The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-11
GOLD FOR COTTON.
The Other Side or the Question.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEws

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
| Your invitstion to all who wish to discuss
the "Gold for Cotton" doctrine started by the
Mobile Boagd of Trade, has induced me to offer
some suggestions upon the subject, trusting it
may have some influence with regard to our
situation and 10y tne foundation OF permanent
prosperity.
Your able correspondent "R" looks only to
one sldesef the. question. colored to suit his
OF disaPpointment and distrust, perhaps from
the failure Of some pet scheme which may
have been impra ctcable from the outset,
founded upon the obsolete doctrine that SCOT
ton is K,na," wherein moro Of our trouble may
be traced than to any other belief, the. faith
| in which. trust, has become entirely exploded
First, the wants OF a country consists in en-
ployment for all OF it's inhabitants devoted to
the supply Of such necessaries as are required
FOR local consumption. and the surplus of such
productions is wealth. Cotton is produced in
South Car )lina to the exclusion of nearly every
article Of necessity for domestic uses, those
being manufactured in other States where the
value OF population is appreciated, and draw
ing from the cotton producing region all or
nearly 80 OF the wealth which should. and
would, stop at home if a proper system
OF manufactures were opened and patronized.
There is as much wealth in o dollar earned bv
poor man making boots, shoes, hats, cloth
ing and any other article which the grower of
cotton consumes, as there is in cotton sold for
gold, and the cotton grower ought to consider
That II be sells his cotton tor gold he will have
20 pay gold for supplies. as he will have no
o6ner medium OF exchange; and to keep his
gold at home his supplies must be produced at
nome. or there will be but little gold left out of
tne one hui hundred and eiguty millions OF dollars
from this kind of reasoning draw the follow.
ing conclusion: Thet all Of our transactIons
at first hands should be made in the currency
OF the country, and il any one has more Of
greenodcks than to pay his debts, it should be
invested to open such avenues of employment
for the people as will enable them to produce
such articles as are wanted in their immediate
viclnlty, and thus pave the way for that inde-
Pendence which "R" 80 much desires. But
just so Long as the white eople are compelled
to leave their homes for want Of employment
SO So long win the cotton crop be required to pay
tr1es are patronized. Wealth is thesurpius
after local wants are satisfied, and that wealth
CANNOT accumulate in community unless
Oil sli classes are employed about something
either to edrn enoue for their subsistence or be
supported by pubic or private charity, living
IN q community without work, a pauper, sup
ported ported by those who do work. 1t ought to be
eVldent to those who have tho means that it is
Tor their interest and protection to use those
means to encourage the opening of avenues Of
employment for every branch of industry,
wmere me artloles manufaotured 60 for local
GERS OF wealth, tightening taxation, and forming
a basis upon which to build financial prosperity.
Ihere Is at the present time white idle iabor
enough IN the city Of Charlest n to manufac-
ture all OF the agricultural implements used in
the State, together with all the clothing, boots,
shoes, hats, &C., requisite for the trade of the
entire section OF coun .ry about us; and yet III
or OF these articles are manufactured opAC of the
ssasa l4 aaa Is Y aEs esRpells give our goa
cotton for them, aneaS aSsay freights, insurance
and commission. all of'which comes out Of our
consumers, whilst the lumber and other mate
rails are at our own doors, and the labor COM
pelled to seek that employment elsewhere
ployments to the extent OF supplying local
necessities, and the employment Of all the cit-
izens ofa country in useful business. is a law Of
economy which cannot be violated witho It
suffering the penalty. Pro Bono PUBL1co.