THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONALIST
* [Correspondence of the Constitutionalist.
Letter from Baltimore.»
Baltimore, Md., Dec. 14, 1806.
Mr. Editor :
“ A nameless fondness for our native clime
Triumphs o’er change and ali-dcvouring time;
Our next regards, our friends and kindred claim,
And every bosom feels the sympathetic flame.”
We read in the Good Book that j>rior to the
winding up of sublunary affairs thSt the presid
ing autocrat of the Hadeal regions is to have a
brief reign of o thousand years ou this terres
tial sphere. But not being a prophet, nor the
son of a prophet, the undersigned is unable to
state with absolute certainty the precise period
of time at which the notorious personage al
luded to was or is to begin the sway of a scep
tre of unlimited power over us poor mortals.
But if he is not in full regalia, aud on the
throne of his greatness in a portion of the
North American Continent at least, at the pre
sent writing, then the optical and auditory fac
ulties of your correspondent are eclipsed and the
“rest of mankind” seem most amazingly bewil
dered. Judging by”the latitude from which
some of his high priests are wont to hail, and
their daily operations upott the “ Constitution,”
now in its last expiring struggle, I should say
that his Satanic Majesty ascended to power, and
began his reign at, or about, the time of the
landing of the “ May Flower,” and that we are,
therefore, as a consequence, in the third century
of his term. Great precision is, of course, un
attainable on this subject, but we may approxi
mate sufficiently near to assure the present, aud
a few succeeding generations, that our aud
their terrestrial interests have or are all about
“ gone to the d—l.” For particulars on this
subject, see daily, and other, actings and doings
at the capitol of the United States “ so called.”
Some of the leading men of the Presbyterian
denomination in this city and vicinity, have
been compelled by the action of the General As
sembly of that church North, to sever the con
nection of their congregations from its jurisdic
tion, and set up anew Presbytery for them
selves. I have had some conversations with
two of their leading clergymen of this city, and
find that 1 had no previous conception of the
tyranny with which it was intended the pastors
and people should be ruled, who sympathised
with us in our late struggle to establish a secure
constitutional government, under which men of
all shades of opinion aud religious V'lief, might
live in harmony and peace with each other.
However unwillingly it may be to teeord the
words, my pen must write what is seen by
others than myself, that unless some great
change should occur in the programme which
the Radicals appear to have arranged for the
future, “ the reign of terror,” will ere long be
enacted upon this continent with all its unhal
lowed and bloody characters in full costume.
A horoscope is not needed to observe, in ad
vance, such scenes as those that were enacted
in France, under the dominion of Robespierre,
Marat, and their satanie confreres of the last
century, unless the interposing hand of kind
Heaven should arrest tne dominant party in
their career of madness and folly. If there
ever was a time in the history of our people,
when unity of purpose and of feeling, -and
harmony and concert of action were necessary,
that time is now. A “ masterly inactivity ” is
demanded bv every consideration of duty to the
iving and decent respect, not to say justice, to
the memory of our dead. Our votes would be
powerless and our voices scorned or unheeded
if represented at Washington at the present
time.; and Ido hope for the honor of our suf
fering land that we may never so far forget our
manhood as to attempt t o,purchase plans for
our representatives at Washington at the price
of universal negro suffrage. I say attempt, for
so surely as the so-called Constitutional Amend
ment should be adopted by us, just so surely
would greater, more monstrous and degrading
demands be made, conditions precedent to
their admission. Let us rather remain firmly
united upon the deck of our dear old Southern
ship in the face of the storm, and then if the
fates should decree we should not ride out the
tempest, with au untarnished flag of honor
nailed securely to the mast, wc could all go,
leaving our deeds and our names encircled in a
halo of glory for the admiration and emulation
of the noble and the good of all Juture genera
tions of men.
But let us turn from this gloomy picture, to
the contemplation of the beautiful outlines of
the white winged angel of mercy now hovering
in our midst, and leading the noble women of
Baltimore to further deeds of charity and love
for our people. A fair for raising funds to
erect an asylum in Richmond for the support
and education of the orphans of our soldiers,
will be opened here on the 20th instant, under
the auspices of some of the first ladies of the
city. Prominent among them we have learned
the name of Mrs. Col. Polk, a near connexion
of our good and noble ex-Governor, Herschel
V. Johnson. Truly have the ladies of Balti
more proven themselves ministering angels to
our poor and destitute, aud their noble deeds
should ever live in the hearts and memories of
our people like the Oasis of the desert, which
exist to gladden the eye and cheer the weary
traveler.
