The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-10
nnttnn making.

George Thompson writes to William
Lloyd Garrison from England that the
cotton famine in that country has great
Iy abated Here are his facts:
To give you some idea of the diminu-
ton in the distress prevailing in the cot
ton districts, I may refer to the last re-
port on the subject. The number re-
ceiying parochial aid, in the shape of
outdoor relief, was, in the third week of
November, 1862, 249 336, while in the
corresponding week of 1868 it was
III, ,298; being q diminution of 1858.
The money paid in the former week was
eI1,773; while in the latter il was
28 2l6, being decrease Of SO. 1861.
To meet the distress of the approach
ing winter months, there is remaining Of
the fund in the hands of the Central Re-
lief Committee about 9e50000; Of an
other fund, called the BridgeWater House
Fund, $4,000; of the Liverpool Fund,
100000; and in the hands of the PAro-
chiaI Boards, 9100 000-tOtal f490, 600;
to which add 91,500,000 for employ
ment on public works, and you will see
that, exclusive of the ordinary parochiai
rates, we have nearly 22,000,000 to be
applied to the relief of distress, pending
the arrival Of our expected supplies of
cotton, and the resumption Of work at
our mills.
The value of the works which are be-
ing carried on in tho various townships
most severely visited by the distress will
far exceed the amount of money ex-
pended upon them. The result in the
improvement both of the public property
and public health, will be immense.
Miles upon miles of streets will be sew
cred and paved; parks for the people will
be laid out and planted; waste lands will
be drained and brought into cultivation;
and all who are employed On these and
similar undertakings, having their physi-
eial wants provided for while 50 engaged,
will be more likely to enjoy robust health
than they would be if immured within
the heated rooms of cetton factory.
After 3 sober and thoughtful review of
our domestic condition during the last
three years, and an equally deliberate
estimate of our prospects for the future,
have arrived at the conclusion that the
failurs of our supply of cotton from the
Southern States has done as no serious
injury, and that in its results to US it will
be one of the most fortunate events that
could have occurred.
The spell by which we were once bound
is broken; the enchAntment is dissolved
England no longer bows her neck to the
yoke Of slaVety. Her cotton is no longer
stained with blood.
Previous to the breaking out Of that
wicked rebellion, which at this moment
is alike ccnVulsing and regenerating
your country, 90 prolific were the planta-
tlons of the South; 30 excellent was the
quality Of the fibre grown; 50 compare
lively near was the field Of production,
and 80 established were the trade ex-
changes and correspondence between
England and America, that eighty-6ve
per cent Of ell the cotton we consumed
came from your slAye-cursed shores.
While this Was the state Of things, there
was not the slightest possible encourage
ment to other countries 10 grow cotton in
competition with the produce Of the
Southern States. Hence our bondage to
the shareholders seemed complete and
inexorable. By their own act we have
been emancipsssd, and shsll never again
be enthrAIled. The cunning have bsen
taken in their own eraftinsss. Vaulting
ambition hath o'erleaPed itself
How mArvsllously have events, even in
themselves, worked toward the further
ance Of ends benefcent and good.