Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-02-26
The National Grange.


was adopted:
Imploring the continued assistance of
DivinesMaster to guideus in our work. our
we here pledge ourselves TO faithful, and
harmonious labor for. all future time to
return by our united efforts to the wisdom
justice, fraternity aud political views Of
our forefathers. 'aeaf' , ~ 81
A memorial to the Patrons Of Husban-
dry in the cotton States was also presen.
ted, and unanimously adopted. It is m
argument i'll favor of mixed h.,sbandry
in the South. instead of cxpcnding the
energies of the people raising single,
crop. Itsays:
"During the past seven years, our cot
ton fields have added to the wealth of
the world s2,Ooe.OOO,OOO, and caused
prosperity to smile upon every one who
has handled our crops, save those who
struggled for its production. Anr aally
the energies Of the cotton planter have
been exhausted in attemptingto produce
maximum crop ola single staple, whilst
quite as frequently he has reduced his
means in supplying his necessary wants.
Asystem based upon such policy and
producing such results must be radically,
wrong, and, if presisted in, will lead to
bankruptcy and ruin.
mo people can ever become prosper
GUS who are not selfsustaining. Our
fertile soil, cxhaustless mineral wealth,
abundant water power and general salub-
rious climate avail us nothing ifannually
we expend millions for subsistence. It is
generally conceded thai homegrown
bread is cheaper than purchased supplies
and the observation of every plan,er is
that those Southern farmers who live
within themselves are more independent
and less incumbercd With debt than those
who have relied solely upon the cotton
crop. Were it otherwise, it is hazardous
for any people to rely upon others for
u supply of those articles which are neces-
sary for their daily consumption"
1t then refers to the famine which
more than once has occurred in India,
owing to the efforts ofthc people to grow
cotton to the exclusion of brcadstutfs.
and adds: 81 M
During the past year. portions Iowa,
Minnesota and Dakota have been invaded
by grasshoppcrs, which destroyed every
vestige of vegetation Imagine your
condition, should similar invasion be-
como general i'll the Northeast, and
coupled with this idea, the total future
ofthe cotton crop, either from worm,
drouth, or any other unavoidable cause,
Improbable as such visitations may APP
pear, have we the power to prevent them?
And is it wise to subject ourselves to the
possibility of becoming the victims ofsuch
calamities? Our wisest, and safest policy
is as far rs practicable to produce at
home our necessary supplies. 7
rs there farm in the South upon
which this cannot be done, and at the
same time produce an average cotton
crop, as the net results Of the farmers
annual labor? We believe there is not.
Annually 100000 bales of cotton are
produced npon Southern soil; but WHAT pro
portion of this vast amount is returned to
indicate our prosperity? One. half ofit is
expended for necessary supplies, whilst
the remainder is divided between labor
and taxes; hence the cost Of production
has exceeded the value of the article
produced. Shall this continue? Exten-
sivc cotton crops have cvinccd our unity
ofpurposc. and entailcd poverty upon us.
An equally uniform adhesion tomixcd
husbandry wouldsccure our recuperation.
Cotton is necessity, and the extent Of
necessity can be calculated with exact
ness. 3,5OO,OOO bales arc grown, they
will be consumed before any other crop
can be gathered, and a remunerative
market price will be sustained by the
consequent demand. If4,5OO,O0O bales
are grown. the large marginal excess will
controland deprcss the market. The
alternatives for success IS arc numerous, but