General Custis Lee, a 3on of our great cap
tain, has recently been elected President and
Professor of Mathematics in the Maryland
Agricultural College, near Bladensburg, and 1
presume has, or will, accept the position. By
the by, was not one of G*en. Robert E. Lee’s
sons elected to Professorship in the University
of Athens, some time' ago? I either heard or
saw in scare publication such an announce
ment.
The steamship line between this city and
Liverpool has proven a complete sucaeess. It
could scarcely have been otherwise, however,
as it is owned and projected by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company. Goods can now
be laid on the shelves of merchants in Cincin
nati and Louisville, in from sixteen to seven
teen days from the date of their invoices in
Liverpool. The rapidly increasing trade of
Baltimore will soon render necessary the estab
lishment of other steamship lines with Europe,
when our people will be able to purchase every
thing they can want, and on as good terms as
can be effected at any other place on this con
tinent.
Hoping that bright “ visions ” of fat turkeys,
and the etcetras, are “ flitting palpably before
you,” as you sit by your sanctum table this
cold day, and that you may have several gas
tronomic realizations of them at, and about
Christmas, I subscribe myself, in lively hopes
of a simila%fate,
Tours, truly, H. L. B.
(From our Special Correspondent.
Our New York Letter,
New York, December 15,1866.
As an illustration of my oft-repeated remark,
that the Northern Conservatives have been al
most certain to adopt, in any givet year, the
position of the Radicals the previous year, I
have now to write, that there is a growing and
now almost unanimous wish among the Con
servatives that the Southern States should
adopt the Constitutional' Amendment, and put
themselves in position to demand, on Radical
grounds, immediate admission to Congress.
Those who advocate this from a conservative
stand-point, say that many of the penalties
there imposed upon Southern leaders, are left
in the bands of Congress; and, with more con
servative strength in that body, could be re
moved altogether. The disabilities respecting
representation, could not take effect till 1873,
when the first Congress under the new appor
tionment will meet. Before the time for the
census shall arrive, there will be such changes
of population, as to modify materially the effect
of the restrictions upon the Southern States,
even while excluding the negroes from suffrage.
But while urging these arguments, it is now
admitted that the present, nor the next House
of Representatives, could be likely to adm.t
Southern Representatives, on the terms of the
adoption of the Amendment. The Senate,
probably, would. There seems already to be a
wide defined schism betweeu the House aud
the Senate. The Senate proposes to stand by
the Constitutional Amendmcut. The House is
disposed to “go marching on” to new con
quests. The temper of the people is just now
with the Senate. But what reliance. I ask, can
be placed upon those Philadelphia Conveutiou
ists, who but a tew months ago, expressed such
concern for Southern .honor, aud now ask the
South to do what they have solemnly declared
to be dishonorable. If the careers of Bex.
Butler, Secretary Staxtox and James Holt,
are not sufficient to learn the South what sort
of stuff their special champions at the North
are made, she is in a fair way of receiving new
lessons.
Secretary Stanton has been in this city for a
week, with a view to arranging a plan by which
he may be elevated to the Presidency. He has
not made much progress. The Republicans
have been H-w.ited ad nauseam to Northern
Breckinridge Democrats, (whom they thought
they thought they were defeating when they
elected Lincoln in I860,) and they propose to
themselves a Republican administration yet.
They thiuk the party has been disgraced by the
over-jealous conduct qf the late Democratic Ex
tremists, who have placed themselves at the
head of affairs. Mr. Stanton’is endeavoring to
thrust himself lorward as a compromise be
tween Chase and Butler. But the facility with
which he has betrayed every interest that has
ever trusted him, is not forgotten ; and except
among a few political rumps of the Seward
school, he is pretty generally ignored.
TUNNELLING NEW YORK.
A proposition has been agreed upon by a
special committee of the Legislature, to tunnel
New York, from the Battery to Harlem, (ten
miles,) for the purposes of a steam railroad.
