1862.] A Plea for Cotton and for Industry. 525 



cultivation upon a large scale, would be rendered productive and 

 prosperous ? 



The colonies would be enabled to trespass less upon the tax-paying 

 people at home, and colonial and British revenues would both obtain 

 beneficial relief. If the British public desires to assist the distressed 

 and suffering cotton trade it will be wise to attack the evil at its root, 

 and to promote the cultivation of cotton in new countries, and thereby 

 prevent the possibility of a repetition of similar disasters, and as cotton- 

 growing is profitable the advantage derived from it would be the recom- 

 pense of the effort. Shall no attempts, commensurate with the wants 

 of this great industry, be made to obtain adequate supplies of cotton, 

 and at the same time to benefit the dependencies and colonies of Great 

 Britain ? No charity can compensate for the losses now sustained, and 

 effectual relief can only proceed from an abundant supply of good and 

 cheap cotton. 



A moral truth has now been taught the world, that slavery and 

 tyranny shall not permanently yield prosperity, and the wrongs of the 

 oppressed, crying for justice, indicate that retribution is the corrective 

 of iniquity. Experience and the physical construction of the earth 

 both tell us that without adequate exertions there can be no beneficial 

 results ; and consequently, in this great country, when dangers are 

 threatening extinction to any portion of the community, efforts must be 

 called forth to sustain the social and industrial fabric, to contribute to 

 the means of labour, to promote commerce, to extend civilization, 

 and still to raise our national aims in the cause of humanity and of 

 universal justice, that should prosperity again shine upon our country, 

 there may be in our distant intercourse and relations, no leading into 

 captivity, and at home no complaining in our streets. 



[T. B.] 



