Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-23
ADDITIONAL ISARIEITIESTO REIAID
UPON TIE BEATEN SECTION-TE.E
pG0SpEGT.

Up0y TIE BEATEN sECTION-TIfE |
pE0SpECT.
The proceedings of Congress on Monday, as
exCmplifed in the vote on Mr.. McClurgs pre- |
amble and resolution, show a persistent deter |
rnination to 90 still further in legislating to |
discourage and depress the masses of the |
South. 1t will be remembered that in the |
instance referred to, it was determined by a |
vote of 10 to IS, ''to inquire into the cape |
"diency Of lerying contributions on the seeded
Estates to detrdy the extraordinary expenses |
'that C0uld otherwise be imposed on the Gen |
'eral Gorernment,n etc.
Now in the temper manifested by Congress
at present, although but little is to be expected
from its magnanimity, something may yet be
expected from its sense of self preservation;
and we therefore propose to show what pros
pect there is of further crushing the South
with impunity to the whole nation, with the
announcement that the price of gold is again
showing an ominous advance, whilst the means
of checking its shipment abroad are lessening
every day. Let US look into the facts and
probabilities bearing upon the case; let US see
There the resources are TO come from which
are to supply this new demand from sectional
legislation in its mood for vindictive extortion
Let us premise, that after the fierce haran-
CUES to which the radical leaders have so long
treated the country, their new programme is
but a matter of course. There seems to be q
prevalent opinion amongst leading politicians
at the North, those who largely make and con-
troll public sentiment; that as the rebellion
was most foolish and wicked, so none too great
punishment is due and can be borne by those
in the South who have survived the struggles
that besides this, such is the richness of the
soil, the advantages it has in the culture for
the world at large Of its great staple, cotton,
that that section will bear any amount of added
hardships, any new burdens that may be laid
upon it.
We propose to show, however, what we
have from time to time adduced some evidence
fOr-that there Is limit to endurance in this
direction; and that unless more consideration
and a more enlightened legislation prevails
not the people Of the South alone will be the
sufferers, but that any catastrophe which en-
sues, will Il heavily upon those who at
present consider themselves quite beyond all
such possible contingencies
There is no true friend of his country-it is
to be presumed-who is not sincerely DESTROYS
of seeing every good hope and good prophecy
as to the better future and the greater useful
ness of the Freedman realized; and for one
we have eagerly caught at everything which
seemed to promise good in this direction. And
yet, his own advancement, his own elevation
as man, may not be quite as subservent to
his immediate usefulness as a laborer as many
wish to think and believe, because it is not to
be expected Of race through all the past not
masters of their own time, that suddenly put
in absolute possession of it, they should toll
on submissiyely with an enlightened apprecia-
ton of the need of so doing.
And thus it is that even the most sanguine
as to good results at the South during the
coming season, have been compelled, unwill-
ingly, to modify their calculations as to est-
mated production; and where but a little time
ago it was hoped and believed a very large
cotton crop would be raised, the reverse is
now the conclusion. Of course, concerning
matter so momentous in its bearings upon
trade, any amount Of speculation has been
hazarded upon what evidence was to be had;
but when we say that hoping against hope, the
general belief down there appears to have set
tied down upon estimates for crop the present
season of but fifteen hundred thousand bales,
as against the great crop Of 1860, four million
SIX hundred thousand bales, the matter as
Sumes an Importance vindictive legislation
would do well to consider and lay to heart
Now when we remember that popular haran-
CUES, Legislative defamation, and all that, NAV
be rapidly and suddenly changed or controlled
by circumstances, we are made to consider
how different these are from the sturdy fact |
that short cotton crop is a deficiency that |
cannot be made up by any after ingenuity or |
eXertlon whatever; and however the nation |
has hitherto escaped all suffering from short |
crops, in its Astounding fertility, vast variety |
OF climate and production, the future infiction |
Is by no means impossible when we consider |
the critical condition of our finances, and the
immense consumption and waste incident to |
terrible war whose consequences yet follow us.
AS these are matters which should be coolly
looked In the face, we proposals we have
opportunity-to keep our readers thoroughly |
posted with whatever appears to have bear |
ing upon probable results; results vitality i'm |
portant to all whose welfare is bound I'D in |
the welfare of the country at large Let |
calamity approach on scale broad enough, |
and who-let US asks not concerned in |
these questions? With so many thousand |
persons IN every community totally and imme- |
diatey interested in the stability and high |
credit fthe nation financial system, DEPEND |
ing upon it for their incomes, with the great |
mass, besides, indissolubly bound up in its |
prosperity, none can ignore the Importance of |
these matters, however politicians for their |
own purposes may consider our people-any
portion OF them-as unworthy of consideration |
in their distress.
We have commended for the obvious truth |
recognized by our shrewdest inanciers and |
statesmen, that especially, the present year, a |
good cotton crop is needful to tide us over our
difficulties; and now let US present our readers
what seems the most sensible array of figures
In the case, that has come under our notice. |
intelligent cotton planter" of Louisiana, given
to his factor in New Orleans and published !
In the New Orleans Crescent. He says:
The crop Of 1860 was 200 bales the number of
laborers was 100000 black, $50 900 white thus maxi
Ing an average of 80 bales per head
Il dispose Of the black labor thus: Of the army
dead and alive 10000; dead by restitution and dis
ease l9OOV; left field work. 2OOO0O black laborers
now at work in the cotton States, 5Q0OOO These.
under the old regime, by the average above ought TO
make 1876, 600 bales ~
They will not make SO much for these reasons.
Under the old regime they in the field
hours per week; under the new arrangement fortul |
eight hours per week. They thus must do one fonrtb
less work than formerly. But they are not worth 90
much while at work formerly by one-fifth at least
Thus the possible produoton-1 So, 900 bales must
be diminished One-fourth and one-ffth leaving
10S0000 the probable production of black Iaborers
The white labor (250000 dispose of thus: Killed
and crippled, and in other employments l25OOO
leaving in the cotton field. l25.O00. These, at the
above average, make 100000 bales Add to this the
product of black labor, l030OOe and we have, total
for 1866. 100000 bales.
IL any are disposed to uuestiop tba oo,,.,.r |