Several practical propositions for the building
of elevated railways are also being agitated. I
thiuk it very doubtful if The tunuclling expe
dient is ever carried out. It will be too expen
sive, aud difficult.
MEXICO.
We have the intelligence to-day by private
Cable reports, that the Empress Carlotta, of
Mexico, is dead. The reports from Mexico, for
some days; have seemed to indicate that Maxi
milian will be able to hold on. There seems to
he something very disgraceful in this whole
business. The paltering and double-dealing of
Mr. Seward, the truculence of Louis Napoleon,
and the fluttering Maximilian, have brought
Mexican affairs to a position that must excite
universal scorn. Congress is to be commended
for refusing any part in them.
M*ORE “CIVILIZATION.”
An effort is to be made at the coming session
of the Legislature to enact a law for the licens
ing and regulating of bawdy houses in this city.
The insolence with which such establishments
are set up in the best quarters of the city, is one
plea. It is estimated that there are thirty thou
sand prostitutes in this city ; and their control,
somewhat after the system in vogue in Paris, is
to be strongly urged. The acknowledgment
that this hideous evil is incurable, and must be
recognized and regulated, has not yet been made
by our law-makers, and they will be loth to
take any new step.
BUSINESS MATTERS.
The activity and buoyancy in cotton the early
part of the week has subsided, and prices one
cent lower than the highest point on Wednes
day. The accounts from Liverpool are not so
strong, and the telegrams from the South in the
morning papers report liberal receipts at all
ports. The speculative movement in bread
stuffs, long expected and long delayed, has set
in strong, when it was not fully expected, and
flour has advanced 50@75 cents per barrel since
my last. Pork and hog products are again de
clining.
There is more general trade, and business
circles wear a more cheerful aspect. Gold is
steady, but it seems hardly possible to prevent
n fall to 130 in January. Then there will be
heavy payments of gold from the Treasury and
increased demand for money, under which the
course of the premium will be precisely the
same under the same influences/as in Novem
ber. European advices predict easy money in
her money centres, and for this reason the ex
port of cotton is likely to be stimulated.
Willoughby.
[From our Special Correspondent.
Letter from Washington.
Washington, December 18,1866.
The President is very much gratified at the
rejection by the Southern States of the Consti
tutional Amendment. The more fanatical of
the Radicals are also well pleased with this re
sult. But they are not pleased for the same
reason. The President considers the refusal of
the South to accept the terms proposed as an
argument in favor of his policy. The more ex
treme Radicals consider that it brings them
nearer to their cherished idea of negro suffrage.
They hope that the failure of the Constitutional
Amendment will increase the antagonism of the
North towards the South, and render them
more willing to impose harder terms.
One of the peculiar features of this session is
the presence of the so-called Southern loyalists,
who are very active in trying to enforce their
views upon Congress. This class of men con
sider themselves entitled to the positions of
power and honorat the South, and not being able
to obtain them under the existing regime, they
call for an entire change of programme. They
are both advocates and witnesses. They argue
their ease exclusively, and they prove it by
their own evidence. They represent themselves
and the negroes as verv badly treated iudeed.—
According to some of their accounts, one would
suppose an ordinary amusement South was
shooting negroes and loyalists.
1 think it is very obvious that this Congress
will turn over the subject of reconstruction to
the next Congress. The bills now introduced
in regard to overturning the existing State gov
ernments South, are intended to sound public
sentiment North. The general impression is
that the next Congress will be far more violent
than this.
The Supreme Court still withhold their opin
ion as to the test oath for lawyers. It is welf
understood that at the last term the Court, by
one majority, was in favor of setting the oath
aside. Indeed, it was at the instance of the
Chief Justice that Mr. Stevens introduced into
the House his resolution to repeal the law on
the subject. The hesitancy of the Court can
only be accounted for by their timidity. The
Judiciary is even losing its independence, which
is one of the most gloomy signs of the times.
The debate between Wade and Sumner, as to
whether the Southern States should be admit
ted to representation in the event of the ac
ceptance of the Constitutional Amendment,
has excited a great deal of comment. There is
scarcely any doubt, however, but that the Con
gress would have admitted representation from
the Southern States if they had ratified the Con
stitutional Amendment. Enough of the Radi
cal party, with the small minority of Demo
crats, would have voted lor admission to have
secured it.
