The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-07
TfS- Commercial prosperity of the North

Th6- Commercial prosperity OF the NorVh
depends so greatly on the industrial resources
of the South, that this question is exercising
q marked influence on public opinion at the
North in reference to President Johnsons
poliwNo4 reconstruction They bope by and
ing the liberal views of the President ID re-
storing the unity of the Republic at the
same time toad themselves by reconstructlng
onrscdrnmercial and industrial prosperity
The question of negro labor in the South
not only concerns us, but 10 of Importance
to the North and the Government.
Oar supply of cotton is indispensable to
theseommereial and financial interests OF the
Union. Tt affects the national revenues, and
to a greater or less extent the interests OF
every Village, every merchant and manutac-
turer from Maine to Texas.
The supply of cOt4on for years to come
depends mainly on free negro labor, the
land adapted to its culture is here, but un-
less the freedman works, it must remain for
wears unculfivated The great problem, and
about which every body has boubt, iswheth'
er three or four millions of slaves, changed
Mt once from the restraints of slavery to free
dom, will have the industry to support them
selves, and not from vice and idleness be
come burden to the country. They under
stand the cultivation of cotton. Their Labor
is in demand, and as yet they have few
white competitors. 1t is clearly their intel
est to- learn no new avocation, but to con
tinue where they have been, laboring on th
cotton plantations. They have freedom it i
true, but nothing else. With freedom come
the necessity to provide themselves. wit
clothes, food, houses, medical attendanc
when sick, and to support their helpless chi
dren. Their labor can obtain all these ne
cessaries, and at the srme time contribute t
the welfare of the country. We do not bt
lievethat Legislative enactments can suppl
labor system that will succeed. The freed
man SHOULD be treated with justice, his IL
dustry stimulated, and thrown on his ow
resources as much as possible.
If the idle and vicious elements predoni1
ate, want and crime will end their career !
disease and death. No matter who makes
the eworld wants cotton The manufacture
ofEurope are looking with anxiety to IL
South for a regular and permanent supply
the raw material. The efforts to cultlva
cotton in India and Egypt have only pa
tally succeeded and much of the capit
sent there last year has been withdrawn
account of the close of the war.
The South affords the best cotton land in Il
world, and should the freedmen fail to Gull
vate it, the time will assuredly come wht
other labor will seek it and supply as in forl
or wears the mills of Manchester and Live
pool In 1859 the cotton crop exceeded fl
millions of bales The crop of 1865 will
less than one-tenth of that amount. II
manufactures of the United States alo1
could use from one million to one and hs
millions of bales.
1t will be seen from this, that the crop
last year will not supply the wants of Mort
ern mills, to say nothing of the foreign ma
ket.
tIIt is too early to speculate about the pl
.bable crop of the present year. 1t will sol
the problem of free negro labor, and have
Important bearing on the future OF that cls
Of our population. 1t has been suggested
New York that a national coiton-growi
convention be held That If prompt m'
sures be taken to encourage heavy plantlI
q crop OF five millions OF bales could
grown this year, which, at gold prices, wou
hiring one thousand millions OF dollars.
regard this as wholly chimerical. Under
most favorable circumstances the crop w
be small