Year: 1862




rLo. nm abundant corn crop should be raised in
+be Confederate States during the present year IS
matter of great military and political necessity
Tbp war oDened last spring upon the southern
country when it was but poorly prepared IN al
resnects except in brave men and willing hear LOT
the great struggle. The year before grossly i'au-
eouate grain crop had been planted ana the seasons
had been very unproptious Last year the mutler-
Us of the coming storm had not been sufficiently
bnedrd and although an increased breadth OF land
aS devoted to grain crops the increase was wholly
Insufficient The result finds US still with corn,
and wheat and other cereals at tamlne prices
Ovinr in part to the ravageS OF cholera two years
previous, and in part to spirit OF chrome depend
once ON the great West which has long blinded the
cot.on rerion to the value of the hog crop, the
Sonthern country has been afflicted with fabulous
T7rices for meat Bread and meat have kept up at
fgrres scandalOus to agricultural country, argu-
inc an apparent want of proper foresight and intel
TEence among the cultivatoTS OF the SOIL This
stste of things has carried distress and desttution
into the families of the poor SO many OF whom are
deDrived now of the help Of fathers, and sons, and
husbands, and rotherS They are far off in the
Southern armies, fighting the battles OF our inde-


We ask the cotton planters is it just, is it poll
tic to repeat the experience of the last two years
Is it not hazardng widespread dissatisfaction
among our soldiers. If not diSbandng OF our armies
q
sufficient energy TO change from the beaten track,
or from apprehensionS of plethora OF provisions,
10 20 on planting cotton and glectlng to raise corn
snd meat? The poor soldier has right, While IN
his comfortless tent, or standing guard in the icy
NIGHT air and amidst the bowling TEMPEST, to cacu-
laie that his fellnwczens, pursuing their peaceiul
ayocations on their snug plantations and farms,
should give a thought to his helpless family. tie
has tight to expect that in pitching their crops,
the aim should be not to keep and meat at ex-
tortionate prices, but to make them abundant and
cheap He has a right to expect that oountltu
nature Is not to be so hampered that she can only
dole out in scant supply just enough food to prevent
famine and at prices requiring every feeble muscle
of HELPLESS women and children to he strained to gel
money enough to buy that food. He has right to
expect that the fortunate oflands and negroes
will patriotcally bend all their energies and resources
to ill the land with plenty, and make its defence
cbeep and cheerful task. To the poor especially
70 those who have given up to the public defence
the stout arms Of husbands and fathers, and sons,
this war has been sore trial. With bacon at thirty
cents a pound and corn meal at a dollar and half
bushel and other articles IN proportion. and cloth
iEg at prices proportionately high, they must be
endowed with an extraordinary share of patriotism
if they do not sometimes sigh for the return of their
natural protectors and even use their influence tC
diSsuade them from re-enliSting.


These high prices endanger the organization and
efficiency OF our armies. ms vie" oi tue Cart
should be deeply pondered by our cotton planters
in pitching their crops. They need feel no alarm
lest prices of corn and meat should get down al
runously low prices 1t is impossible 10 conceive
of any evil resulting if corn sank to ten cents
bushel and pork to two cents per pound, The
country would be only the better of fromit Even
the cotton planter would find his permanent inter
ests promoted by it The business of cotton plant
ing will receive no injury from greatly reduced pro
duction for year or two. The first duty of the
Southern patriot shaping his business, is to pro
vide for the wants Of his peo, lie and country
and give only the surplus of his labor and skill tc
the wants of foreign countries. Thus only can we
lay the basis Of solid national power and prosper
ity. \ nation without navy is essentially weak
and helpless that produce cheap and abundant
food and clothing for It's own people.-AugWStd
Co1stitufiJualist