The Van Buren press., 1867-03-15
Plant Corn.

We commend the following article from the
liltlc Rock Guzeue. TO the consideration Of
rlantersand Farmers Wethink it good poll
,yih'thc present gloomy and unsettled state
of our political affairs. that our agriculturists
should mainly. turn their attention for the
present year. ut least, to the production Of
bread stuff. stock. etc Raise as much, and
more. Of the above. as will be required for
home consum ption. and then il you have the
spare hands, you can more safely raise cotton
don't cultivate an acre beyond J our availa-
ble means: 'lu 70
~ The experience of last year ought certain
ly TO have taught those engaged in agricultur-
nj pursuits the ruinous folly Of planting all
their land in cotton. The steady decline which
j. taking place in the price of the staple, the
enormous and unjust tax imposed upon it by
the general governments and the almost utter
impossibility of procuring reliable labor for
its cultivation-all combine to render its cX-
elusive production very hazardous expert
ment Now that the time Is close at hand for
planting, We urge upon the people to aband-
ON. in great measure, its cultivation.
The policy OF our state at present is to hus-
band her resources and not for her people 10
risk their all in wild spcculations. The COM
munty is the most independent which is self
sustaining. The future looks forcboding, and
no calculations as to what the condition of
the country or the value of any crop viii be at
the end of the year. can be made with any re-
liable certainty. But there Is one thing We
may know, and that is, if we are supplied with
the neccssaries Of life We shall not be brought
TO the state of starvation and suffering now
existing in some of our sister states.
Already the suspicion is creeping ovU the
minds of many Of the western people, that
they have, perhaps. in their blinded madness,
killed the goose that layed the golden egg
The demand fOrproduce for the southern mar
ket is daily becoming smaller from the sheer
inability of our people to buy. Now, II we
produce every necessary of life at home as we
certainly can. the dearth in theirs.market may
lead them to extend their inquiries into the
political word To ascertain its causes. And
then. when i, Is discovered that hostile legis-
lation by party drunk with power, has
brought pecurhary troubles upon them, their
instincts, together with good sense, will lead
them 10 cease the exercise OF oppression to-
wards the south and try the virtues of culti-
waiting amity between the two sections.
We hope the press throughout our state will
urge upon our people the good policy, aye, the
absolute necessity Of abandoning their at
tempt to raise large crops OF cotton, and of
dcvoting their efforts to the production of
corn and meat. Whatever misfortune may
oyertake us, let us Mt least have enough to eat.
0To preserve our political equality we plung-
I'd into a civil war; now suppose we follow
the dictates OF Wisdom and en1eavor TO secure
the same object by following the intallible
laws of political economy. Even if our sue
cess should be the same, we viii not by this
peaceful course reap the siile terrible results.
Let the wise tlller of the soil consult his own
good sense and plant corn and look to his
,toch, to his own pecuniary benefit and the
great good Of the commonwealth"