The feeling among the financiers of New
York is one of great uneasiness about the fu
ture. They are in great doubt and perplexity.
They are watching with intense interest to see
what Congress is going to do both in regard j
to the currency and the Southern States.
Avery strong effort will be made to pass a 1
bankrupt bill this session, and the friends of'
the measure speak very confidently of its pass
ing.
Many of the President’s friends greatly re
gret that he did not, while the act of Congress
expressly authorized him, issue a general am
nesty. Congress will repeal this law. While
It will not affect his general constitutional
power of pardoning, yet it bikes, in a certain
degree, from him the usual sanction of being
sustained by Congressional legislation.
[From the Edgefield Advertiser.
Miss Buie's Appeal.
Every person remembers at the close of the
war what a ruined and desolated country was
left in the line of the march of Gen. Sherman
through the couutry; wherever he went, his
footsteps left ruin and desolation, poverty and
distress. In the highest circles of society, or
in private walks of life, his terrible presence
has alike been felt. The clouds of poverty east
gloom over the brightest hopes of the future;
aud were it not for Charity—the child of heaven
—the blankest feelings of despair would now
be entertained tor the fate of thousands of
poor innocent orphans whose fathersgave up
their lives in defence of the South. They left
their happy homes, now in ruins aud ashe3,
never to return. Their bones are every where
on many battle fields. They were brave men,
and died on tlie .Itar of Patriotism. Many o!
them left names that will live on the brightest
pages of fame, if they did fall in the lost
cause. In Uie terrible struggle past, the hero
ism of Southerners surpassed in fame all Ro
wan or Grecian story, which claims the admi
ration of the world.
Siuce the fatal day of the destruction of Colum
bia no people on earth have deserved more
sympathy and admiration. They were first in
war, and are first iu peace. The city is going up
with astonishing success. They had 84 squares,
out of 120, left in ashes and ruins. The old
Capital of the State, six churches, cleveu bank
ing establishments, all the schools of learning,
the shrines of benevolence aud industry, the
Convent of Nuns and Sisters of Mercy, all art
buried in one ruin. By the energy and enter
prise of Bishop Lynch ihe schools "of the Cath
olics will be rebuilt—in process of time.
Now, in the ruined South, there are thou
sands of promising children of intelligent pa
rents who will'remain iu ignorance and ob
scurity unless cared for by the grateful and
charitable who were spared so terrible a fate.
Ladies of the land, will your patriotism per
mit you to turn heedlessly away from the cries
of the young and rising generation ? You all,
everywhere, can encourage and support us in
this arduous work. It is educatiou that will
unite and build up the country. The stability,
the prosperity, the moral tone, and glory ol
the nation depend upon education.
Donations are earnestly solicited for Colum
bia. Agents will be supplied with commissions.
They are to send all the commissions to Mr.
Mcßay, who will hold them, and Gen. Ilaanp
ton has kindly consented to receive them and
appropriate them for the ruined orphans of the
State. M. A. B.
A Planet in a Blaze—ls it our turn next ?
To the Editor of the Hartford Times :
The belief that this earth is eventually
to be destroyed by fire is substantiated by the
discovery that planets exceeding the earth in
size have been subjected to heat so intense as
to entirely annihilate them from the firmament.
The keen eye of the telescope, gathering rays
from the planets which are visible and fixed,
has afforded to the vision of the astronomer
sufficient light for him to assert that nearly two
thousand of these stars have disappeared from
the firmament within the last four centuries.
A few evenings since, while watching the
ftrmanent, with the moon ot her full, my atten
tion was attracted to a large star winch stood a
few degrees above the eastern horizon, and ap
parently on fire. It represented very nearly a
revolving beacon light alternating in color —
first its face presented a bright, crimson color,
then followed a pale bluish tint, then it would
relapse into its natural whiteness—presenting
all the phenomena of a large conflagration
when acted upon by a strong wind. I am of
the opinion that the star was being consumed
by fire. yß’ev. A. Webster Mills.
Lebanon, Coun., Dec. 1, 1866.
