The Van Buren press., 1871-05-09
BY HON. Z. sTEADMAN, OF NEWTON COUNTY.

tSOUtH UlNH our tfsH lstWttS.
BY HON. L. sTEADMAN, OF NEWTON COUNTY
This is question of prime import
ance. The present and future prosperi
ty of the South demands its soluton.-
Through the free use of fertilizers, oui
cotton supply begins to exceed the de
mand; and, as the Legitimate result, th'
profits Of planting are on the wane. Th'
high price Of labor, the heavy outlay fo
fertilizers, with the low price of cotton
sit on his breast like a ightmare anC
disturbs the farmers s.sn,hors. Tn,
peace OF Europe will not bring the re
lief 1t is not the tread Of hostile armies
that appreciably lowers the price of cot
ton The opening, compared with the
ruling price, may be merely normal. II
connot be shown that war causes the
present depression, that 'twere folly to
expect peace to produce a rebound, Eng
land and America, the great cotton man
ufacturing nations, are still pursuing
their peaceful avocations. and will now
doubtless increase their force, run day
and night, and thus, by their greater ef.
forts, consume what would otherwise
have been manufactured, by the bellig,
erents.
But, to whatever extent Olr present
depression may be traceabiy TO Europe
an connections, one thlas must be pat
ent to every thoughtful mind, viz; that
our present application of labor is des'
country. SO long as the great operative
force Of the South is engaged in cotton
raising, on the simple principle of sup
ply and demand, the price must be low.
Were only one.half raised the planter
would receive heavier return than he
now realizes for the whole.
This fact, personiied, with smiling
face invites us to the consideration OF
the practcability and pro6tableness OF
manufacturing our cotton crop at home.
First, that manufacturing is practica.
bic at the South, will appear from a sim.
pie statement Of facts. Our waterfalls
are numerous, powerful and never tail.
ing; our climate moist and salubrious ;
building materials abundant; labor never
wanting, for demand always creates sup
ply; while, to crown all, the raw mate.
rial is grown on every side. Nor is
capital wanting. Railroads are built,
firms established, houses er
ected and farms cultivated These en-,
terprises require capital, and show that
where there is will there is a way In
deed, it is not too much to say that our
facilities for manufacturing are unrival
ed To us belongs the great cotton
growing belt Of the world. Why not,
then, like other nations, reap the full
advantage of our favored position p
Why not prepare our staple for use, as
we'll as commence its manufacture at the
gin? Why not create among ourselves
the entire wealth of which the raw mate
rial is susceptible? In sending our sta
pie abroad and buying it back in fabrics,
of all civilized nations we stand alone
Are not Prus sia and Ireland as famous
for their linen fabrics and bleach greens
as for their faxen fields? They grow
the flax and export it only when white
as the lily and ready for use. In their
tapping rooms the linen receives the fin
ishing touch. Does England export her
wool? No, only in the form of the
most profitable cloth. Does Great
Britain export anything beneath or above
her soil until its fullest value has been
Will the farmer sell his wheat
to the miller to buy it back in -four
No; but the Southern planter sells his
cotton AT fifteen cents per pound, and
buys it back at a dollar; and in this way
pass from the South to enrich
other sections. Such action is but the
enforcement Of real and natural rela
tons and, being continued, will impov.
erish any land.
What is to be done to arrest the grow.
ing evil? And how shall our waste
places be built up? Foreigners refuse
to avail themselves of our great natural
advantages because of the heavy per
cent payable to the Federal government
in the shape of tariff dues on their ma
chaery They naturally feel disinclned
to make investments and introduce skill
ed labor where equal privileges are not
accorded them with the citizens Of the
country to be benefited by their improve
ments. Northern capitalists. especially
the lady portion) refuse to make invest
ments aud settle among us upon the
ground that those not to the manor
horn are ostracised in Southern socie.
ty.
Baseess as is the allegation, nevcrthe.
less this deep rooted misapprehension
will serve as an eflectua barrier to
Northern emigration, especially 50 long
as we continue to send them our hard
for their gewgaws, traps and
notions.
The work Of manufacture devolves up
on ourselves we must put our own
shoulders to the wheel-develop our
own resources, erect factories, and de.
to the world the profitable
ness Of selling goods instead Of cotton
This is done, and the Sonth will stand
out acknowledged master of the situa.
ton. Manufacturing our own cotton,
our own fabrics, and control
ling our own feecy staple within our
own limits, will furnish new and po.
tent argument in behalf of foreign in
vestment and Northern emigration
Northern and foreign capitalist will be
forced either to avail themselves of our
suncrior facilities for manufacturing nur
poses, or in n large measure surrender
the business to the people of the South,
as no nation or people, il we avail our