Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-05-24

King Gotten Dethreael
On March 18th, debate took place In that
choice gathering Of Southern spirits. Tie Trbrl
Senate, in the course Of which & was sdnittsd
that King Cotton had been deshrossa. The
discussion occun,<l on . joint resolution passsd
by the House, adrisisg planters in the con-
federacy" to abstain from from planting cot.
ton and tobacco this year. and devote them
selves exclusively IN the productions q grain
and provisions. Albert q. Brown Of Missis-
sippi didnt like the idea Of merly advising
that this course should lie pursued. He pro-
posed substitute, providing that no planter
should SOW more than a certain quantity Of
seed or raise more than certain quanaity sf
cotton, upon penalty ofpaying $40 for each ex.
ira bale and Of being punished for perjury IL
the quantity sworn to should be Incorrectly At
tested. Other members thought this savorcd
of coercion" Clement B. Clay of Alabama
mildly suggested that the substitute was "un-
constitutional" Robert W. Barnwell, of the
kingdom Of South Carolina, also objected, and
denounced the proposition Of Brown as the
"grossest assumption of authority he had ever
witnessed"-wlich was quite compliment
to the "old concern" Il. NJ. 4. Hunter said.
that tho Confederate" States Government
had no authority to 60 to any Of the States
and say how much cotton should be produced.
"The sovereignty of the States themselves
hardly dare do this, much less the delegated
power of the Confedemcy." Brown, on the
other hand, entertained the comprehensive
idea "that in time of war the powers of the
Congress are augmented. and that it was quito
different from peace" But the most remark
able declaration during this discussion came
from Semmes of Louisiana, and our old friend
Wigfall, who had just leaped from the saddle
to the Senate. The report runs as follows:
Semmes of Louisiana lad long s;sce a1ax-
doned tie idea Mat Cotton is Kisg. He had
arrived Mt the conclusion that it was mis-.
tions to supply themselves with cotton; and
interest was the ruling principle Of the world.
We hare tested the POrer Of Kiny Cotton and
hare found him mantia9. We must now
abandon all dependence on foreign interven.
ton. The English never will interfere, be-.
cause it is not for their interest Rather than
make war with tho United States, she would
convert her Government into an elecmosy,,ary
for the maintenance Of her hordcs of starving.
operatives. She would do this because It
would be cheaper, and because the darling
projects of her statesmen could be fostered,
and cotton produced in her colonies. He voted
for the resolution for the reason that warning
should be given the people to prepare for tlio
continuance of lengthy war. and that pro-
duce must be raised for our subsistence.
10 which Wigfall assented, with slightsx.
planation: es ..s.
Mr. Wigfall Acknowledged that cotton was
not king, but merely the badge Of royalty to-
him who possessed II. This was the reason
England abstained from raising our blockade.
She wished to see US destroyed n cotton pro-
ducers, 80 that she could become raiser Is we'll
as spinner. and thus command the world. She
her own West Indies to Abolition.
in order to foster cotton raising in India.
Dixie may. therefore, be construed a. hav--
ing dethroned the Monarch of Sea Island and
Upland. Cotton is only a badge Of royalty
to him who possesses It," and as the cold
concern" is going to possess . considerable
supply Of the staple. it, sovereignty b likely
to be conceded at Last in the Land Of accession.