528 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 



Value and uses of the seed are indeed im- 

 portant incidental benefits, which I estimate 

 highly. But if there was no such product 

 here, there would be sufficient profits in 

 planting; or sowing peas for a rotation 

 or manuring crop. The proper use o>' this 

 crop, (which is universally too much neg- 

 lected,) would be of incalculable value 

 throughout all the cotton states. 



The above-mentioned benefit of a' change 

 of crops, though the most important, is not 

 by any means the only one. But as I am 

 not discussing the subject of rotation of 

 crops, I will say no more on these points. 

 There is, however, still another and general 

 reason for lessening the present extent of 

 cotton tillage on every plantation, which I 

 will briefly state. 



By force of different circumstances, — and 

 mainly that of having the most favorable 

 climate, and using slave labor — the south- 

 ern states of this confederation have almost 

 the virtual monopoly of the production and 

 supply of cotton for the world. But a few 

 years ago (as late as 1851,) the supply of 

 cotton had for some time exceeded the de- 

 mand of the world, and consequently the 

 prices had been very low. Recently , aud 

 now, the supply has not quite equalled the 

 demand ; and there has been great anxiety 

 abroad lest the supply should fall still lower, 

 and regularly — and prices have been double 

 those of some former times. These facts, 

 and all statistical reports to the like purpose, 

 will show that a small surplus of production 

 beyond the demand for cotton may reduce 

 the price greatly — while it would be ad- 

 vanced as much, by as small a diminution 

 of the general crop, or by its failing short 

 of the world's demand. Therefore it may 

 well happen that a general crop, on the 

 average of years together, which fell short 

 by 10 per cent, of the amount of the 

 general demand for consumption, would sell 

 for much more money than a general pro- 

 duct that exceeded the full demand by 10 

 per cent. Thereiore, if every cotton planter 

 would so much lessen his surface under 

 cotton as merely to raise all his supplies of j 

 meat, leather, wool, horses and mules, and 

 everything else now bought from the north- 1 

 ern and western states, that could be well j 

 made at home, there would be two very ( 

 great benefits thereby obtained. First, • a 

 diminished production of cotton would in- j 

 crease the price, and probably enough sO| 

 for the reduced crop to sell for more than j 



the greatest possible crop. Secondly, the 

 important benefit would be effected of cut- 

 ting down the profits of our worst enemies, 

 the abolition " sister" states, by exerting 

 our power to oppose and control their malig- 

 nant hostility. But as it 13 impossible for 

 such a general change, however beneficial 

 for the whole south, to be produced by indi- 



the soutnem 

 the product! 

 or designation 



viduals, acting separately,- without ^concert, 

 or means for combinatory J would have the 

 ends in view sough tjb*yfoca n^r jtl}*! legis- 

 latures. ;of all the 1 so^yBp .st^tej- adopting 

 stringint license law^J^yfilfcfr would tax 

 heavily tfj sale ol all Commodities produced 

 in the iflboliv "4fflnd coram only sold in 



uthera^ It *may be true that 



-fcicula'r states, by name 

 v not legally be so taxed, 

 and the like pro* of all southern states 

 be exempted. .But js, entirely legal and ' 

 constitutional any state to so tax, and to 

 any amount, any particular commodity com- 

 ing from any or all the other states, and to 

 exempt its own like production. And this 

 would, in practice, operate just as well for 

 the southern states, jf heavy license taxes 

 were impoxsed in each of all the southern 

 states on all such* Imported and specified 

 commoditie^Vis Sbtton and woollen cloth, 

 shoes, ha^" ? .^'Ooins, ploughs, wooden and iron 

 ware, ^ at 4l|M|!|& s > Worses and mules, or those 

 among t es*J "commodities which come only 

 from aboli-tkm' states, the taxes (or prohi- 

 bitions) would oj*e%vrte not on any southern 

 state, (or to no^important extent,) because 

 no one is an exporter (to any important ex- 

 tent,) of such commodities to another — but 

 entirely on the now producing northern and 

 north-western states. All these commodities 

 could be produced at home, and much more 

 profitably for the whole south, if looking to 

 public and political as well as private interests; 

 and especially to our greatest interests, which 

 are involved, the maintaining the price of 

 cotton, and the retaining the possession and 

 value of our slaves- 



The good policy of this system, by which 

 the southern states may at the same time 

 help themselves and retaliate upon and control 

 their enemies, can scarcely be denied. The 

 legality and Constitutional sanction of the 

 policy have been affirmed by high legal 

 authorities, and are seriously disputed by 

 none. Every state in the union already has 

 acted more or less on this policy of discrimi- 

 nation, and taxing foreign commodities by 

 means of license laws. New York, going 



