14 



imported in excess are not those essential to life, but its dearest luxuries. And 

 if with every patriotic motive to economy we thus recklessly consume, how 

 will it be, and how has it been, in times of peace and high prosperity ? 



In exchange for cotton, the United States takes freely of the surplus pro- 

 ducts of those who buy from us. The nations now supplying Great Britain 

 with cotton do not thus consum:;, and, as a consequence, it has to purchase it by 

 the exportation of gold. This is the cause that now creates the high rates of 

 interest in France and Great Britain, and the drain of our own gold. The 

 East Indies, Egypt, Brazil, and China, are not consumers after our fashion. Nor 

 could they become such merely by possessing the cotton trade, but must advance 

 to our position in civilization, for it is the wants and luxuries of civilization 

 that make consumers. 



The following table shows the value of the cotton imported by Great Britain 

 during the last three years : 



1861.— From the United States $132, 741, 160 



From Brazil 2, 521, 855 



From Egypt 6, 225, 330 



From India 31, 165, 565 



From other countries 937, 830 



$173, 591, 740 



1862.— From the United States 2, 496, 625 



From Brazil 6,370,315 



From Egypt 13, 566, 660 



From India 63, 161, 905 



From other countries 7, 828, 095 



93, 420, 600 



1S63.— From the United States 2, 302, 290 



From Brazil 8, 446, 065 



From Egypt 32, 996, 465 



From India 110, 258, 560 



From other coTintries 34, 872, 445 



188, 375, 825 



These tables present a change of commerce that has no parallel. In 1861 

 the United States received 132^ millions of dollars for its cotton; in 1862, but 

 2:} millions. In 1861, India sold but 31 millions of dollars' worth of cottoii, 

 and in 1863, 110^ millions. From Egypt was purchased 6^ millions of dollars' 

 worth in 1861, and in 1863, 33 millions. Fromother countries in 1861, $937,830 

 worth, and in 1863, 34j millions. Our commercial relations with Great Britain 

 make us a debtor to it ; but now it must pay gold for cotton. Here, then, we 

 have a second reason Avhy foreign cotton cannot retain its place against ours. 

 We will consider but one other. 



It has been said that, under ordinary prices, foreign countries had vainly at- 

 tempted the production of cotton. The following table will show the high 

 prices which called forth the cotton, production represented in the foregoing ta- 

 bles. This table shows the amount, in pounds, of cotton purchased by Great 

 Britain, and the value of it in ten months of the following years : 



Year. Pounds. Value. 



1861 1, 131, 594, 576 $173, 591, 740 



1862 344,520,176 93,420,620 



1863 473, 326, 224 188, 375, 825 



