Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-12
TINE CROP OF 1857.

From the Macon Telegraph
We are entering upon another year in
continuation of the experiment with free
labor, and, amid all the " surroundings
with but little to cheer and encourage
the planter to essay the task. And while
we cannot but commend the still hopeful
and enterprising spirit Of the planter, we
cannot view with satisfaction the prob
able course that will be pursued in plant
ing the next crop. To stimulate the pro-
duction Of cotton to the maximum ex-
tent that seems to be the prevailing idea
at the present time, necessarily involves
the almost entire abandonment Of the
cereal crops, stock raising, improvement
Of land and that general system Of plant8s
ton economy that should be observed by
every practical farmer.
This TuinOus policy is based upon the
intention of running the machine "
for only q or W years, and giving II
up for more ~cOngenial pursuits. The
change of capital and energies from pur-
suits that men have been trained to, to
those in which they have no experience
or fitness, will generally result IN a fail
ure and prove the folly Of their course.
The first object Of the planter should
be TO raise a sufficiency Of breadstuffs
and provisions to supply the home de-
mand-allowing cotton 10 be a secondary
consideration. AS long as cotton was
bringing forty cents, and cOrn could
be purchased for 81 per bushel, there
was some plausible pretext for neglect
ing provision crops but under a disRs-
failure Of the cotton crop we see il
bringing only twenty-five cents, while
the price Of corn viii be- at the d~ictation
Of the northwestern farmer. From the
1911 - LID a.1AaI s., a-HN-, a.
year, aud the effort expended in
It's cultivation, we may safely base an
estimate Of three and q half or four mill
lions OF bales and with the annually in
cressing supply from India, Egypt aud /
we could not expect to realize
more than twelve or fifteen cents for the
next crop. To psy the hire Of freedmen,
TO buy corn, bacon, mules, and equip the
farm, would leave the employer, at the
close Of the year, in a financial condition
worse than at the beginning.
For the last twenty years preceding
the war the south has produced an ex-
supply Of cotton. 1t was true
il was annually consumed by con-
vertiDg a considerable portion into the
fabric, and articles besides cloth
ing, that should have been manufactured
Of hemp, the cost Of production being
much less but cotton, on account OF
excessive supply, became cheaper
hemp, and substituted this material,
while the cost Of production was at least
thirty-three per cent. more than the
latter.
II might be easily shown that the
south made but little advancement in
material prosperity under such q system.
The present impoverished condition of
The soil, the absence of all branches Of
mechanical and manufacturing interest
and capital generally, are convincing
proofs Of its impOlicy. 1t is a great
Of political economy to concen-
rate all the labor of a country, in a
measure, upon q single product. This
strongly eXempliied in the results
)f the last year in farming operations,
IL is still more fOrcibly Illus
rated in the comparative results of
arming ia the northern and southern
states. The cotton crop, for example,
IF Georgia in 1860 was 70l, $40 bales,
little more than $50, 900. 600:
while the butter Of New York, one Of
be several products Of the dairy, was
estimated at $50, O00, 900; and yet the
census gives 10 New York but 37O.9l4
arm labOrers md to Georgia, intending
farm laborers, and the males Of the
laves, 3l6,47S persons engaged in
agriculture. Besides the other dairy
PRODUCTS, the principal crops, corn,
wheat, oats and potatoes, mot counting
be minor cereals, products Of orchards
nd gardens, or miscellaneous prOducts),
be currency value of the agricultural
Of the single state Of New
FORK was eight times more than that Of
with about the same amount of
abor, and more han the money returns
( any cotton crop w produced in the
Outhern states. From this briefstatisti-
al review, we see the vast dispropOrtion !
q actual profits between the employ
nent Of labor 50 as 10 diversity the pro-
ucts Of the soil against the concentra-
Of it upon q grand division Of pro-
.uctive industry.
Another reason why the south should
the production Of cotton, is on ac-
punt Of the unjust and iniquitous dis
against the staple, in the
IMPOSITION Of the three cent per pound
AK by congress. A direct tax upon the
roducts Of the soil is without precedent
d the history Of legislation. England
4 all her efforts to send the tax gAtherer
broad, has made it her traditional
Obey not only 10 exempt from tax
ton the products Of the soil.
AZ A8 - onHiCN ltBlhldLlOn as
} encourage them. The south has
o voice In our national legislature, and
ny argument through the public press.
T remOnstrance by petition 70 congress-,
.ould be unavailing. The only remedy
TO limit the production Of cotton, and
Iculd the south limit the production to
alf a million Of bales and send two
lirds Of It to European markets, north
n congressman would feel the rise oil
le staple in their own "shirts,n and
ould sooner vote a bonus TO encourage
be production Of cotton than keep up
he three cent tax.
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS.
The formation Of planters associations
the southern states has been frequently
in the past, but owing TO the
and spirit with which they were =
JnducteG, were generally short-lived. =
nd accomplished but little practical
BOD. The farmer, generally, gave the
ltire control Of his farming interest 10
rerseers, and felt but little interest in
'omOtiDg the cause OF agriculture be-
the return Of a certain number
bales frsm his OWL plantation.
ut. by the results of the war. q :
deal change has been effected in our :
Dor system, which necessitates a cores
change In the system of farm
9, 10 al It's details, and 10 the economy
labor. This can be better accom-