Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-03-27
Do not Run CRAY Over Cotton.

Phoeni1. Wo admire and endorse it; and, as
exbortcd by the Phoenir, cndeavor to keep the
subject before our planters end farmers:
"'Why should The planters of the South raise
cotton, with population starving around them,
to supply the factories of New England or foreign
markets? The Government tax is heavy-about
one-iifth Of the former price of the staple; the
proceeds must be spent to buy bread and meat from
he West, and much Of the money received is
spent on the productions Of the looms Of Now
England, enhanced, us their real value is, by
high bounty tariffs and unjustiiisblc profits.
Surely our people will gee tho folly Of this
suicidal policy of keeping the mills of Lowell
running full time when thousands at home are
lacking bread. If the South did not supply the
cotton, that monster monopoly of cotton manu-
fac;ures in New England, secured and fostcrcl by
unjust Legislation against every other sec'ion Of
the country, woull be stricken down. We would
get cheaper goods from England and elsewhere,
while we would be laying the foundations of home
manufactures throughout the whole South These
matters should be carefully considered, and the
dictates of common sense, prudence and patriot
ism prevail over old habits and prejudiccs. Lst
cotron slide for one year ut least, production
for export, and we have little doubt but the result
will prove clearly that the wants and interests
of our section have been vastly benefited, and
that new policy will be inauguratcd in the ag
r;cultural Of the Guli States of the South.
"But, besides the necessity Of such change an
general principles Mt this time, and the peculiar
circumstances in which the people Of the South
arc politically placed, there s still the greater
incentive-tbo higher duty-to raise bread for
the people. Another year Of want and suffering
will almost dcciL.ate the Southern population,
nnd they will only ha:a to emigratc to more
favored sections Of the cou try, o1-starve. We
trust that tn: matter will he ,gptnually kept just
now befOr. eur planters and fa 'mers by our con-
temporar;es of the press in evey S'.lte, cnnnty
and district in the South, go thav If the dire re-
suits "hich must follow the old system should
come upsn US, the press will be clear of any blame
in the prcmses."
The general estimate of last years cotton crop
was, we believe about million and half bales.
If the South had mado but half this, aId had
consumed half of that in her own factories, she
would be more appreciated than she NOW Is.
Things are ripenins, and if the South may but
riH it, her situation financially and politically,
may yet bo endured. For months past, the press
If the South has urgently advised our planters
not to repcai the unwise experiment of the past
year. And we too must entreat them. for their
own sakcs sul for the sake Of their outraged sec
,ion, to plant bat half the cotton thia year they
planted last wo say to them, again, that IL they
yratsc butts half million baIcs these will bring them
as much money as million, becauso they will
get double price for it. Then their plain path OF
duty is first to plant ms much land in corn, wheat,
OATS potatoes, onions and other articles Of food
will last them for two years. Get one year ahead
,oiM fooo. Have grasses and fruits aud vegcta
bles in abundance. The man who has m abun-
dance Of grain aad hay and oats, nced never buy
meat from the Northwest. Having these products,
he will, as surely as the sun rises and .ets, have
hogs, cattle, horses, mules, sheep and poultry.
We buy and consume vast quantities of food
which comes altogether from tho North and North
west. Much Of this-yery much of it-our peo-
pie might themselves produce. Tac South has
been dependent long enough Our people should
see this and wake up There should be general
resolve throughout the South, to raise this year,
and forever in future, all the food necessary for
our people. To this end, it ia evident thnt more
extensive grain crops must be planted than ever
before Let the Southern people do this and we
are safe. We can then defy the malce Of all
RadicaIdom. We have the soil and the climate.
Let us make usc Of them as sensible men. Let
us first feel our selves abundanty, and drive away
want from every door. Let that be our first duty.
Then let tho balance of our labor he given to
raising moderate cotton crop. we need many
things which we can not supply from our own
region. Lotus raise cotton enough to purchase ouch
necessares as We must have and cannot ourselves
producc-such as sugar, coffee, tea, woolens, &c,
&c. Let us also buy machinery to spin and weave
our cotton. A small crop will thus pay us more
than large one. And we shall set Sumner and
Stevens, and Spraguc, the Rhode Island Calico
Factory Senator, to thinking. Without cotton
this Union becomes third rate power. Commerce.
has made it what it is and cotton has fed COM
mcrcc. Nothing has SO filled its sails as the
white lint gathered from the fields Of the South
Cotton is i political as we'll as u financial lever.
Let us use it as statesmen. Plant full, very full
crop of grains and roots, and SOW nj abundance
of grass seeds. Raise cattle, and hogs, and sheep,
and horses, and mules. Work for your homes
and your own people this year; but plant not
near so much cotton. Twill bring New England
to her senses, and win for Us justice.
NAr SHAKESPEARE SAID, "THRow PHYSIc I'd
THE Doas."--Ths will do very well when you arc
not aick, but whom you are, it is we'll to know
where genuine physic can be had we therefore