Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-19

prosperity TO come upon us, to which We
srs now Strangers
The system Of cotton planting which
white men can engage in, that Is, ON
small farms, is the only one that ever Will
be profitable in the South. But will that
system ever be adopted whilst the pres
ent notion of planting all the land they
possibly can ia cotton, prevails among
planters and farmers?
The policy OF hiring labOrers 10 work
on large plantations has , tendency TO
discourage immigration. The men who
come here desire 10 have farms OF their
own, OF when they work as hired labor
ers they would prefer doing so on small
farms, on which the owners themselves
are lsborers. II our large plantations
could be divided into small farms. and
either sold or leased on favorable terms
to immigrants We believe many more az
them would settle among us and bscOms
permanent citizens, adding pOlitibat
EtnenEth - wall as wealth 1otlte=ss9sfnsEgs =.
Our landowners would realize larger
profits than they now do by attempting
20 keep up the old plantation system
The advantages OF that old system have
passed away, and the sooner we abandon
the system itself the quicker will the
country recover. When intelligent far
msrs from the North or from Europe set
tie in this country and get possession,
whether as owners or tenants, they will
cultivate the land in that which will be
the most remuneratiEe as well Is the most
agreeable.
When men have large quantities of
land planted in cotton, they have no time
to make any improvement ia their lands,
their stock or their houses. Everything
is devoted to this one crop, which re-
quires the whole year every ything else is
neglected and goes to ruin. The eOun-
try presents a desolate and worn out APP
Pearance not at all inviting to immi-
grants, who do not know that il j. not
the fault of the country, but OF a missra-
bly, defective system.
Pulling fodder and picking cotton are
done during the most unhealthy portion
of the year. Exposure TO the hot suns
and morning deWs tend TO increase mala-
riOus diseases, such as chills and fever;
not only so, but this sickness iEterferes
very much with the gathering Of cotton
The corn, grain and hay crops may be
sOwn and harvested before the sickly sea-
son commences, and if small crops of cot
ton we're planted, they might be gather
ed with but little exposure. In this way
the health Of the country would be ma
tsrially Improved.
Let us wisely use the labor we now
our immediate wants, in making our
selves independent and self-sustaining,
and then we will be prosperous, even
without immigration, and we will also
be much more likely 10 invite il than rs
things are now. Our remedy is greatly
in our own hands. Have We the wisdom
and self-deRial to tOrego immediate gain,
or what we think immediate gain, for the
sake of future good:
One million of bales of cotton raised
and manufactured in the South, would
do more TO increase its wealth and pow
er, than fOur millions of bales made and
sent abroad to be manufactured in other
countries.
Another difficulty in the way of immi-
grafton is the fear on the part Of immi-
grants that the South will be under ne
gro rule.
1t is not my province to interfere with
political matters, nor do intend TO do so
except in so far as they have bearing
upon industrial pursuits 1 consider the
of the material resources of
the Southern country as the best means
OF relieving us from political evils As a
or section of country, becomes
rich and strong and able so rely upon it.
self for support in the same proportion
that country becomes able to protect its
political rights, quietly and peaceably, |
but very efficiently. Many in the South /
are opposed to the political rights, or ra- l
rher privileges, which have been bestON- |
ed upon the negroes by the United States 1
Whether il was wise in I
that government to have bestowed upon /
the black race all the rights and priyi- 1
legeS heretofore enjoyed by the white 1
race 1 shall not undertake to determine; /
suffice it TO say il has been done and | see /
no prospect OF any change in a long time, /
if ever. In States where are but few 1
blacks, or where they are in decided mi !
nority, il will make but little difference; 1
but where the negroes are in a large ma
jOrity it is useless to expect them not to !
control the offices of the country and place /
men Of their own color in positions of 4
trust and profit. This is but in accord
lnce with the laws which govern men Of /
al cOlOrs and conditions. If the negroes |
now in the South were scattered over the |
whole United States they would scarcely /
be felt politically; but congTegated in 4 |
few States they become a power in the |
and. Whether they will exercise their |
privileges wisely and we'll, or otherwise, |
will not say, though l have decided |
opinions on that subject, not proper to be |
here expressed. If the Southern people |
10 not desire negro rule why are they so /
anxious to cOngregate large bodies of ne /
ZrOss upon plantations and thereby give /
hem immense political pOwer2 Cotton |
alton system prevails, Will alwOys have
majority of blacks and will have all the 1
wills or benefits Of negro rule. 1t is so
n states and so in counties. Does il not
eem strange to hear a man disclaim
against negro rule and yet have hun
lreds of negroes in his employment upon
me or more large cotton plantations.
The negro naturally seeks a home in 4
,Otton region, and if our people will in
list upon converting the whole South
ntO a vast cotton plantation they must
Expect as the natural result, the preVa-
ence af negro rule in many parts of the
south, whether it be good or bad. The
way in which we can get clear of the
;vil, if evil it be, is to change our system
If agriculture. The negro is the only
ace that will cultivate cotton on the
plantation system. Nature and his pre-
yiOus habits have fitted him FOR this. II
,Hrs were a grain and pasturage country,
With only small farms cultivated in cot |
on, We would see the negroes scattered |
n every direction. There would not, !
hen, perhaps, be a single county in any
# the Southern States where the negroes
will be in the majority. Less cotton
night be raised, but the political cOndi-
ion would be very much changed The
nan or men who bring large bodies of
into the county TO cultivate their
plantations of cotton cannot with much
consistency, complain of negro dOnina-
ion. If they prefer that the country
should be ruled by negroes and negro in
iuence rather than abandon the growth
If cotton upon an extensive scale, be il
20. They have Ho right TO complain at
he necessar- results of their own policy.
" hite men, born III the South, or white
Hen emigratiHg from the North or Eu-
'Ope, can and will cultivate our lands in
grain, and Will be admirable stockraisers,
Jut we have no reasonable ground for
nope that we will get much immigration,
lr that white men will do much Dlanta- |
ion WO-1. whilst ours is exclusively a
,OttOn coUutry. We might 2s we'll look
acts in the face and not delude ourselves
with hopes which are sure TO he disap-
pointed. The remedy is in our own
lands. but whether We will uss it depends
IpOn our willingness 10 give up some of
Dur cherished habits and prejudices.
IottOn countries must De negro countries
and negro countries viii be under the I
control of negroes or their white allies.
These may be disagrecablc truths, but
experience shows that they are stern /
-acts. / have no animosity against any
race, but | think the negroes would be
themselves much benefited by not being .
in such large bodies, whether in 4
cities or in the country districts. One /
reason why l am anxious TO see the South
/ grain growing. pastuTaEe and stock I
raising country, instead OF being eXclu- I
,ively devoted to cotton growing, Is, that
in this way We would find relief from po-
itical dangers which are threatened, and .
" yhich l fear may iujUTe very seriously .
both races. l also believe the system .
advocate will make the South richer, more .
and more Independents. l do I
not wish 10 see the South converted into .
In i'm, II 40 ri