Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-03-05
WALHALLA, s. C, FRIDAY, MABCH 5, 1869.

high for labor and put into the ground moth
ing but cotton. When, however, they began
to market the staple, as prices had fallon to a
decidedly low level, it was found that 1t did not
return more than the cost of raising it. Corn
and wheat they had neglected, and it was the
bitter experience they then passed through as
a consequence Of the neglect which showed
them its folly and lei them to a wiser course
the past season. Thus suffering and an iden-
tity of interests brought all classes together
as they never before had been, showing tho
fraeanan if no would eat he must work, and
tha planter that he could not now depend up.
on cxorbitant figures, but must hire his labor
so TINT he could raise his crop at a reasonable
figure, and must give up a portion of his time
AMI land to food products. If this crop Of
cotton had cost as much as the previous ones,
or if the South had raised no food, they would
havo been compelled to force the staple upon
tho market to get themselves out of debt or
to provide the necessities Of life, aud very lit
tie benefit would have resulted to them from
the improved rates. Ga the contrary, the
planter is now clearing over ten cents per
! pound, and the South is making millions OF
dollars, placing them, as we have before sta.
ted, in a position of great strength for the new
year.
We have. then, in tho experience of the
past, an un nist,kablc indication of the course
that should b. plrsu ii ny tho s ruth in order
that the advantages she now possesses may be
mtintIiuad. First. then, it is Of the highest
inport,nce that tho planter should not be led
by present pricas t. G ,ntrant with tho freed
men ut exprhitant rates. Tho crnp must be
raise c:on' mic lily III | cha,pl,, for there IL
NJ $40 II in supp Siny that it can DO mar
kcted ex:ept at y & cure very much below
present qr,tttiors. It muat be remembered
that the prices now obtained act as Il premium
for the cultivation Of cotton throu ,hout the
whole world. L,rs.ly increased supplies are
lix lily, unisr this stimulus, to be raised in
tnli', Egypt, Brnil, anl other pl,ces. and
although the cnnsn nption is steadily increase
Ing , dac;lsl re l~uctinn in the rates mlssSAH&
the result Of this eager competition in H35IY
dl:tinn. W. notice tn It there is 80 No indfS%
! p nition among tho freedmen to contract for
last years. wages This is right where he is
worth more but. for the planter to agree now
To by an ex rbit,nt rate, just becausc cottnn
at the m'nHnt is high, would BE- only to in
sure for both parties disappointment and loss
in fact, to check the prosperity which the
pest year has begun to develop throughout
tho S,nth. Then, again, it is Of the great-
est Importance that ~ much wheat and corn
and provisions be planted az was planted the
past yc,r. 1t is desirable that cotton should
ba the Ira ling, hut n 1t the only, production.
A disregard Of this idea was the error of the
first year after the war, and short brcadstufs
crops in Europe put up the prices Of corn
and whe't to figures which resulted in the
fearful distress Of the winter of 19e7-68.
We think a little caution now on these
points would be of inestimnblo value to the
South for years to como. Not that VIC desire
a small crop Of cotton to DO raised-for We
believe the true interests Of the cotton States
d'nand a large crop and low prices, which
will drive out competition but simply that
the grcatest economy in production DO used,
no chntrict for labor based on present rates
for cotton be made, and u sufficient supply of
fmi products be put in to mako that section
independent Of others for their daily bread.
Tho observance Of these precautions will in
sure y prosperous year for the South, and do
much toward Importing activity to tho iu.
dustries Of the whole oonntry.
CORDIAL RECEPTION or S~oUrHERNERs At
THE NoRrn.-The "Agusta Sentinel is
confident that tho present cotton crop Of
Georgia will yield from $50. 100000 to $40.
100000 in gold. Tho Philadelphia Ledg.
err very frankly and truly says: alt is q
knowledge of this faot Tint prompts the cor.
ds! welcome at tho hands Of our merchants
that Southern buyers are now receiving ~
They are ablo to be cash buyers, and that il
what tho t. ado in the seabo,rd cities most
wsnt'" AS Baltimore, however, just as cor.
daily received tho Southerners before they
hid made this valuable cotton crop as since,
it cannot be doubted that thu aforesaid South
erncrs will cordially 'reciprooase tho same in
tho dayof their recovered prosperity. They
will surely 6ni there a market we'll supplied
with M ,foh That thny rn,v nooJ ,,J AZ L..s