Yankee Iron Clad Destroyed by Fire.—
Philadelphia, December 16.—About one o’clock
this morning the iron-plated frigate “ New
Ironsides,” lying at Legue Island, was discov
ered to be in flan res. Owing to the distance
from the city considerable time elapsed before
any fire engines reached the spot, and they were
able to do but little towards saving the noble
ship. She continued to burn until this after
noon, aud is a total loss. No other of the fleet
anchored near her were injured. The naval
officers know nothing about the affair, but the
fire is believed to have been the work of design.
The New Irousides was built at Philadelphia
in 1863, and was christened by the veteran Com
modore Stewart. She.was a prominent actor
in the events of the war on the Southern coast,
and received many hard knocks from the Rebel
batteries, but was never injured by them, nor
was she much damaged by the torpedo the
Rebels exploded under her in Charleston har
bor. The event causes great regret here, where
every citizen felt a pride in her history. She
was about three thousand five hundred tons
burthen, and cost over $1,000,000 as she went
to sea.
[The Southern people will be able to bear
this disaster the more philosophically when
they ‘ reflect; on the fact that the iron-clad in
question 1 was a very prominent actor in the
events of the war on the Southern coast.” To
us the most touching, pathetic line in the ac
count is the last—and Bhe “ costs over SI,OOO,
000!” Southern pockets will be taxed to make
this good.— Richmond Times.
Burning of the Orleans Theatre.— The
telegraph has already announced the burning
of the Orleans Theatre, and its fifty years of
amusement and gayety will live henceforth iu
the minds of old citizens only. The ruined ap
pearance of the building—which, by the way,
exhibited La Tour de Nesle One of the gloomiest
and darkest tragedies ever written upon its last
performance night—is at present a fair repre
sentation of the fortunes of those who were in
any way interested in it at the time of its de
struction. The Theatre was valued at SIOO,OOO,
and the proprietor is said to have paid $65,000
in gold for it before the war. The manager of
the theatrical company invested 80,000f. (about
$20,000 greenbacks,) in his unfortunate enter
prise, and Hypolite, who had charge of the cof
fee-house, fruit room, ball room, and was ad
ding an eating-house saloon, had, according to
his own statement, spent $14,000 in patting his
premises in order and obtaining his stock. Os
this sum he only loses SB,OOO, as 4 the remainder
of his investment was covered by insurance.
The present season has been au unfortunate
one for the theatrical world, and recalls to mind
the terrible tragedy of the Evening filar. Count
ing the failure of Mrs. Howard at the Olympic,
and the loss of some stage properties at the Va
rieties by the sinking of the Evening Star, the
Bt. Charles remains as the only theatre which
has so far escaped any losses whatever. The
dissolution of three theatrical companies alone
is an event, we believe, which has never been
chronicled in this city before in one season,
and as the misfortunes of managers and actors
are the misfortunes of the public, are such we
trust as will never occur again.
New Orleans Commercial.
Yankee Doctors Killed in Battle.— The
report of the Surgeon General shows that an
army surgeon is oftentimes exposed in battle
to ail the dangers which belong to the so-called
“ combatant officers.” In all, 336 surgeons died
during the war. Os these, 29 were killed in
battle; 10 died from wounds; 12 wer# acci
dentally killed ; 4 died in prison; 7 of yellow
fever; 3of cholera, and 271 died of other dis
eases. Os actual casualties in battle there were
64, of whom 39 died.
The Dawn of Day in Southern Agriculture.
Editors Southern Cultivator : I regard
Mr. Hull’s communication in the October num
ber of the Southern Cultivator as containing
matter at once so truthful, important aud en
couraging that it may be characterized as re
vealing pretty clearly the dawn ot a bright and
happy day for Southern agriculture. Some
twenty years ago the writer was laughed at
by planters in Burke county, Georgia, for the
folly of attempting to teach them, in a public
lecture, “how to raise grass, when they had
been all their lives laboring to kill gross on
their plantations.”
