Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-29
WHY DO WE NOT WEAVE OUR OWN
COTTON?

public attention to the Importance
of the South manufacturing the cot
ton, which her fields so amply pro-
duce.
And yet, the very article which
the South alone, in the United
States, can grow, is sent away to be
manufactured elsewhere, and then
returned to our people, at an en-
HANGED price, for their use.
What reason is there that the
machinery which turns cotton into
finished product should be located
hundreds of miles away from the
place where the raw m aterial is
grown? What commercial or
other necessity is there that a bale
of cotton should be taxed with the
cost of transportation, of carriage,
of warehousing, before it can be
converted into cloth? Why
should the wages expended in man.
ufacturing industry be paid out for
the benefit of community far dis
tant from the region which pro-
duces the stapleP Why should all
the waste Of the manufacturing pros
cesses be contributed to enrich
lands far from the locality where
the crop was planted 4? Why should
fhe price of the finished article be
increased to the consumer by q
multitude of transfers; first, from
the plantation to tho factor, next
to the local Spectator, then to the
Eastern buyer, finally, through half
a dozen other changes Of owner
ship, all involving more or less of
profit and augmentation of price, in
the hands of the manufacturer
Our attention has been attracted
to a clear and able on this subject
in the New Orleans Commercial
Bulletin.
In the hope that it may awaken
and direct the energies of our PEG
pie in this manifest direction of des-
tiny and prosperity, we give it pub
..lication, and invoke its earnest pes
rusal.
Although it alludes somewhat
specially to New Orleans, its tenets
and arguments apply equally to
the whole South. 1t says the South
will become exclusively the pro-
Queer of cotton fabrics in this
country We believe that we shall
have this greatness thrust upon
us'-thrust upon us in spite of ouI
incredulIty and Indifference TO s
great destiny. We make two hum
dred millions of dollars by the pro
duction of cotton. Content with
this sum and the factorage upon it
we sec, with composure, this grea
value exported in its loves
and rawest state. We learT
with the same, equanmity thai
within six months from the dat
of its expectation it has beel
raised to value of eight hundret
millions of dollars. No one in
quires tho process by which thi
great staple has been quadruple'
in its value. 1t has been effecte
by some process unknown to GU
own people. A superior degree Q
intelligence has been employed il
its manipulation. There must b
other hands engaged in effectin
this vast change. Ask an intelli
gent politician for the cause; h
will tell you it is caused by the pre-
tective tariff.
"You naturally inquire if thi
same tariff, whether laid fC
protection or revenue, docs M
protect one part of the Union :
well as another? There can be n
difference. He tells you again tn
labor is cheaper elsewhere than
the South. Few know the fact tn
many thousands of the same ella
which furnish the operatives in co
ton mills elsewhere, are here an u
employed burden upon parents al
poorhouses. Again it Is said tn
machinery and buildings are chea
or elsewhere. Reflection, howevt
shows that machinery costs
more when sent to one place tn
TO another, except the difference
distance. Three thousand spind.
packed TO go TO Iowa, or even I'M
rior Ohio, will cost no more, p
a haps oven less, than if sent into
ALBANIA or Louisiana. Then cottC
manufactured where grown, MI
cost less at the mill than that VIII
sent with from three to six cel
charges per pound to a millin Mas
chusctts or Manchester. The mys
nv increases. Can it be that
people are incompetent to ma
cloth? They ere energetic
intelligent enough to grow all
COTTON that the cloth is made
of A planter conducts all
blowing, planting and picking.
hires. feeds and directs the ha
aud animals. He markets and s
the crop. Talk with him and Sc
he does not comprehend the wi
subject of planting as well as
man can comprehend any SUB
in which he is interested. Ii, Il
there be no apparent physical c.
why "a people having made ST
worth $500, 100000, cannot pert
the work necessary to quadr'
It's value, we need not be surpr
that strangers living at q dist'
should puzzle themselves ov'