The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-11-12
Interesting Letter from Senator Nor
gan to the President of the Georgia
State Agricultural Society.
ia WAsHrNGrox, Oct. IL, 1873

OIdbC GE 1ONACAye
ID WAsHrNGroS, Oct. IL, 1879.
Col Thomas Hardeman:
Ny DEAR SIR have returned from
long absence at the West within few day
past am disabled by fall which iniure
my shoulder. Ny recovery is not suif
GENTLY rapid to Justify the hope that | coul
make All address to the State Fair.
| would be very glad to accept your col
dial invitation, ard TO enjoy the hospitalit
Of the people Of Macon. | esteem IT ing
honor that you have extended to me in thi
invitation.
While travelling in the States and terrific
ries west of the Mississippi, including Kan
sas the Indian Territory, Colorado, Ctah
Nevada California Wyoming, Nebraska
and Iowa, have observed as attentlvel,
az / could the leading points which make
up the essential value of an agricultural
country, and am convinced that there i
no part Of that region that equals the cot
ton States.
| have not time to institute a full com
parison in respect of these matters between
our country and that west Of the Mississippi
and north of Texas. The bodies of fertile
land there are more extensive than IN the
Southeastern States, but the most obvious
advantages that we possess are the wide eX-
tent of our forests the great number and
magnitude of running streams, more
eduable climate, and line of seacOast that
extends around two sides of our country.
These with the combined influence of the
oulf stream and the trade winds, enable us
to raise immense crops of cotton after we
have raised in the cotton country all that
is necessary to support every man who VIII
ever engage in cotton culture. 1t Is at this
point that we realize in money producing
capacity the great advantage Of our country
over any other. Timber and water cost us
nothing; even water power and transpor-
tation to the seabOard are at almost
nominal cost. Coal and iron and all build
ing material abound in the land. 30 that
we can live at less expense than any people
in the United States if we choose to do so,
and raise crops with almost absolute GER
tainty, that yield us gold and silver at any
time that we may choose to market them.
Now it Is a known fact that no part of the
world can compete with US successfully IN
cotton production. This problem is resolved
a. a matter of demonstration by the efforts
that have been made to disprOve it, and the
result is owing to the physical geography OF
the South. There is no likelihood that we
shall ever suffer much from over production,
since the cotton lands that remain to be
opened are heavily timbered as a rule and
need to be ditched and protected against
overflow by a great expenditure OF labor
This will be a slow process and will check
TOO rapid extension of the cotton growing
area We need have no fear about labor.
ANY crop that demands money as certain
and early yield and that can be sold in any
quantity As rapidly it can be gathered,
and will keep for years without deteriora-
ton, will always find men, women and child
rem ready to engage in its culture.
The war of political agitation upon the
South need give us no special trouble.
Their efforts to induce labor to abandon our
fields will not give us too much annoyance,
and will never result in a permanent injury
To our country. If they could cause fall
ing off of million bales of cotton from a
single crop, and the business men of the
North could realize the fact, the marplots
would have no security against punishment
at the hands of the mob in their own coun- !
try The North could better afford TO see
every mine in California, Nevada and Colo /
RADIO closed up than to witness the loss of a
million bales of cotton annually from our
crop.
Ii will not be moment longer than it Is /
discovered that the cotton supply is failing
under the effects of the social and political .
war that is being waged against Us, until
the whole campaign will be reversed and
the mischief makers will be put to rout by
those who now urge them to the attack.
deeply regret that any Of our people should
attempt to introduce Chinese labor to sup
ply any deficiency that might occur. They
work well enough and are rather pleasant
people to deal with. Petit larceny is about
.he highest range of their aspirations on
.he criminal calendar, and they find no sort
If mental service beneath their dignity
But they sap and mine a country where
hey are employed to labor until it is utter
V exhausted, and give back nothing to its
;oil, commerce or Institutions They pur
chase nothing but a stinted allowance of
ood, and much prefer to use the rice and
salt fish (their chief food that is imported
from China. If our cotton was grown by
Chinese labor, almost the entire SUN OF the ]
cost of that labor would be withdrawn from
the country and sent to China it is obvious
that cotton growing would become a merely
speculative enterprise under such conditions
and would cease to be the work of the true
farmer; and equally certain would it be
that all thrift would cease in the country.
Other moral and social reasons of the most
vital nature stand opposed to any resort to
Chinese labor in our country, but Will not
ex tend this letter by mentioning them.
If | could have enjoyed the pleasure of
attending your fair ! would have been glad
TO address your people on some Ofthe topics
/ have mentioned above.
We have no occasion to be downhearted
or unduly anxious for the future. We are
strong, earnest and progressive in our in
dustries, and every inch of ground that we
are gaining is gained to be held forever.
We are not specializing, but we are working
and winning Our heritage is in the soil,
the climate, the rivers, the highlands, the
plains, with their forests, and the seacoast.
In their wonderful combination and adj
justInent there is found the monopoly of the
production of cotton and this will give to
an industrious, generous and brave people
all the influence and power they may desire.
With great respect,
Your obedient servant
Johg I. MORGAN.