Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-11
rzr' sacco CULTURE QUESTION.

TIE TOBACCO CULTURE SeESIIof
In the State Seuahe, on SATURDAY., the bill 70 amend
an act TO proyide for the public defence vas under con-
alteration. The pending question was, on the amend
ment submitted by Mr. ARMSTRONG, to exempt AL slaves
exclusively employed in the cultivation and production
of corn wheat oats or other prOdaetG for food for man
aud beast, OF in the raising of stock
Mr.. Dickinson, of Prince Edward, earnestly opposed
the adoptiou of the amendment He regarded It as
legislation which was unWise as 1t was UNJUST IL
imposed unequal burdens on one part OF the state,
while il proclaimed exemption TO another. 1t created
nyidious distinctions between property holders in the
same section II imposed an increased burden on the
papter while il offered bounty at his expense, to the
farmer The wealthy farmer on the James river, with
bis broad acres of fertile bottoni-Whose interest al
ways prompted him to cultivate grain grass and stock,
instead of tobacco to be exoneraed from tins bur-
den for the common defence whilst the poorer farmer
an the neiphboring hills whose lands were adapted
10 corn as well as tobacco 10 bear his own share
Of this burden with that Of the river farmer super
added.
This attempt to legsate men into the cultivation or
abandonment Of particular crops, is at war With the
principles of wise economy aud just appreciation OF
private rights. ,
when the bill TO limit the cultivation Of tobacco
under consideration he confined to his bed. Hence
he had not the advantage OF hearing the discussion
which took place that occasion The introduction
Of this amendment mOre german TO that bill, than thh
Afforded the opportunity OF saying that planters on the
south side need no further inducement than patriotism
and interest alike present 10 cultivate all the grain that
their condition will admit Of All the lands that can be
,dvanageously cultivated in corn will be- During the
past year they needed not the coercve hand of the
law TO limit the cultivation of tobacco increase their
crops of corn Nor will they do so now. Gentlemen
say that tobacco low aud therefore they did not
plant it. | answer that grain equally low; and
there has been greater rise in the price OF grain than
of tobacco Last year tobacco was worth some IS per
hundred Now S25 $50. Last year corn was 80 cts.
ner bushel; now $500 While the one has increased
or fold, the other has risen fold. Believe me Mr..
President this subject will regulate ITSELF better than
we can do it.
venture the assertion that throughout the tobacco
region Of Virginia there planted last year douby
a. much corn as usual And nothing but the interview
ton of an overriding Providence,-by high reshets on
the large streams aud severe drought on the upands-
prevented the production Of an abundant crop.
Gentlemen unacquainted with The Gu tyaon Of tobac
CO. cannot comprehend how il is, that moderate crop
of that staple does not materially Interfere with the pro-
Iuction of full crop OF corn 1t is eEpCable the
ground that the chief attention to the two crops given
AZ different periods Of the year We plant corn in
April we cultivate it principally in May and June, aud
inv il by early in july From that time till il natures,
has but to wait the plastic hand of nature 10 complete
the work which man has feebly begun. We plant our
obacco the latter part of MAY and the early part of
~.
Turing which nothing can be done TO the corn. The
corn i laid BY before the tobacco needs attention
The plant natures in ninety days lscutivated rpens-
Is cut and housed before FROST and before the corn
be safely gathered and housed.
Mr. President, have insuperabe objection to the
Legislature undertaking to prescribe the rules and regn
late the mode in which the freemen OF this country
snail manage their own property, so long A. they
do not infringe the rights of others, or offend
,gainst pubic morals. Regarded as plcy,
M: 49, hlt, IA
novel spectacle. Intelligent Senator'S, representing one
IF the most selindugent and luxurious communities
IN the world are gravey celebrating on the proprety
of "lQitiag" their labOrs Reversing all the ancient
rules of political philosophy, it is proposed-nOt TO
stimulate production develop resources, encourage ill.,
dustry and increase labor-but TO parayze energy,
riupie enterprise diminish labor and decrease produc
ton and that too, at time when, more than ever,
sc need all our TO meet uneNamped pecunl-
.ry burdens Unhappiy, accident and misfortune will
throw the great bulk of taxation for the coming year
upon the tobacco growing region Of the State. More
thau half Of the Common wealth " 0vsTrfn by the enc
nv refer to it in spirit Of unkindness or dlspar-
agement but in deep and sympathy for our suf'
ering fellow citizens whose large contributions TO our
common treasury once so freely and so literally
poured in that those contributions are now cruelty
xrupr from their reluctant hands swell the Golfers of
our common foe and strengthen the that is raised
IN smite US II is their misfortune well ours and
more theirs than ours II is no lault Of thets-but
the fact is still So that the burden OF taxation which
the necessities of the times will make double or TRIBE
ia former magnitude, must be borne by less than one
half the State We don't complain Of it.. We are will
jnr To bear IT, But in the name Of common justice
don't stretch out the strong of power TO stay our
efforts while VIC are struggling TO meet IL The State
tax is TO be increased from GO-lOO OF per cent. to
Der cent The Confederate States tax, according to the
DILL reported to the Senate by Mr. Hunter, from the Fl
nance Committee will reach 80 per cent, If 1t does
that In addition these We have
voluntarily imposed IN additional burden on ourselves
in the form OF county debts TO sustain our gallant SOL
liers and their suffering families, which, il Is believed
will reach approximate OF per cent, making, IN
the aggregate, per ceat IN lieu OF 90 loO OF per
cent of the last yearivc times great MS We have
ver heretofore paid Aud Gow, that taxation is ad
aorem assessment Of property and that property has
doubled and almost quadruplcd in the market value,
xation on identicaly the same property will be ten
times as great heretofore, and the taxation
in the tobacco growing, aud particularly the slave
holding region of the State, on which the chief
burden of taxation is to fall viii rise to an amount
almost threatening bankruptcy. We expect to meet
these burdens promptly and chcerlully, aud nave
right to ask that YOU will not paralze our efforts or
needeSSly curtail resources. Legislation i direct
I'D against the cultivation OF Tobacco even in the small
est quantity, as if its possession positive evil
Besides being the OF private resource, II is to
large extent the foundation Of public credit aud inter
national exchange. Upon it, the Confederate Govern
neut is mainly dependent Tor Foreign exchange aOso'
utely essential to their negotiations abroad And SO
FAR "a these ends can be attained without interference
With full production Of grain, it amounts to great
public good And be assured sir, that both Interest
aud necessity will dictate the cultivation of small crop
orTobaeco and large crop of grain. The manure ne
cessary for the Tobacco crop, neither be made or
bought in sufficient quantity for full crop and the pre-
ent and prospective high price of grain is the highest
nducenen for the production OF ali that in the nature
of things can be made.
DONE AT LAST.
U,prnai a1tb Ian