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such a change should take place, “ and it will in due time,” will we have free trade. Is there a party north or south advocating such a change or do they in any locality demand a tax in kind. Such a revolution in the mode of raising money to defray the expenses of the Government will not be easily accomplished, if the change should be either to a direct tax or tax in kind. The sovereigns of the land have ever been opposed to direct taxes, and we of the South will ever be op posed to tax in kind, since our sad experience during the late war, when those who gathered the tax in this way, were like the locusts of Egypt consuming everything that passed through their hand. Admit that the present is a high tariff, would a change in the administration and that to a democratic one, take off nil the duties on cotton goods, so as to accommodate Mr. Hansen with domestics at 6£ per yard, and if so what would the planter get for his cotton. It is a settled principle in this government, all politi cal parties agreeing, that the current expenses (except in war) should be raised by a tariff and I assert that in the future as in the past, the tariff will be changed as to rates, from time to time, by parties in interest, according to the influence wielded and brought to bear by them on those who enact laws for us. If we are to have a tariff for revenue, it will afford protection to a greater or less extent, varying according to the efforts made by parties concerned, and should such be levied on cotton goods, just to that extent or per cent, will] ootton factories be protected north and south. Admit the premises (as above) and what reason can be urged against manufacturing south that would not apply north ? A high tar iff furnishes no good reason wh}- the south should not engage in manufacturing and share some of the profits, vast as the}’- are, and which, he complains,] ‘ .absorbed by New England’s man ufacturers. J human probabilities this tar iff, in some lVp- and to some extent, will exist as long as the government stands. And it is not too late to bend our energies to secure a benefit from such protection to manufacturers. To be independent of other communities we must not only grow cotton, bat raise the stock and supplies necessary to cultivate and subsist our plantations, to manufacture enough of our great staple to supply our wants in fabrics, and also our agricultural implements, our boots, shoes, clothing, &c., so that, in case our cotton is not wanted at remunerative prices, we can let it remain under our shelters instead of being, as SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. now, forced to sell at low figures to meet Ijcns given for mules, provisions, fertilizers, Ac., - thereby saving commissions, storage, insurance, and stealage, and realizing, indeed, what Mr. Ilanscn boasts of, .independence. The idea that a purely agricultural jx'oplc ever was, or can In* independent, is preposteious —even in times of peace how has it been, and will continue to be in times of war ? We owe posterity a duty, and now, whilst suf sering from our recent defeat, is the most ]rropi tious time to inaugurate that reform in our sys tem which will bring absolute independence both political and financial. Talk of independence, when nine tenths of the cotton raised in the south stands pledged, before the seed are planted, to western men for mules-* and bacon, to eastern men for cotton fabrics, fer tilizers and agricultural implements—yea, fop every thing used on the plantation except the • seed for planting. How long will the cotton belt last, with the pressure upon her surfaoe for cotton to supply the increasing demands of a , great and independent people? and if the soil should fail, from exhaustion, to keep pace with ..' the demands of those who thus rudely and wick edly cultivate it, we will then indeed have killed the goose that lays the golden egg. Then, with our sterile valleys and wasted hills, what will our water powers and mineral deposits be worth .to us? Then will we be compelled to make roonn. for a people wise in their day, who do or will not ignore their surroundings, but, by both brains and muscle, work out their destiny— independence. — The old and cherished notion that cotton is king has certainly been exploded. We should not, how ever, run to the opposite extreme and conclude that its production will not pay under any circum stances. Mr. Hansen’s assertion, that cotton man ufactories produce paupers, is a strange theory. I have been educated to look upon those depen dent on charity as paupers, and not those who, by the “sweat of their face, eat their bread.” — Mr. Hansen, however unwilling, must confess that things have changed and we must change to conform, if we would draw from such chang es the means of independence, or else become an isolated iceberg, living to ourselves and dying to ourselves. L. F. LIVINGSTON. Newton County, Ga ., Oct., 1870. jgp* Some people buy things they don’t want, because they are great bargains; but what you do not want, is dear at any price. 415