The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1866-08-18

cotton Resources Of lte sop't
Very striking views Of this subject
are presented IN q paper prepared by
Mr.. Atkinson, Of Mlssacl useiis, frr
the American statistical Socicty. 81
New York, and Published IL H
Bor's Rerioc for August. Mr.. At
kinson shows that the South Gun defy
the competition Of the world in cot
ton growing, and that liz former
asccndancy In this respect will be
maintained and advanced under a
system Of free labor.
The great basis Of the cotton cul-
ture Is land. The South has the
peculiar soil and climate that are
bes, adapted to the cultivation Of
cotton. Having the land, ii is only
necessary to apply to the culture cap
ital and labor. The slave labor was
the poorest and dearest that could be
employed, but il was the only labor
that could be obtained. In the
hands Of more experienced planters,
slave labor was judiciously employed.
But, in general, the rule prevailed
which was so well stated in an ex-
preston by Governor Wise, viz:
"The negroes skin the land, and the
white men skin the negroes" Still,
the cotton growers could produce five
millions of bales Of cotton-enough
for the supply of all the mills in the
world--at the cost of eight cents a
pound. Still, this price left such q
profit that the planter could afford 70
pay from two hundred and fifty %
three hundred and fifty dollars a year
for the hire of a hand, assuming
all the cost Of finding and cloth
ing, and risks Of sickness, &c.
The planter could, after a crop, pay
the high price Of twelve hundred
and fifty TO fifteen hundred dollars
for a field hand. How large, then,
was the profit? Large enough to in
toxicate the whole cotton-growing
community with the dea that cotton
was, politically and commercially,
king.
The whole world must, as Mr.. At
kinson argues, be hereafter, as il was
heretofore, dependent upon the
Southern States for its cotton supply.
Cotton can be made at a third or
fourth Of the present prices. The
natural or normal cost Of raising
cotton is not, as Mr.. Atkinson con-
tends, more than eight cents a pound.
Now, as to the labor question. The
suddenly emancipated blacks are not
expected Immediately to produce five
millions Of bales Of cotton, either for
themselves or as employees upon
wages or shares. The cotton planters
themselves were not prepared with
proper seeds, with gins, gin-houses,
Implements, capital, &c, 70 commence
planting on the former scale. But
this season will show a crop Of at
least two millions Of bales, notwith-
standing the fact that in the early
part Of il the weather was unfavora-
bic. With a good season and good
seed the crop would have %equalled
the estimate Of Mr.. A. Ii. Stephens
three and a half millions of bales.
Nearly one-half of this product, as
we learn from various sources, will
be due to white labor, which 10 des-
tined to become the chief element,
after the land itself, in the cotton
product. The labor Of the freedmen
will also be commanded, for the good
reason that its results, as Mr.. Akin
son says, will induce the planters to
cherish and encourage 1t. But d new
reliance for au ample supply Of labor
will be found in the white inhabit-
ants, who will cultivate from Eve "a
fifty and a hundred acress of cotton
In the more healthfal districts Of tn,
cotton region. Were the Sea Island,
and oil the unhealthy cotton district,
abandoned, IL would cause no visibl,
diminution in the quantity and valu,
Of the crop. II would only disturb
the manufacture Of some cotton pro.
ducts Of French looms.
Congress and the Radical polio,
can disturb and agitate the South
and that alone can possibly long re
press the cotton product.