The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-29
DIR PEGEHSBURG LETTER.

Correspondence of tho kichnond Dispatch.
Cotton Necessity of its Immediate kc-
peal Distress oft!c Planters tobacco Grow
cr> more pr0>pcrous-Thc small Farmers
Business. Markets, aud quotations Thanks
giving brilliant Weddius-GcneraI
Lee.
PETERSBURG, November %, 1867.
The subject most deeply interesting to
the cotton grower ut tins time Id the pro-
posed removal Of the tax by Congress.
Bnt il should be repealed without delay,
in order to have the most beneficial effect.
In North Carolina particularly, and doubt
less to Il considerable extent in all the cot
ton States, the planters rented land to the
freedmen to he cultivated on shares. Thou
sands Of these men, therefore, have more
or less cotton for market, and their neceS-
sites compel them to make carly sales.
They are now holding back in the hope
that Congress may afford them relief; in
deed, the commission merchants have adj
vised them to hold on for two weeks longer.
If in that time the tax is not repealed,
there is little hope OF anything being done
before the end of the year, beyond which
there can be no delay. That is the time
for final settlement between landlord and
tenant; and if either intends to pay the
commission merchant for advances and
supplies, all further delay is precluded.
If we could make ourselves be heard ny
Congress, we would, in behalf OF our lhi-
povcrshed community, urge the lmnieo'a'o
repeal of this tax without the loss OF 4 SIN
Gle dav. Let the bill be put on It's passage
disconnected from any other SUBJECT. II
permitted TO be mixed up with other reve-
nue matters elaborate and animated DIS
rnss;ons viii inevitably follow, and even II
the t,y shon)d be finally taken oil, those
to uLon, Il would now afford substantial
relief will derive no benefit from it.
r must be obvious TO every person OF
tho least experience or observation that no
man can afford to cultivate cotton at pre-
ran, nrices with duty of two and half
ccnts ner pound. 1t is doubtful whether
there is any profit in it without the duty ;
INIT when it is subject to a deduction OF
onc-sixth part Of the market value, it is no
longer matter of doubt. Retain the duty,
and the culture OF cotton in the southern
States must necessarily be abandoned un-
less there should be Il material advance in
price, of which there is now no prospect
whatever.
The prospects of the tobacco planter are
much more tlatterng than those of the
cotton planter. There has been no decline
in price, nor is it probable there will be,
since the demand seldom fails to be equal
to the supply. The market is, indeed, IA
Their inactive now, because this is not the
season for bringing In the higher grades ;
but as soon as planters are ready to move
the crop forward they will find it TO be
sought after with as much avidity as ever
As far as l can learn from the country,
those farmers and planters shave been most
successful who have employed the tewest
laborcrs. There is numerous class who
formerly owned few or no slaves, and who
were accustomed to work themselves. 1t
is TO this class | specially refer. Ii their
crops fail they are not involved in expense
and what they reap, whether much or lit
tie, is SO much gain.
Business has been tolerably active du-
ring the week, aud II is thought that
money matters are somewhat easier. In
the main articles Of trade the ruling OF
the market may be given as follows:
Cotton lcStcrday forenoon sales were
made at 10 " 10 lGc. but adviccs of d fur
Their decliuc were subsequently received
which suspended farther transactions. To-
DAY being thanksgiving day there have
been no operations.
1o1aoco.1The little that is coming in is
mostly in loose parcels, aud sells 81 FIJI
prices. Several Of the factories hav.
closed Tor the winter, and 10y the end q
The year all will suspend until early spring
When.-Thc market quiet. Fair t,
ch0ice white, 81 80 to 50 GO fair to choice
red, So to S2.35
f~r.-- Market steady at $l2 to Sl2 3
Tor superlins; $i5 10 sll for extra SIS t
SIG for family.
Co'~.-Old, sl.l2I4to Sis; new, IS t.
&C.
Bacon.-Sapply good and prices some
what lower. Virginia hoground, II t,
&c.,. hams and sides, IS TO zoe. wester,
shoulders, IA y TO l5c. sides, 1917 to lie
Butl1.-Dcmand good. Mountain, 2