Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-17
.oR,crrTrRE rs THE soUTH.

sCRFCrETuRE II THE sOUTH.
Many OF our Southern contemporaries
are engaged in urging planters against
plantinr too much cotton, to the neglect
ofotber farm products. We infer from
this that the old cotton mania has re
taken possession Of our people. Ifso, we
ouDrehendShat the still small voice OF
tLa D-ewsuapers viii be little needed. II
the experience of the four years passed
under strict s~eclusion from the rest of the
country. compelling the South to devel-
one and rely upon her own resources, is
not sufficient to convince the Southern
people Of the impolicy Of stinting and
shaving themselves in order that the
world may have cheap cotton, then
would they not believe thoughone should
rise from the dead.
Great as has been the devastation Of
the south 10y the war, the lesson taught
10y IL would compensate its rayages, if
D people would but consider and profit
by it. Thatlesson, we had supposed, was
so plain and pslpable, 50 clearly elucida-
ted and brought home TO the observation
ofevery one, that it could not be forgot
ten during this generation at least. That
lesson was, that the South has al the
means Of positive independence within
herself, and that she may grow richer by
double, in growingo ne-third or one-foUrth
less cotton. Wheat, corn, sIl the
cereals in fact, in ample abundance for
home consumption, can be grown all
over the South; while her mdeveloped
mineral resources are abundant beyond
belief Never was there a country that
so b-eseechingly invited man to diversity
his labor; and we had supposed that it
was only the existence Of the institution
of slavery, necessitating as it were the
the production Of one staple, the culbva-
ton Of which was adapted TO the negroes
skill and intelligence, that could have
induced any people 70 turn a deaf ear 10
the suggestions Of Nature. To fall back,
now. into the old channel OF raising only
cotton. buying everything else viii be
little better than faulty.
The outside world, We freely grant, Is
very much interested in having large
crops Of cheap cotton but We Of the
South are infinitely more concerned in
improving and developing the natural
capabilities Of our country. Instead OF
large cotton plantations, we want small
well cultivated. well stocked, well i'm
proved farms, with plenty Of corn, and
wine. fat focks and sleek herds of ourOwn
u~roiuction. We want a diversihcation
OF our labor. whereby, in the develop
meut OF our mineral wealth, and in the
manufactures for which q country is
so well adapted, We may dispense, in part
1T least, with cotton As q means Of ON
maudmg really money. Under the old
order Of things, the Southern cotton
planter was, in ehect-though he
little suspected it-but little more
than a steward and overseer
for the Lords Of the LOOM in New and
Old England. His inheritance of the
burthen Of African slaves, for whom he
was bound 10 provide, and hence was
under the necessity Of furnishing with
employment suited to their capacities,
perhaps rendered it difficult to be any
thing else. But now that he
has been been emancipated and set free
from this obligation, it viii surely argue
little for his intelligence if he volunta-
rily returns 10 the old servitude. If the
world wants cleup cotton, let the world
find ii as best it may. The Southron
whether by birth OF adoption-if he is
wise, viii consider that he has contrib
uted his due proportion TO that specific
philanthropy.
And so let him beuake himselftO that
way Of life 10 which soil and climate in
vite him, and become the well-living,
rubieund, independent farmer and eoun-
Try gentleman that he may-with well
stored cellar Of wine Of his own making,
fruits of his own growing, stock Of his
own rearing-0wing no one, envying 10
one, but an example Of the thrift, health,
happiness and real independent wealth
that may re8nimate our wasted Southern
Land by q proper direction Of Agricul-
tuTe in the South.