Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-22

An intelligent planter, writing p the Mo
bile Adrertiser and Register, takes tie follow
ing sensible view of the cotton prospects for
1865:
What are the facts in regard II general
cultivation of cotton, and retnrIlof negroes
to field labor?
A large proportion of the field hands are
dead. Another large number have left the
cotton growing States. The cotbn produc-
ing lands In the bottoms viii not he in cult
walton this year nor the next; TO great de-
gree they are going back to the wilderness.
In no part Of the country is hrge proper
ton of the lands likely to be pAnted in cot
ton; much even of the uplandsin Alabama
and Mississippi will not be plated at all.
A great number of the negrses are about
the towns and villages, with 10 sort Of in
tention Of returning to the plantations.
Another fact known only to hose who are
making the effort to make cotbn under the
present aspect, is, the generalopposition of
the negro women to do field labor. The
more sensible of the men see ard feel the ne
cessity of labor liz the cotton field, but there
is settled opposition on the part of the wo-
men to go the field again. They want to go
into society and have piano. The women
are the main cotton pickers.
When the negroes made contracts to make
cotton, it was very cold and vet they had
no houses to live in, no provisions to live on;
they were disappointed aboutthe division of
lands and mules. They SAID, well, if we
have to work, we might as wdl make con-
tract. They we're to great degree compell-
ed to make an engagement tc work.
But when the pressure of work. in the heat
of the spring and summer comes on, viii he
perform his contract? That's the question.
The shade tree on the bauk Of a stream will
afford house enough, and he can forage at
large under the protecting wings of the
Bureau"
In the commendable. efforts on the part Of
the planters to make cotton under all the
discouraging facts staring then in the face,
We see dernier resort 10 save the country
and live. 1t is but an experiment, with all
the odds against success. When the plant
ers entered on this experiment it was in the
belief that the Freedmen's Bureau would be
abolished. Now we see that it is not 10 be
abolished, but with enlarged powers it is to
set itself up, in opposition and defiance of
all State regulations, in which the negro is
10 be concerned, so that there will be no
means of enforcing contract for labor, ex-
cept So far as "the Bureau" may choose to
sustain the bargain. The negro is made to
know if he don't work for living he can
draw rations and clothing from the Govern
ment.
We have the opinion of Gideon Pillow as
enc evidence of the success of the present
experiment Gen. Pillow is such an eulo-
gist that would attach as little value to his
opinion on this question as / would to his
opinion on military matters, in which he so
much distinguished himself
Gen. Sherman, pa ssing through the
country by rail, too, has given an opinion
that an abundance of cotton will be made.
When Gen. Sherman, with a large army,
was overrunning Georgia, with none to OPP
pose him, he could say when he would get
through. But his opinion on the cotton
question is worth as little as any overseers
in Georgia. A
If everything else were favorable, the alb
sence of mules and other plantation neces-
saries would greatly prevent full crop of
cotton for the land planted.
The continuance of the Freedmen's Bu
reau, with its bad influence on the control of
the negro, with the many other difficulties
hourly accruing, viii, in any event. prevent
the production of much cotton in 1866.
Those who are laudably endeavoring
to encourage the people, are likely TO
mislead and injure them by their too
hopeful opinions. The prospect of the cot
ton planter for this year is only encouraging
in the price which he will receive for what
he makes.
The proposition is before Congress to tax
cotton on export five cents per pound, when
free labor has been hired to make it under
a tax of two cents. Another act Of injus-
tice 10 the cotton grower.