses to press
the cotton for expectation; and in fact, there
could be no question that unless the slave
trade should interfere, in a few years the
quantity Of cotton exported from that part
Of Africa would be Of great magnitude, and
be would not observe how much it would be
stimulated BY even a small enhancement OF
the price Of American cotton. he felt no
doubt himself that in the long run the pros
perity Of the world would be lurgely in
creased BY any event that would hinder the
production Of cotton in the United States
and thus stimulate it, production by free la-
Dor in other portions Of the globe.p
Mr. Gross, a Director Of the British Cotton
Company recently lectured in Manchester,
in which he cOnteuded that the British colo
mics were likely te afford an adequate sup
ply. in a reasonable time, and that Australia,
India, Natal and Jamaica were especially
worthy Of notice.