The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-04
] \, D ).
Wednesday Morning, Sept. 4. 1857.
Cotton-Ten months in Brazil.


Almost in every country, as well as
in this, general attention is being di-
-o,eted, with much interest, to the
Southern States, watching the efforts
being made for the restoration of the
culture OF cotton to its former pros
porous status. A work has recently
been published, entitled "Ten
Months in Brazil" by Captain Cod
snan, in which they are some remarks
: which bear upon this subject. The
aathor takes sensible view of the
subject, and says that wherever in
the world cotton can be grown, its
cultivation has received an impetus
from the late American civil war.
Various nations have begun to COM
pete for the cheapest production
Of this absolutely necessary staple,
and he says none have fairer chance
of success in building their fortunes
upon our ruins than Brazil, if her
people can display sufficient energy.
Ia that country. the most sanguine
planter scarcely hoped to do more
than to make large profits while the
war continued; but they now see an
unlimited future of prosperity before
them. They are quite sure that the
labor system of the Southern States
viii be much more expensive than
heretofore, and that their climate,
even with free labor, which all antici-
gate eventually, will give them every
advantage over us. AS evidence of
She truth of what he says, he gives us
She following paragraph:
<For example, in the province of
San Paulo, of which Santos is the
seaport, there is no winter, properly
so-called, although it is within the
Limits of the Southern temperate
zone. Something is produced from
the soil in alternate crops throughout
the year, and there are generally two
orops of cotton annually, or, at least,
three crops in two years. There is
NO season in which the laborer need
remain idle. He can always be pro-
ducing something for his employer
or for himself. In either case, it is
the same. for it enters into the cost
of raising cotton, as the price of re-
munerative labor. Nor, like the
Southern negro, whose services can
mot be made available in the winter,
does the laborer here require warm
clothing, if any at all, for clothing is
q luxury INDUCED in only on Sundays
and holidays. Slave labor, or free
labor, is, then, undeniably cheaper
here. Moreover, the expense of cul-
tivation is infinitely less with the
proper tools, of which the Brazilians
are so slow to learn the use. Cotton
with us is planted yearly. Here the
plants last from five to eleven years
without,renewal."
These are most extraordinary nd
vantages which the people of Brazil
haze, we presume, over any other
cotton-growing country. In discuss
ing the subject, the writer takes the
ground hat, at this time, with our
transitions of labor systems, it is esti-
mated that cotton cannot he raised
FOR less than twenty cents per pound.
We think the writer, in this estimate,
looks upon the subject rather
gioomily, and therefore places the
cost of cultivation at too high figure;
but yet it is doubtful, even with our
labor system organized, whether it
can be raised for less than ten cents
per pound. In the meantime, other
countries will get an advantageous
start, and if the Government CONT
nues the tax upon the production of
cotton in these States, it will aid and
stimulate its growth abroad.
This subject we conceive to be
enainently worthy of the grave con-
sideration of the planters of the
South. Their soil and climate, for
the production of the staple, COM
bined with a long experience, we fully
believe, will over-balance the adyan-
tages other countries possess. They
ought to recognize the fact that they
must not Weld tn the obstacles which