Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-03
worn go PnANrERs.

JANUARY 80, 1858
EDiToRs APPEAL: The planting season ii
rapidly approaching, and, in my opinion, thi
character of the crop of the present year wat
never moro important before I find that many
planters, under the belief that peace is near a
hand, are making up their minds to plant
largely in cotton. This, ] think, Is clearly
wrong, selfish and suicidal, even if their CON
Yiction Of peace is realised. The seasons OF the
last few years have been very disastrous to the
corn crops, and consequently corn is now very
scarce in ell parts of the country. Tbs scarcity
of corn on hand viii bsget the absolute neces-
sity of beginning the use of this years crop OF
corn IN Its earliest state ofroasting ears II the
seasons are sgsin disastrous to the corn crop,
(snd they may be,) the country viii not Eske
enough TO do IT, If any considerable quantity Of
land is planted in cotton.
The great number of soldiers who are called
from the cern fields TO the army, and tie great
number of male slaves employed at labor in va
Tious preparations for the defenses Of the coun-
try, and eur female slaves making clothing for
home use, nlust necessarily leave large amount
Of land unculhFsted. Ths large proportion Of
/ our most energetic and best managers and farm
srs are in the war, and consequently We sre
/ greatly deprived of that energy and skill, su-
/ peryision and management necessary to insure
good labor and crops.
We are generally greatly destitute of cotton
J seed and other manuTes that heretofore have
/ been plenty and contributed 80 largely in swell
/ ing o1r corn crops. The quastity of our Hssal
! frs t-csss farming izPlsEassss is vSSy small
/ and cannot be supplied. end we cannot cultivate
IS much land, nor what we Go, So wsil and
easily as usual From death and array uses,
/ the horsepower Of the farms have bsen geHer-
/ ally and largely diEinished, and cannot now be
Obtained Gfueh OF the best csrn coaRtry we
have is either in the possession Of the ensmy, OF
so threatened that it Is abandoned aud must BE-
left a waste for the present year. Ths great no
cessity for Increasing our stocks of hogs, cattle,
sheep, goats, poultry, etc, in every possible
way, creates the necessity for and use of an IN
usual large amount Of corn and peas The ne
cessities Of those who have been deprived Of
their houses and fields render them dependent
foT corn and meat upon those who have not
been 50 deprived, and calls upon the more f0rtu-
nate TO make corn for them.
If the country fails to make enough corn and
meat for all it viii force Us to open trade and
commerce with those so lately cur terrible foes, !
by which We would i1psverish ourselves, en-
rich them, make Us dependent and them indie i
pendent. In view of these facts that are self /
evident, corn must be a necessary and remu-
nerstve crop TO its fullest extent, even If peace
comes By June and The seasons are propitious.
But suppose peace does not come, that the
seasons are unpropitious, and that more and /
mere Of our best and richest country is taken
by or abandoned to the enemy, what incslcu-
lsble dstTesB, dependence, famin and ruin must
fellow It wsuld be the death knell Of our
army, car liberty, our Confederacy, our homes,
oGr property, our hopes, ard even our lives
Lst Ee man plant sny eoiton-not single
seod-or if he dees plant any, let hin be regarded
as an enemy, trsitcr and dog. Let his hands,
teams, provisions, etc, be impressed and him
sent to The army. Let our Congress make a
law that every man who plants cotton this year
shall be eonscipted and put into the army at
once aud let the States declare their teams, tools
and slaves at once impressed for the use Of the
armies. There are men who will plant cotton,
if they think It would benefit them i0dividuelly.
although they knew it would be the death-b blow
to the Cenfederacy and the grave Of every other
person IN it, but I hope and believe they sre
few Let Us in the zane Of reason humanity,
wisdom, Independence, charity and Christian.
ity, ignore cotton this year, and plant all corn,
wheat, potatoes, peas, pumpkins, Vegetables,
etc, and give our best attention and efforts to
the increase and advance Of ali that makes food
for man or beast. 1t is our only comfort, and
in sll probability our only safety The press
and people should discuss and urge this matter
before il is too laie. Yo1rs, PLANTER