Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-26
A MEMORIAL.

A memorial to the Patrons of Husbandrv
in the Cotton States was also presented
and unanimously adopted 1t is an arpu.
ment in favor of mixed husbandry in the
South, instead of expanding the energies
of the people in raising single crop. Il
says:
During the past seven years our cotton fields
have added to the wealth of the world 81 600.
600, 900, and caused prosperity to smile upon
every one who has handled our crops, save
those who struggled for their production. An.
nually the energies of the cotton-planters
have been exhausted in attempting to produce
max mum crop of a single staple, whilst
quite as frequently he has reduced his means
In supplying his necessary wants system
results must be radically wrong, and il per-
sisted in will lead to bankruptcy and ruin
No people can ever become prosperous who
are not self-sustaining. Our fertile soil, ex-
haustless mineral wealth. abundant water
power, and genial, salubrious climate avail
us nothing il annually we expend millions for
subsistence. 1t Is generally considered that
homegrown bread is cheaper than purchased
supplies, aul the observation Of every planter
is that those Southern farmers who live with
i'm themselves are more independent and less
encountered with debt than those who have
relied solely upon the cotton crop. Were it
otherwise 1t is hazardous for any people to
which are necessary for their daily consump-
ton.
1t then refers to famine, which more
than once occurred in India, owing to the
efforts of the people to grow cotton to the
exclusion of breadstuffs, and adds:
During the past year sections of Iowa, Min
nesota and Dakota have been invaded by
grasshoppers, which destroyed every yestige
of vegetation. Imagine your condition should
similar invasion become general in the
Northwest. Coupled with this idea, the total
failure of cotton crop, either from the worm,
from drought, or any other unavoidable cause,
improbable as such visitation may appear,
have we the power to prevent them, and is it
wise to subject ourselves to the possibility of
becoming the victims of such calamities? Our
wisest and safest policy is as far as practicable,
to produce at home our necessary supplies.
Is there farm in the South upon which this
cannot be done, and at the same time produce
an average cotton crop?
What is the net result of the farmers an
nual labors? We believe there are annually
Loco, 900 bales of cotton produces upon South
ern soil; but what proportion of this vast
amount is retained to indicate our prosperity?
One-half of it is expended for necessary
supplies, whilst the remainder is divided be-
tween labor and taxes. Hence, the cost OF
production has exceeded the value of the
article produced. Shall this policy continue?
Extensive cotton crops have evinced our unity
of purpose and entailed poverty upon us, and
equally uniform adhesion to mixed husbandry
would secure our recuperation. Cotton is
necessity, and the extent of that necessity can
be calculated with exactness. II $780, 600
bales are grown, they will be consumed before
another crop can be gathered. and remunera-
tive market price will be sustained by the
consequent demand. If 1850, 900 bales are
grown the large marginal excess will control
and depress the market.
Alternatives for success are numerous, but
we need only rely upon the single one OF CO.
operating in the determination to subsist at
home. With this end attained, there is no
reason why we should not be the happiest,
most independent and prosperous people on
earth
The memorial is signed by the Masters
of State Oranges of South and North
Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennes-
see, and was not only heartily approved
by the Committee on Resolutions, but in
dorsed by every member of the National
Grange.