American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-02-27
c,y WE AFFORD TO PLANT cerros !,

ClS We AFFORD TO PLANT Cerr0s
Into the new year we haze advanced as far
as Februsry The time when the aericuIturist
begins to f.ilow his lands and look to his
seeds BHt even before this time the policy
Of the cotton States on this subject, the poli
cy Of the Confedcracy, and that Of every
cotton planter in it ought to have been sub
uitted 20 convention OF the Cotton States.
True it Is that conventions do not always
concentrate al the prudence and wisdom of
the country, but it is the best means we have
81 bringing diversified sentiments into one
place, getting them into one cruciblc, and
moulding them into one shape Is not con-
cert Of action alI-important on the question
OF planting or not planting cotton the present
season Should the war continue and cot
ton be planted, and tic South be visited with
another drouth, what will she do for corn
and meat? let rs not forget that If these
are the stat Of life in the easy times of peace
they are trebly essential when the God of
War rules the land. Our apprehension is.
that the recent slight indications pointing
towards an early peace, may inspire false
hopes and calculations, and thus lead the
South into the fatal error of planting an I'M
due proportion of cotton. Should there be
no peace, as we have no present data to trust
IN for this year, our supplies of corn, hogs
aud horned cattle, will be greatly exhausted
through the incoming spring and summer
How far viii the incoming season go to fill
our horn with plenty, especially if we grow
cotton to any extent?
Not only is almost our entire white labor
ing population in the field and in the work
shops. but still further drafts may be required
until the last tagging remnant is taken into
camp Death dealing disease and the slaueh-
ter Of battle has already left thousands of
cornfclds without tie hand that titled them
once Aud the helpless mourners left at the
poor mans home must have something more
to subsist upor than the dregs that lay in
the cup of sorrow. Other hands must feed
them now. All the negroes that have been
taken by the enemy in the past twelve
months are just so many cultiyators from the
next or p less than we had in the last All
the territory occupied or infested by war is
50 much of corn, wheat, etc, taken from the
supplies for home and the army. Aud still
again comes the draft adopted by most of
States) for able bodied negroes to be ia
ken from the plantations and used in the
mental duties of the army
The negro impressment law of this State
allows the Governor, his own Judgment,
or ON the call of the commanders of either
the State or Confederate forces, 10 call out
uy'humber of negro men-eeea 10 the last
Hegro-witlin the ages of Is and 80 years
The present call on Rankin county of 10
equaIized throughout the State would make
the aggregate over 5000. And this is but the
beginning. We do not complain Of the law
but fear, greatly fear an abuse of it, for
military commanders are by no means chary
in their use Of the materials of war. Then
j another call for IS negroes from Rankin will
give $1,000 for the State. If this policy is a
4 sound one, the other States ought and will
q adept it, if they have not already. Then
Il let ten thousand be taken ms the average for
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama,
q Georgia, North and South Carolina and Ten
nessce, and the general aggregate amounts to
$4,000 negroes At three hundred bushels
s. Of corn TO the hand or its equivalent in olh-
er products, and shall have with this es-
q innate (Which is n fair one) a deficiency of
a twenty four million bushels of corn for its
u equivalent in other productions in those
States Where the supply ofcorn is affected,
ia we must not forget that it reaches also the
III supply Of meat
In view of the premises, and present
4 posture, will prudent and patriotic planters
4& Feuturp tn flaut ~ in mo thau
= Is demanded for clothing for home and the
@ army This viii keep us in a supply ofseed.
% Lst none venture beyond this; for We must
s bear in mind that, while in the past year
Louisiana molasses, both on our plantations
81 sud in the army, a substitute for fully a
fourth of the meat that, in its absence, would
"a have been needed. Louisiana will give no
crop OF sugar or molasses the present year !;
that portion of the State is so held or threat
ened BY the enemy that the cultivation of the
cane will not be attempted. Thus one-fo fourth
more of corn and meat is wanted than we
had last year from this cause alone.
These are all heavy drafts on the grain and
meat supplies. In view of such hydras
triking heavily around us, we have an
Ser the question to ourselves and the coun-
~, can we afford to create another con-
9mer Of these supplies by growing an excess
cotton in their stead The question
nswers itself 1t is self evident that We
annot-Braadoa Repatisean.
HALLEY- AND SIR ISAAC NEWTON
ialley. the great maihematician. bab-
led not little in infidelity- He was
a'her too fond OF introducing the sub
e's~ Once when he had discanted
- ONE bat freely on Il In The nresence of