The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-06
HOME PRODUCTIONS.
Cotton the Curse Of the Southern
States.
F. pinksrd in the New Orleans Times


planters fiom straihing every nerve to
raise large cotton-crops for the enriching
of Northern and European Spectators and
manufacturers.-( Georgia paper.
The incidents of the current cotton sea-
son have proven to the satisfaction OF eve
ry reasoning planter the absolute truth OF
a theory which many of them were pre-
yiously inclined to doubt, to-wit: That II
is the true policy of the Cotton States to be
selfsustaining, to raise their own bread
stuffs and provisions and lessen the pro
duction of cotton. / scarce need say that
the almost daily vacillation in prices
throughout this season, in conformity ntn
the changing estimates of the last crop, led
to this tardy conviction.
While few will dispute the fact that q
concert of action between all cotton plan
tiers, promotive of diversion OF labor from
the production of cotton to that OF provis'
ions would result in important advantages
to all, yet is this unity considered 50 I'M
practicable that very few have reflected Sc
riously on the magnitude OF the interests
involved. If the public mind can be made
familiar with the almost incalculabIe ex-
tent of the benefits that would flow from .
systematic and uniform prosecution OF this
plan. it does seem certain that some means
would be devised for securing the cooper
alton which is alone necessary for sue
cess.
To exhibit these advantages in all their
ramifcations would require volume, but
the main features are so prominent that II
is confidently believed enough can be
shown and proven in the first number to
satisfy ali unprejudiced minds Of the grave
importance of the Subject and elicit pa
tient hearing of what will follow.
The more conden sed the proofs in this
Introductory appeal to the people Of the
cotton States the better, promising that
minute calculations and statistic can be
introduced in the further discussion OF this
subject. :,
As there are no practical proofs Of the
working of the plan by cooperation, can
think of no better means OF lliustratloh
than that afforded BY the vicissitudes OF the
seasons in contrasting the two last crops,
one of which yielded one-third less cotton
than the other, and yet afforded De plan
tiers larger returns than the ldrg r crop:
Now. none will deny that a small yield
could have been assured last year, OF any
preceding year, or any year to come, Dy the
united action Of all cotton planters in d.
yerting a uniform per centage of acreage
and labor from cotton to other productions
and pursuits. ul
| Let us now compare the two modes o
reduction and estimate the advantages o.
! the cooperative system over that OF the vi
cissitudes Of the season. In the first place
be IL remembered that one-half of the las
! short crop was sold at low figures before \
was known that there would be any serious
! reduction in quantity. This would no
| have been the case under the co-operativ'
system, of which all dealers would be full,
| cognizant. II will be safe to say that thi
knowledge would have added an averag'
of three cents per pound on three millloI
bales. of four hundred weight each, making
the handsome gain of $50, ,000, 600; to thi
add the value of the home productions an
manufactures, which a proper diversion o
acreage and labor, would save to the COZ
ton States s. (; ,000, 900; say total OF $iOo
OOG 900. ........ -,l ,.-l.
One hundred million dollars surplus f,
the cotton States derivable by each year
4 application of the home production theor
would not be a very large sum compare
with the extravagance OF tho recent Souti
ern legislation, but is an enormous sum
wisely used in improving our country by
million of recipients, whose interest
, would be to compete with each other IN eI
hancing the value Of ali properties and II
, terests. Let us see what such annu'
surplus would accomplish in very fe
, years.
! |. The first year would suffice to perfe'
a levee and drainage system capable
protecting country and cities, from owe
fows and stagnant accunulations, and r
deem the swamp lands throughout the CO
!, ton States. -.
2. The second year would establis
, manufactures that would attract lars
accession of valuable labor, and by su
plying our people with home fabrics won
2 stop another drain on our resources whit
t has almost eQualed that of our provision
a 3. The third year would FIJI our wal
a houses with direct importations, enri'
e our merchants, and cheapen all articles
e consumers.
b 4. The fourth year would free us fro
our vassalage to New York for exchange
loans. capital in stock, and hundred OF
A er tributes which nothing but our power
4 could ever have excused.
y 8. The filth year would endow collegs
!, schools and asyIums, and adorn our cou
try with public and pri, ate edifices for OF
ment and utility; and connect all WI
, each other by net work Of railroads.
The sixth year would reclaim from
> Louis and other Western cities the trade
y y have furnished them the means OF deprl
y ing us of, and renew commercial relaiio
!. with our sister cities of Charleston, Sava
u nan and other Atlantic and Gulf ports
u And thenceforth these elements OF pr
7 7 perity would multiply and propagate
II unien with each other in the ratio OF o
= hundred to one compared with the previo
g slow progress. And the amalgamati
n would produce offspring Of constantly
Df creasing fertility and vigor. The exha'
g. ton of soil and the decay visible in all 9
interests; caused by the inbreeding In
is may use the term] Of cotton with cotton
er many generations, would be succeeded
r / . renewed fertility of lands, which folio
ii the rotation of crops, and constantly
creasing activity in business consequent
n the multiplied branches thereof, each Sc
o- ing to increase the productiveness OF
te balance.
n In exemplifying theories the advoca
If generally exaggerate, and make extta
TO rant statements that retard conviction,
sd f would be difficult to over-estlmate
- wealth that would accumulate in the Sot
III ern States by adopting the plan we
ed discussing. The hundred millions per
mum saved by home productions would
only as seeds TO the harvest that would
" low. Lands that are now being surrent
"a cd for taxes would bring hundred doll
ea ner acre in a few years. The dividends
IN IN stocks zould be transferred from alien
~ home rockets. The interest on loans,
~, profits on importations, the increase
-" rents, the decrease in taxes, and hundr
of other advantages. And all these VIC
of he traceable to the wealth that would
we taiuly and suddenly flow from home
ay ductions and increased prices OF cot
I'D The compounding of large interests on
OIL riyen capital, but feebly illustrates
be multiplicity of favorable compounds
nd would multiply and increase by and thro
ch each other in the inception ana gro~u
in the plan we are discussing .sra
er- The following table, containing are re
ats spectiye view Of cotton prices from lSz
pg 1861 will show the extreme low flg'
which generally prevailed. undoubtedly
casioued by over production. 1he Z
represents New York prices.
of COMPARATIVE PRICES OF COTTON.
art The New York Journal Of Commerce
m. M compiled the following interesting tabl'
= - yow..t Hishest. Lowest. Hie