The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-03
Cotton Culture---Its Inducements
and Present Prospects. |
NO. ".
rroR THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRAT.

rFoR THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRAT.
If the preceding articles that have
appeared under the above head have been
fortunate enough to attract attention from
any, the question may be considered peril
nent, when will the author reach the gist
of his argument, when prove, or attempt
to prove, the hypothesis laid down, as a
starting point9 To this effort let us at
once apply ourselves We have already
said the subject was momentous one
appealing as it does, most directly to all,
operating as it surely does, most vitality
not alone on the producers Of cotton, but
on each and every one, no matter what his
avocation or pursuit Hence, the writer
hopes he has not been, may not become
too diAuse in sitting it to the bottom, SO
far as his poor ability may enable him, for
holding the subject up in every light in
which it may be advantageously Vowed
Can then the culture of cotton be profta-
bly, pursued as formerly, with the great
accumulation of restrictions and draw
backs, to which it has become subjected
by congressional legislation-with its
main spring dried up By practical emancipa-
toni We hesitate not to answer by q most
emphatic NO. The immense advantages
Of the most genial climate and prolific soil,
we have already said, are still left us,
amidst the general wreck Of all else, so
essentially pertaining to the production Of
cotton, and, but for the banefnl political
causes operating against tive have also
said what we believe to be true, that the
proper energy and spirit is not lacking
amongst us. No, "there is life in the old
land yet" and were it not ground to at
toms, as "between the upper and neither
mill stone," to crafty hatred and revenge,
that banefal malignant feeling, that now
holds high carnival in the hearts and
minds Of the all powerful majority, ifany-
thing like liberality, or even Justice, was
adopted as the policy towards this down
trodden and fanatically ruled section, the
great cotton interest now PROSTATE and
helpless, would soon, arise like Phoenix,
from its ashes, spread its white wings on
every sea of commerce, and, while remu-
nerating it's producers, would, in cores
ponding degree, prove beneficial to those
who are now carrying on SO destructive
and suicidal a war against it. Can We
coerce our rulers to adopt such wise and
just policy towards our section, the benefits
of which viii enure almost as much to
their own advantage as ours9 If so, hotof
Simply by disseminating the production Of
cotton altogether, for q pefiod-or only
attempting to produce it in such small
quantity, as, by its sale, to supply our
selves with the absolute necessaries Of life.
Let us make the raising Of cotton only q
secondary consideration, by appropriating
every inch Of our land necessary thereto,
in the cultivation of corn and other cereals
whereby we can feed ourselves, our
tlocks and herds, which will supply us
with meat, milk, butter aud cheese. Let
us cultivate all the fruits and vegetables,
many Of which are indigenous in our fertile
SOIL all so easily raised in our genial sunny
cline; these are all DEMONSTRATING, health
improving, absolute luxuries. After APP
plying every necessary energy to fill our
barns and corn cribs, to stock our meat
houses and vegetable bins, let us then en-
deayor to make some little cotton, but only
enough to purchase, thereby, such articles
of comfort and necessity as our own labor
and soil will not yield. Instead Of, as
now, cultivating, or trying to cultivate
eight, ten, or twelve acres of land to each
hand, in cotton--and one, two, or, at most,
three in corn; let us directly reverse the
rule in its application. Let it become the
very first consideration, our chief effort to
cultivate and raise, in ample abundance,
every possible article Of home consumption
for man and beast--our focks will furnish
wool for clothing, and much for sale be-
sides, and every other domestic animal full
fill the office and object Of its creation,
only feed them well and provide for their
other very limited wants, and a thousand
fold will be the reward of labor thus ex.
pended. A bale or two of cotton to the
hand employed in it's cultivation, (while
| with the same labor every thinge else
could be produced) would SO reduce the
quantity that the price Of the article
would be correspondingly enhanced in
value, for it might be made of the finest
quality reared from the very choicest seed
and hence command the highest price fol
such. From its sale alone we might hope
to realize enough to procure some of the
extra comforts to please the taste, CRAFTY
the rational desires of our wives and chill
dren, educate the latter, and also pay far Z
netcspaper. Indeed, and in truth, by adopt
ing and firmly adhering to such course
! even temporarily, VIC would be able t.
live both comfortably and scontsntedly
and far above all, Independently. The wri
ter once heard . very shrewd old neighbo
of Puritan birth and peculiar idiosicrisy
remark, IF you wish to see q Yanke,
vince, touch his pocket" consider Their
lisa world Of truth, as well as wisdom EN-
braced in those few words-so fifty q
aptly spoken, and at no period of our his
tory could they be SO advantageously up
piled as at the present Cut off the suppl,
) of southern cotton, drive the puritan man
ufacturer to Liverpool or some other fol
/ eign mart, to procure his 50 courted, 8
longed for, so absolutely essential suppl
of the raw material to spin and weave int
, his golden web, which we must there pa
for in coin or its equivalent, (wooden nu
megs, and the immense catalogue Of Var
kee notions, the emenation Of his wonder
, FIJI genius not being as highly appreciate
there as elsewhere,) with it's thousan
extra burdens and costs when nrocnre