The general nakedness of the land impressed
me strongly ut that time. It appeared to me
that something was wanting on the surlace of
the ground to hold exceedingly fine particles
of mould, clay and sand to their places, and
prevent heavy Southern rains washing these
fertilizing particles ot 6oil off from cultivated
fields, and thereby avoid their becoming pre
maturely impoverished. Perennial grasses be
ing nature’s contrivance for holding loose
earthy atoms together on the bosom of our
common mother earth, it struck me that the
introduction ofthfe grasses, in connection with
planting, would at least lessen the number of
denuded old fields, and save Southern agricul
ture from the discredit of sending a thousand
miles for hay to meet the wants of the public.
All suggestions and reasoning of this kind
received little consideration, whether made iu
the Cultivator or in public addresses; for the
fulluess of time had not arrived when necessity
compelled attention to the true principles ol
tillage and husbandry. Now these principles
have become subjects of paramount impor
tance ; and they need only study for oue to un
derstand how easy it is to make, as Mr. Hull
has done, from seven to ten thousand pounds
of superior clover hay in twelve consecutive
months, on one acre of old field, red clay soli,
with au uneven surface, where I happen to
know that hard, sterile granite is not far below
the clay. This pregnant fact is most encourag
ing ; for while Col. Uroom, of Alabama, l)r.
Phillips, of Mississippi, and others in Louisi
ana and Texas, lmd demonstrated that rich lime
lands would produce clover for indefinite years
in those States, it was doubtful whether non
calcareous, and comparative poor soils, in cot
ton districts, would ulso favor the growth of
this most renovating plant. The Southern Cul
tivator for August, 1850, contains two letters
written by Col. J. Uroom, from which I cite
a few remarks as worthy of uotice iu this con
nection :
“I sow Ted clover exclusively on prairie or
lime 60ils. It sustains, indeed, a luxuriant
growth of clover longer than auy soli I have
seen or read of. Miue is as luxuriant at this
time as it ever has been, (the 14ih year) with
out resowing or replowing, and grazed all the
time except iu very rigorous weather in the
winter.”
Properly mannged, clover is substantially a
perennial. Os its value Colonel C. remarks ;
“ You would scarcely believe me when I tell
you how value my clover is to me.* Besides
the grazing of my sheep, calves, colts, &e., it
nets me fifty dollars per acre in pork alone. In
addition, it requires no expense, and the laud
is improving all the time.”
The united testimony of Mr. Hull and the
gentle nan above named ought to satisfy every
farmer and planter that clover deserves a fair
trial. I brought seed with me from Georgia
that grew on my place near Athens before the
war, which sown in February last, have germi
nated and grown;in a satisfactory manner; thus
adding anew fact as to the tenacity of the vital
principle in clover seed ; and 1 have a pretty
fair stand of plants on land planted In corn last
year, from seed dropt before the ground was
broken up for corn. Mnny valuable grasses
will reseed the ground like indigenous •crab
grass. 1 have gathered Blue Grass roots from
propagation in Green county, Georgia, that
first sprang from seed sown fifty years before,
without ever once being reseeded by man.
These facts prove that neither the climate
nor soil of the South forbids the profitable cul
tivation of clover and grass. It would be a
great advantage to the South if reliable men
like Mr. Hull would raise grass seed for sale.—
Many will be wanted till farmers gene
rally cultivate grass and save seed as they do
corn and potatoes. Although much grass seed
is raised in East Tennesssee, it is difficult to
get good seed. Timothy has sold in Knoxville
this year at $8 a bushel and clover at from $lO
to sl2. Cincinnati is the best market in which
to purchase grass and clover seed.
To know how to raise grass and clover skill
fully in the South is one thing, and how to use
them to the best advantage is another quite
different thing. Long experience in New York
lias shown that the production of milk from
forage plants and the manufacture of butter
aud cheese yield the surest income. By extend
ing his pastures and meadows, it would be easy
to keep 100 dairy cows on Mr. Hull’s Ogle
thorpe farm, which would give 300 pounds of
cheese to each in a year. This at 20 cents a
pound would lie S6O a head, and $6,000 for the
herd. Some dairies in Herkimer County, New
York, have yielded over OOOjiounds to the cow.
