Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-06-19

SlppI valley Cotton Planters AsSOcla-
ton: and I cannot but consider your
presence here to day, and so must orr
entire people, a most cheering evidence
of the deep and abiding interest felt in
the works it proposes to accomplish.
One briel twelve months since, our
lower valley passed through Il labor
strike, or crisis, brought about by the
short crops and low prices of the previous
season, together with the rose-colored re-
reports of a distant land of promise, cir.
culated among our laboring classes, by
interested agencies. A number of gentle-
men came together and determined to
call a Mass Meeting of Tie planters to
consider the situation. Owning to
misunderstanding, not necessary here to
relate, the meeting, which was at first
designed to be simply for the purpose of
discussing the business aspects of the sit
uation, with Il view to arrive at Il rene
dy, began to assume Il political color,
and from the original intention of being
only pl llnters' meeting, became a Labor
Convention, with not few po itical
tricksters as duly accredited delegates.
The satisfactory conclusion of the Labor
Convention of 1879, was due only to the
nccre desire of the best element pres
ent 10 do right, but we all know with
What fear and misgiving we wat, he'd the
result. The natural instinct of provid-
inc for the future, brought forth immcdi-
ately and vividly by the danger through
which we had just passed, caused the
planters to unite themselves into per
nancnt organizations. under the name Of
The Mississippi Valley Cotton Planters
Association, embracing the States OF Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tenn
essec, which should recognize no creed,
nationality or politics, and around whose
standard could be rallied, at all times,
ard in every emergency, the best classes
| of our citizens, for the consideration OF
! any questions whatever might arise AT
| fcctlng their interests. The bane OF our
conntry, politics, WAS thus forever elimi
mated from system, with which 1T
should never have had anything to do,
and in any future meeting or Convention
| that might become necessary on tho sub
|
| must be settled on the same business
principles by which they arc settled III
New York or England.
This was not the only object however,
of the Association. Its purpose was I"
make, also, a 81 stematic and persistent
effort to inculcate more scientific and
economic ideas of farming; to urge upon
of al
vers. flying crops, that our people might
become sclf-sustaning, and That cotton
MIGHT become a surrlus-money crop. i'll
stead Of, as now, tho only crop; :" EN-
courage tho Introduction OF all improved
and labor saving machinery, by conpetI-
tive trials of the same before comrrtcns
committees of the Association: to pro-
: mote The improvement OF all kl'ds OF
seed: to foster tho Introduction OF the
best classes of livestock for brcedln"
purposes; to be the Medium through
which practical plans OF Immigration
miuht be entered into in Il moment OF ne
crssity or otherwise and, in general tC
b,rmouize and concentrate, for the above
PURPOSES, the efforts of all those enga@
ed in the cultivation of the soil, as wei
q, those engaged in the manufacture o
inDiiments and machinery applicable
, thereto, and for such other purposes a.
might from time to time be determined
upon.
Now, my friends, you all desire u
know to what extent the Association ''
: carried out these c"mmendahle oH)ec'
, in the first year of it's existence, ara
f is but proper that its officers, through me
the PRECEDENT, should give some accom-
of their stewardship.
| scarcely deem it necessary to occup.
the valuable time of his mcc1lnG by
{ rehearsal of the proceedings of on
monthly meetings during the past yea'
all of which have been published fr3l
time to time as they have occurred, i
= nearly al of the Southern and man
: Northern ionrnals, showing the deep /.
tcrest which the country generally Ia
= taken in whatever cmanat"d from I'll
| Association. would state i'll genera
| however, that we have, through a larG
: and varied correspondence with perSo'
= in a number of States of the Nor'h, G."
lcctcd many fallacies entertained u
G them in regard to our manners, soil, cl
), mate and inveStmeu is, and we nave I'M
y been the means, in Il few cases, or ma
= rcctly bringing some good immigrants
It our land, with a prospect of still bett
d , ults for the future. We have ai'
st istently set forth to capitalists II
n advantages and profits of establishing
o. our midst cotton factories aud loan age
E. cies. We have passed resolutions at
TO ,,ious fines in regard to the lmproV