The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1883-01-06
Answer TO Capt. Banks ON the
causes Of and Remedies for
Agricultural Den, essfnu

a
. points of difference made with ri
, were the causes and remedies Their
! for of the depressed condition of a,
ricultnre, which be charged so.el
to bad management of the labor en-
pioyed in II; whereas his reviewt
ascrlbed it to the inability of II
Iandholoers to manage IT at al
through the operation of the Gro
mortgage law, by which the contr,
was transferred to the country mel
chant, the effect of which has force
tenant system on the IsndhoIder
or the alternative of permitting
their lands to lie idle and be con
sumed by taxes, by encouraging tn
well known disposition of the freed
man to exercise his liberty to tn
fullest extent, limited only by tn,
absolute necessity of procuring
scanty food and clothing, which
carried him to the merchant, who's,
slight supervision could not restrain
him to that diligent and faithful
work which the landholder in tn,
interest of both would demand anc
enforce, if the (only) controlling
/ power over him of rations anc
clothing had remained in his hands
Only few of the most Indifferent
hands could be induced to hire 70,
wages, and they, demoralised by
those who controlled the:f own time
under the tenant system, were of
little value TO the landholder in a
competition with the merchants
cost of production who obtained
about all his mortgaged labor pro-
duced for its bare support.
Another effect of the crop lien
was to give preference to the cap.
itai invested in muscle and igno-
rance, over that invested in land
and intelligence, the farmer readily
finding market, whilst the latter
was absolutely ignored IN the fnan-
c1ai and commercial " Grid, and has
no value which will command ad-
Vances from those who had deter
mined to have cotton at low prices.
Thus has the landholder been "fet
tered" and labor elevated to an alb
normal position, that enabled it to
assume the mastefship that is pro
ducing the signs of wreck and de
cay. A tenant system under an.
der annual holdings must generally
result badly for the landholder in
many respects, but with it this
mortgage law has enforced the pro
duction of cotton (and low prices
to the exclusion of that diversity of
crops SO necessary to the progress
OF agriculture, in preserving the
fertility of the soil and developing
the great natural resources Of our
State, in making it self sustaining. |
and in keeping the zoealh at home |
Is generous soil produces.
Another and perhaps greater evil
Of the mortgage law, is the credit
'ystem it has established, with rates
II interest and risks on advances
hat are fuinous and impossible TO
De met even by the best manage
nent." frequently consuming the
whole product, and leaving its vic
inns in the grasp of the Unsuitable
"fettered'' bonds
nan, without any discretionary ac
ION to provide for his wants, but
orced to make cotton, all the profit
# which is absorbed by the masters
Mortgage, under his unlimited DOW
r to fix the price in both selling
nd buying. In many instances,
ne waver of the landlords lien is
nade condition of this credit sys-
I'm, (which "fetters" all who enter
ne trap of the crop mortgage law.
AS to the relation of agriculture
commerce, it is only the darkest
that can hide the fact,
lat commerce has been making
lie horse push the cart, and Capt.
anks' proposition seemed lin ad
ltion) to put the load properly be-
'nglng in the cart on the horses
ack; he says railroads are valuable {
iJnncts to commerce and they give t
ichangable value to land. This is :
ne, but what would that value r
mount to without the care and !
Dor of the agriculturist? Placing y
Ie burden in the wrong position r
as a tendency to a confusion of 9
suits, when the profits are to be \
strlbuted. Capt. Banks says: eff I
forces corporation or G
individual to sell his goods at a
IS than cost, is it not proper and | f
5ht tor the planter and the public +
avail itself of the cheap rates :
fered."
VIII be please inform us how .,
ng it could be sustained under !,
CHI circumstances, and who would a
lally have to make up the loss? i
is answer will probably be salts "
Glory evidence of his illogical con- ?,
isions on railroad competition
ordlng cheap transportation 4,
ailroads are beneficial when con. ~
cted IN their legitimate sphere as r.
oic servants, and are entitled to n,
f~St reward for the service per. r,
med, which like all other bust. =,
S. transactions must afford profit II
investment and labor, to make ~
IN RELIABLY permanent,-restrain- "a
TO this position is all that should nj
desired or can be justly required. G.
t IS not the growth of cities i, "
endor and wealth that we are or
wing for, but the improvement Pr
the agriculcurists' condition. as
en- that is established on rising 90
und, with secure basis of ad,
ICING prosperity, cities and rail ma
ds will follow, without any eff. m
on the part of the agricultural ia,
's'-as surely as the bee and the co
seek and find the sweets. an
H 0. Dixon. oil,