In Georgia, however, it would pay best to make
only some 200 pounds of cheese to the cow,
and raise witli the milk as many calves of supe
rior milking blood as possible. Forty years ago,
in the township of Concord, Erie County, New
York, I bought good cows for sl2abead; now,
a cheese factory is able to work up the milk of
1,500 cows daily in that place, and such cows as
I purchased lor sl2, sell at over SIOO. Choice
dairy stock is destined to rise still higher in
value as our fanning improves, to convert grass
into money. and. LEE.
dap Creek, Knox County, Tenn.
NO PROFIT IN CULTIVATING POOR LAND WITH
OUT MANURE.
Editors Southern Cultivator : My expe
rience under the new system of labor has con-i
vinced me more thoroughly than ever, that it
will not pay to cultivate poor land. To make
this truth appear to any one who will take the j
trouble to read this article, I will throw it in
the form of an account. Many acres in the
Southern States within the last twenty years,
have been planted in corn and cotton, which
have not produced more than eight bushels of
corn, or two hundred pounds of cotton in the
seed.
First, let us take one acre of such land and
plant It in corn, with what most planters think
good culture, that is to say, break the land well,
plant properly, and give it three thoi ongb plow
ings and two hoeings.
For one man and horse one day to break
up one acre $1 50
For one man and horse one day to plant
one acre 1 50
For one man aud horse two days to plow
three times 3 00
For one man two days to hoe twice, at 75
cents per day l 50
For pne man two days to gather corn and
fodder 1 50
Cost of cultivating an acre in corn in the
ordinary way $9 00
Cr. by 8 bushels corn, at $1 50 sl2 00
by 80 lbs. fodder 1 20
13 20
Nett profit on one acre in corn.. $4 20
at present prices.
Now take the same acre and manure it high
ly, so as to make it produce sixty bushels of
corn.
Ordinary expense of cultivation and
gathering as above 9 00
Add one man and two horses one day to
subsoil 2 00
For IpOO pounds superphosphate at 3c., 30 00
200 pounds Peruvian guano at 6c... 12 00
one man 3 additional days, to gather,
at 75c 2 25
$55 25
Cr. by 60 bushels corn at#l 50.590 00
By 600 lbs. fodder at $1 50. 900
Total product 1 enriched acre corn,‘99 00
Deduct expenses 55 00
Nett profit on one acre at same
rate as before $43 75
All will admit that the corn and fodder from
the rich acre will be heavier and better than
from the poor. In the case of cotton the dif
ference is still more marked.
The acre which would with ordinary cnltnre
produce eight bushels of corn, would produce
two hundred pounds of cotton. The account
would run thus ;
For one man and horse one day to break
up one acre ; $ 1 50
For one man and horse one day to bed
up one acre 1 50
For one man and horse one day to plant
one acre 1 50
For one man and horse two days to plow
three times 8 00
One man five days to'hoc over three times
at 75c *■.. 3 75
One man five days £ather crop 375
Cost of cultivating 1 acre in Cotton with
hired labor 15 00
Cr. by 200 lbs. Cotton at Bc. per lb., pre
sent price in seed 16 00
Net profit on 1 acre of Cotton without
manure .. 100
An experience of twerty-flve years in plant
ing has satisfied me that it is easier to cultivate
a rich acre in cotton than a poor one. In the
first place, there are fewer rows (bfliug wider
apart on rich land) to hoe, and fewer stalks in
each row to hoe around, ahd lastly, the cotton
growing off much faster, enables the plowman
sooner to “ lap the dirt ” about the plant. But
suppose it cost just the same. Now make the
aero above considered rich enough to produce
two thousand pounds of cotton; the neeonnt
will run thus:
Cost of ordinary cultivation ns above.. .sls 00
For one man and horse oue additional
day to follow with coulter 150
For one man one day to distribute ma
nure 75
For one man five additional days to gather
crop 3 75
For 1,000 lbs. Superphosphate at 3c 30 00
For 200 lbs. Peruvian Guano at 6c 12 00
Entire cost of cultivating and making
rich 63 00
Credit by 2,000 lbs. Cotton at Bc.
(in seed) SIOO 00
Net profit on one acre rich land.. 97 00
My observation convinces me that 1,000 lbs.
Superphosphate and 200 lbs. Peruvian Guano,
with the additional deep culture will inako an
acre produce 2,000 lbs. which produced only
200 lbs. seed cotton before, without immure.
