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

now in the army In this State ana elsewhere
the militia has also been called out. No ezemp-
tions whatever are allowed, so that every white
man able to work in the field is row marching
against the foe. Nobody is at home except the
white women, children and old men, and the |
slaves. Thousands of white men who raised
crops of corn and droves of cattle and hogs lsst
year, BIZ their own labor, and who thus con
tributed to cur present supply Of food, viii not
do SO this season That alone viii make the
next crop considerably less, and will result IN .
rise of prices If we are SO imprudent g to
agpravate this cause Of scarcity and OF hgh
pr.css, by impressing negroes into the service OF
camps and fortiGcations, disastrous conse-
quences will follow.
Let it be remembered that food is more neces-
esry to the soldier than his arms, than fortihea-
tons, etc. and let It also be noted that the ne
gro population is now barely sufficient to plant
and cultivate the next crop. There is no sur
plus Of labor. How can there be surplus !
Was not the production Of corn, whest, peta-
toes and other provisions, as generally under
taken last year, as we can expect it 10 be this
year Do we not know and feel that, notwith-
standing the unanimity with which the farmers
have neglected cotton, in order to raise provis-
ions, We have no more than is wanted Are
not prices going up continually, slowly it is
true, but steadily, though ssoen or eight long
months must elspse before apother harvest can
be Tatheredi If it is so now, what would it be
next year, if We caused any further reduction
Of the number Of hands engaged in sgriculturei
should we do any thing to realize the dearest
wish Of our enemiss--a scarcity of subsiateEcei
Not only must the army be fed, but their
wives, sisters aod children. Our soldiers should
remember this, while undergoing the dangers,
lAbors and baTdshipa of a campaign. They
naturally wish for negroes to do the drQdgsryr
and nen-eombatant works inssparable from th'
life Of soldier; but they rheuld consider thai
the negroes at home are doing f1r shsz What is
still more Gncslculsbly mols) important; pro
dueiug the soldiers dsily brsad, ray the daiy
bread Of the whole Confederacy This is al
essential condition Of our success sgsinst th;
invader. Every sble-bodisd negro man car
csl.ivste about ffeen acres Of ccrn (ofter
more). This, at thirty bushels to the acre
makes four hundred and ffty bushels to th'
hand The effective force of plantation, ths
force which enables the planter to produce I
surplus for the market, consists Of the men
The women and children of plantation coul'
hardly raise enough subsistence for themselves
Able-bodled negro men compose only 0Hs
ffA of our slave population Hence th'
withdrawal Of any portion Of this class from th'
plough and hoe would be irsughs With teniOl'
evil. Ystitis only the msn Uho can bo serviesabl'
in camps and fort6easions. Lat US, therefore, h
careful lest, in Our desire to relieve our brav
soliiers in ono way, we do rot cAusa their ruin
and the ruin of tho whoie Confederscy, il
another Many plantor would fud it sbso
lutely impossible to do, in due time, the plough
ing and other works necessary for preparing hi
ground for seed, If, at the present moment, one
half OF his men ere taken to work on fsrtifcs
tons, a, ordered BY General Pembegton in som
parts of this Slate. VIII he answer ihst Psss
viii soon be procIaimedi That would be a
good reason for putting the manufacturers q
> cunpowder to work on the forti6eations, etc, 3
it is for employing the negroes on them
bird in the hand is better than two in the bush
It is only By taking ever y measure to make oul
selves safe aud formidable that the probablit
of proximate peace can become a certainty. 1
f,r instance, the Yankees were to ascertain thA
from any cause, We wore DegIscting to insuI
: subsistence, II might revive their old hope
starving Us ont and thus they might be temple
to prelong the war and the blockade durin
another year. 4 CORN PLANTER.