Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-02
=" Cotton Is King.0

Mr.. Yancey, it seems, has at length discovered
tnat cotton is not king and he has also discovered
by actual contact and observation that the people
If the Confederate States because they own slaves
have no friends and sympathizers among those who
control European governments. If we had known
these facts sooner, especially from the lips of Mr..
Yancey, the Confederate States might have been in
better condition than they are now, for they would
have relied more upon themselves and would there
fore, have made fuller and more adequate prepara-
tons for the great struggle in which they are en-
gagged Mr.. Yancey has shown himself, from the
very commencement of the revolution, as well as in
the steps which he took at Charleston and Balti-
more to produce it. very much wanting in those
qualities of foresight and sound common sense which
are so essential to enlightened and successful states
manship. We have never heard that, with some of
his followers in this State he engaged to pay all
the expenses of the war with ten cents and staunch
all the blood that would flow in it with pocket
handkerchief; but be did predict that the conflict
would not assume the proportions which it has, and
that cotton bringing to its feet the crowned heads
of Europe would speedily extricate from diff:
culties, and render US, almost at once, of the
controlling powers of the world. We regret that
the gentleman has found himself mistaken, as will
appear by perusal Of his speech in New Orleans,
which We publish to-day. But still Mr. Yancey is
to be a Confederate leader, and, as Confederate
Senator his word is to be law to his partizans and
followers 1t is. our opinion that the Confederate
cause will not prosper as We all desire it should un.
til such false prophets as Mr.. Yancey are disregard
ed and their false lights extinguished
Cotton is very important staple in its place, but
it is no more king than corn, and wheat and to-
bacco, ana manufactures. We have said this all
along and We have admonishcd the people against
that blind and absolute dependence on cotton which
is likely to prove so injurious to US in the present
the following sensible extract from a letter which
appears in the last South Carolnian, dated Char
/ loaesvile, Va, March IT,
'If our lines are much more drawn in, the sole
support Of our armies and people will be the cotton
States, which, fear, will be poor dependence, for
believe that many people in the Southern States
would continue to plant cotton if starvation was
abroad in the land. Cotton has been our curse in
this war Not only the people, but even the gov
ernmcnt seemed to think that cotton would fight
our battles for us; and now, after eight months
preparation by the enemy, with well drilled army
of six hundred thousand men, our government is
almost without an army. and are just getting to-
gethcr army, which will of course require months
Of drilling to make it efficient. Cotton has been a
curse, and if our people DO not leave it off and 60 to
planting everything that will support life the Yam
KEGS will stand good chance Of subjugating u.s.
Armies cannot fight if they have nothing to eat
and how they can get thing to eat in the South
cannot see unless the farmers exert every energy
to raise hogs potatoes corn, peas and every thing
that can sustain life. 1t is cbilds play now, and
it is time that planters should feel tit is time
for them to awake to the situation of affairs as oul
government has at last DONE Tell my father, 70,
Gods sake, for our sake, not to plant one seed Of
cotton. Cotton is not king but hunger is; it knows
no law, tie, compassion. But it is useless fol
me to say more; We cannot influence the farmers
This much will say that if we are ever conquered
it will be by the acts of our people. II We have
provisions enough, hunger may conquer us-th'
| Yankees never"