With n ciear profit of $97, the land will be left
at least 100 per cent, better for nnother crop.
Why will sensible men waste their time and
monoy on poor laud when rich land only pays?
But many will say we have not the means to
purchase tho fertilizers. Then devote more
time to making and saving good manure, and
less to running over so mnnv barren acres. I
once manured due acre with the scrapings ot
tho yard around iny dwelling, and made a bale
of beautiful cotton, when the balance of icy cot
ton crop (near two hundred acres) produced au
average of one bale to eight nfres. W. R.
Athens, November 15th, 1866.
In the purchase of manures wo should prefer
to divide the money more equally. Wo think
four hundred weight of Guano nnd tho balance
in Superphosphate would make the acre more
productive. Both manures have their value aud
are needed to make large crops.—Ed. So. Cult.
Specie Payments and TnE Legal Tender
Currency.—Mr. E. G. Spaulding, of the Farm
ers’ and Mechanics’ National Bank of Buffalo,
having, in a letter to Secretary McCulloch, ex
pressed the opinion that the currency could be
moderatfly contracted “so as to preserve a
tolerably easy money market, In order to be
able to fund the compound sixes and the seven
thirties into long gold bearing bonds, between
this nnd the 15th day-of July, 1868 ; and that
tiie specie standard could be reached with at
least, $250,000,000 of plain legal tender United
States notes still outstanding,” Mr. McCulloch
replied as follows;
Treasury Department, )
Washington, December 7,1866, )
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 4th instant Is
received. You mill receive a copy of my re
port through theTiompti oiler of the4’urrency.
ft was very hastily written, but is, I think,
sound In doctrine.
What we need Is an Increase of labor. If we
could have tiie productive industry of the
country In full yxercise, we could return to
specie payments without any very large cur
tailment of United States notes. My object
has been to keep the market steady, and to
work' back to specie payments without a finan
cial collapse. I shall act in the future as I have
in the past, with great caution, and attempt no
impracticable thing.
I am, very truly, yours,
H. McCulloch.
Napoleon’s. Retreats.— The Unita Catlo
lica, of Rome, of November 27th, contains an
article entitled “ The Fall of the First nnd Se
cond Empire,” from which the following is an
extract: “ Since the Steele and the Temps, of
Paris, speak openly of the downfall of the
jPopcs, we may speak a little of the downfall of
tiie second empire. Napoleon the Third has
fallen back ;he is lost. He has retreated from
Poland from fear of Russia ; he has retreated
from Germany from fear of the needle gun ; he
lias retreated from Mexiao from fear of the
United States; he has retreated from Rome
from fear ofOrslna and Massini.” The clerical
jonrnal prints two columns in the same strain,
and concludes by saying, that it sends the article
in print to the Emperor at Compiegne, to Gen
Floury, to M. de Malaret, arid tffM. de Sartiges,
iu order that they may put it in their archives,
and take it down for perusal when the proper
time shall have come.
Tiie True Life.— The mere lapse of years is
not life. To cat and drink and sleep; to be ex
posed to darkness and the light; to pace round
the mill of habit, and turn the wheel of wealth,
to make reason our book-keeper, nnd turn
thought into an implement of trade—this is not
life. In all this but a poor fraction of the ci<n
scionsness of humanity is awakened, ahd the
sanctities still slumber which make it most
worth while living. Knowledge, truth, love,
beauty, faith, alone can give vitality to the me
chanism of existence, the laugh of mirth which
vibrates through the heart, the tears that freshen
the dry waste within, the music that brings
childhood back, the prayer that calls tiie future,
the doubt which makes us meditate, the death
which startles us with mystery, the hardships
that force us to struggle, the anxiety that ends
in trust, are the true nonrishment of rational
beings.
The LaGrange Reporter says; “JPerhaps •
there is no place of the size of LaGrange that
can boast of so many lawyers.. There are nine
teen lawyers now practicing in LaGrange.”
Wei), “practice makes perfect,” but the
clients ?
Miss Virginia Penny, of Louisvilie, whipped
her pupil, Adam Haag, severely, and the senior
Haag sued her. He recovered one cent and
costs.
“ Penny rise and pound foolish.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes is writing a novel
for the Atlantic.
Probably a sea story.
