Year: 1867

/ Cbnbs specie bllan I0f more next seas
son, and he also says that freed labor
is not intrinsically worth, in cotton
raising particularly, the yictuals and
clothes He has peculiar and uns
wanted means Of judging.


We think we find in the enclosed
article the advice and opinions Of one
of the ablest and most reliable think
ers in Mississippi, himself largely
interested in planting:


In plain words, the agricultural
supremacy Of the South arising from
the culture Of cotton is at an end.
Not only so, cotton as staple crop
absolutely cannot be cultivated with
profit. 1t has tlken two years of
bitter experience to teach our people
this lesson, which they we're SO un-
willing to learn but 50 it is. At
any rate cotton cannot be cultivated
with the labor Of freedmen. And
beyond all this, there is a fact We
might as we'll realize at once. The
world will move, though not one
! pound Of cotton be grown in the
South. What would not have been
believed possible, five years since, is
to-day a fixed fact. England is
wholly independent OF the United
States for her supply Of cotton.
This being the case, there is no pro-
liability that the price of the staple
will ever again be permanent thing
be remuneratiye. In the fall Of
1865, the price of cotton, owing to
the doubt and uncertainty of the
amount of the supply ranged at As
to 80 cents per pound. Last year at
25 to 81 cents. This fall, in the face
Of certain and most disastrous fail
ure of the crops, with short stocks on
hand at all the ports, Is and Is cents
is all that can be obtained for the
best grades, such as previous to the
war ranked from MiddliDg to Mid
ding Fair, and the prices are con
stantly tending downwards. Next
year it is as certain as anything in
the future can be, that cotton IN New
Orleans cannot be sold at more than
from 3 to 10 cents per pound.


But without so great reduction
in the peresent price, even at present
rates, who can raise cotton at a profit?
II positively cannot be done. What
then are our people to do2 How
shall we pay our debts? What shall
we raise to sell ? If we cannot pay
our debts, we can at least live, live
comfortably, live luxuriously. The
first thing we have got to do is to
drive from our minds the idea that
we.can ever get rich by planting or
farming-learn that no fortunes are
to be made in that way. The truth
is, that in the feWest instances were
fortunes ever made by planting, even
in the most favorable times under
the old system. Men got rich, to be
sure, but how ? Not by means of
the net products of their plantations,
but through the increased value of
their real estate aud slave property.
The yearly crops did little more than
support these and the family of the
planter. Wealth usually was the
Slow growth of time. Very much Is
this true Of the Northern aud Wes-
/ tern farmer. 1t is seldom his crops
make him rich, or if they do, it is
slowly and with the use of great
economy, The largest fortunes in
the agricultural districts Of the North
are the consequence Of the enhanced
value OF the real estate. Fortunes
then, we say, except in rare Instances,
are not to be made by planting OF
farming. But there is not country
on the face Of the earth which offers
greater inducements to the laborer
than the South does this very day.
Within the geographical limits OF
what is commonly known as the
Southern States can be raised every
variety Of production known to the
North, aud an infinite number which
cannot be raised there at all. In this
latitude there is 10 period of the year
when, with a little care, something
/ cannot be raised suitable for the
sustenance Of both man and beast,
and in the open air at that.


Let US wake up, then raise first,
and in such profuse abundance as We
can raise, provision crops Of all
kinds, corn, potatoes, peas, beans,
fruits, vegetables, etc., and when our


cribes, outhouses and granaries are
full Of these, we shall at least be in


dependent. If the freedmen will not


work they must starve. White labor
with the assistance Of such freedmen
as are not utterly demoraliged by
pelitics, clubs, etc., will suffice, prop
erly directed, to make the country
blossom as the rose. In the means
| time. this is not the first instance
where the staple crop Of the country


has ceased to be remuneratiye and


had to be changed. Let our planters


turn farmers in earnest. improve their


stock, and try experiments 0ne
writer says fodder may be cultivated


here with profit A great many are
turning their attention to the ramie,
aud this last, we believe, will succeed.
Ope AGENT for the sale IF the cut-
tings. reports, that it wiil produce, in
this climate, 500 pounds to tho acre,
and that It has been sold in England
: for IS cents per pound. Machinery
has already been perfected for pres
paring the staple for market. bet as
, not give up; God has given US TOO
fair 4 4 mate and too genial soil to
be abandoned in despair Next year
9 let us see to it that tue country is
!, fall of provisions, and the rest will
: follow and when in this way the
b General condition Of The country and


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