The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-19
Monday Morning, June 10, 1855.
From tn. Passselelphia Press j
Cotton as a King and as . . Oommodit,

49, te~~@S~t sfs
Cotton as King and as Commodity.
The American people have ever been per
slstent and consistent in their antagonism TO
despotism and their love of freedom. The es.
tablishment OF thoroughly democratic sys-
tenn Of government was, in the earliest times,
the aim, and It's preservation and maintain
ance has since been the anxious care and duty
of the nation. Every suspected encroach-
ment has been most promptly and strenuously
resisted, and Jealous love of liberty, colIec-
lively and individually, has made the guardi-
anship OF this dear bought treasure subject
OF increasing vigilance. The rebellion against
all forms OF tyranny has characterized the
conduct OF the nation, with but one sad excep-
ton. Kings have been conquered In America,
and kingshipI has been proven to be an unne-
cessary burden upon the hearts and hands of
our race. Yet one monarch has been allowed
to reign In our very midst, and subject eur
dearest rights to his power and caprice. King
Cotton was crowned, enthroned, and encircled
by crowd of devoted retainers, gathered
from every portion Of our land, and long pre-
served his inexplicable supremacy by boastful-
ness and bravado. ssa aa42la Z aJ
One king has thus been permitted to exer-
else his sovereign sway in Democratic Ameri-
ca, and what has been the result? An un-
due preponderance in legislation, a ceaseless
claim upon respect and consideration, and
clamorous demand for privileges and immuni-
ties ,. :, +.
The inner circle of this klngly court assum-
ed themselves to be veritable aristoCracy,
and cultivated the graces, aped the follies, and
exercised the ins0lence OF the class they, imi-
tated. Az this was endured by peace loving
an law abiding community, until King Cotton
exceeded his privileges, aud his followers grew
reasonable in their exactions. Their de-
sire for undispated authority and wider do
main, has cest us both treasure and precious
blood, but the country was triumphant, and
the clique defeated; the Republic victorious.
and cotton dethronedl The vanquished poten
tate must at length take his true position as
simple member OF a community, where each
works for the advantage of all, without any
distinction or title, save that derived from su-
perior usefulness and efficiency.
Since cotton is reduced from q king to
commodity the scales have fallen from mems
eyes, and all that "divinity that doth hedge a
king" will be lost 1t will be hereafter rightly
regarded as merely one Of the elements OF the
wealth of the country, claiming no reverence
that might not be awarded to rutabaga, or
power that might not be permitted to the po-
tato, unless it prove q higher claim OF useful
ness. Esss4e s.s-
Az a conmodiss II enjoys at present pecu
liar value--it is an absolute requirement. of
modern civilized existence. The world must
have cotton, and it cannot be found anywhere
of the desired quality and amount except In
our own Southern States. Ie1ea
Cotton, its culture, and the peculiar method
by which it has been produced, were the pri-
NAL causes Of great sectional differences. 1t
was the exclusive staple of the South, and it
was supposed that its tilage required slave la
Dor; therefore, the North was asked to main
tain slavery, permit its encroachments, assist
its extension, and suffer the whole train OF in
suits that followed in its wake.a sa sii
The inherent vices Of q sinful system
wrought in time their natural and dire conse-
quences. The habit of domination and exer-
else of uncontrolled power only progressed In
to its sequences of hatred Of law and contempt
for authority. leading to the legitimate result
rebellion while the evil customs engendered
by infction ofsystematic cruelties and torture
upon the helpless and unressting found mere
ly natural expression In the conduct that has
dsgraced the Confederates HL1osg1oG
Such have been the fruits of the reign loi
cotton as king. But all its false glory and
sinful supremacy have been swept away. and
the future treatment of the subject is now open
to our decision. aiI fiAe
The remarkable productiveness of our
country has supported us through seasons Of
great prosperity, but we must now look to
her for additional help. We have been lavish
of our wealth and equandered our treasure
but such prodigality must now cease, at least
for time, and attention be directed to all the
available means OF acquiring the power of free
ing the nation from its liabilities In order to
do this, all systems of -remuneratiye industry
may be considered and the various branches
of labor wisely encouraged and assisted. The
Government will annuallyrequire vast sums
of money from the people, and il must, in re-
turn, help the people to enrich themselves, SC
that its tax-gatherers may have full Golfers Il
deplete instead of seanty and impoverished
ones. If,by discriminating export duty or
cotton, a new impetus could be given to the
cotton manufactures of this country, thai
would keep the spindles of New England NOV
ing briskly furnish steady and constant EN-
ployment to the numerous establishments that
cluster around Philadelphia, and that are 10
Gated in Lancaster, Reading, and other towns
in Pennsylvania, the collectors OF internal
revenue" would greatly increase their returns
In the South, too, under free-labor system
the manufactures of Virginia and Georgis
might make many fabrics near the very spo
where the raw material is grown. ssi
But one of the greatest advantages tina
might be derived from export duties on cot
ton, Is transfer OF portion Of the burden 0
our debt to the foreign consumers of our ia
nous product The leaders of the rebellion
devised this scheme for the benefit OF the Con
federaey. We may use 1t for the advantage
of the Union. Jefferson Davis expected to be
maintained in regal dignity after secession be.
came an accomplished fact, by the money that
Europe would pay for the privilege OF ex
porting cotton, as we pay money to China fo
the privilege of buying tea and silks; to tn,
Pope for the privilege Of obtaining Roman
antiquities; to France for her fashionable com
modities; to England for the dyes of her Eas
Indian possessions. We may sometimes ge
useful lesson from men whom we conternu
and the cotton lords have taught US use fo
their producer which we should not despise.