Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-30
The Growth OF Cotton.

The Importance Of the South and its
prosperity previous to the war was not
owing to the fact alone that she possessed
eminent statesmen-men whose lofty ana
mighty intellects carved for them renoWn
and covered their section with honor-but
was principally due to the fact Of the Pecu-
liar adaptation Of its climate to the growth
Of cotton, that valuable product, which, 1t
was assumed, gave US such influence and I'M
portance, enhancing Our prosperity and N
creasing the wealth of The land. 50 long
as the South continued a cotton-growlnG
section, or at least so long as she was ena-
bled TO supply the world with tins staple,
| her prosperity was certain. As We are at pre-
sent situated, although q desire to promote
the growth and culture of cotton exists, and
efforts in this respect are not wanting, the
more important question OF raising grain
wherewith to supply our most pressing
wants. engages the attention o. the people.
Then, too, our labor system is not such as
to restore public confidence and bring to
our section that capital which is wanting to
|
extensive culture of our cotton lands. Not
only is the South affected by this situation
of affairs, but the prosperity OF the whole
country is retarded.
To really restore prosperity to the COM
try, then, the policy of Congress must be
so changed that the industry OF this section
shall be revived by re-establishing public
} confidence. So long as the Southern PEG
ple raise nothing but the means Of snbsls-
tence, they can be Of no practical account
: in the political economy of the country.
great clamor is made 10y the Radical Pro
, itectionists about diversity Of occupation as
being the means of improving the condl
ton Of the people; but all their efforts ten'
: to keep capital out Of the South, and, by
destroying public confidence, retard ans
prevent the culture of the one staple which
is to restore at once their prosperity anI
that of the whole country. Of this on'
= fact We may rest assured. So long as thu
g South does not produce full cotton crops
> which is impossible while the presen
: condition Of uncertainty, poverty ami
4 labor continues, that harmony of relation
between the different sections, the pledg
u of solid and enduring prosperity, canno
be restored, nor it's own status, as yer.
1 essential part of the Union, be recovered
S But Congress has steadily done all
J. could to hinder and retard the growth {
J. cotton by keeping the South in such
: state of unsettlement as to prevent capita
o from coming to aid in raising it; by in
o posing tax of three cents per pound o
all of this staple exported, and special ia
q on the sales of the producer ; and by SEND
l. ing partizan emissaries all ever the South
act as drill sergeants in collecting negr
- party and perfecting ruinous organlz'
h ton, when the negro requires nothing
2, much as to be taught the importance {
. our critical condition, and the necessity {
=, "a giving stability to labor and patient, stead
ID industry Truly, as a leading paper in til
!. !. North remarks, ''the injection of partiza
p virus into the whole system OF labor in tn
= section is to tell more lamentable stol
ID than the country just now apprehends
Te What sight does our rich, fertile Sout