4-
KOiin
CAROLINA
Mm
This Aiffu V U peopUH rights 4ot M etenul ker
No ti:nf strata f MaU'i 1H fcU kindred f s to Uc
C. W. FBNTOK; EpiTOB.
TADESDOtlO nr. c.
TIJUllSfAy;:::::i:u:::u:u::APRIlH P 1363.
MX Ji. .
' EST 0rin? ta.the tAmendous advance la the price
of, paper, and the Wgu price of protons of every
kind, we are compelled henceforth to raise the price
of Subscription to the Argus to $2. We regret this
- bat there is no help for it.
"" Moxbob, N. C. March 26, 1803.r4
.Mr. JSittor; I did think that I would plant ioim
Cvt'do thlj yftar-bai, my dear Sir, I se it woa't do.
Our ry existence depends upon this matter. Uolosa
eTer exerttee is made, that can be made, we shall
hare famine apoo as; and I cow propose to every plan
tr in Anion, not to plant one acre ia Cotton' own
rpt tktrt and I pledge ny$elf not to plant ny Cotton
Already toe leasees iniooung w bwtbuuu
means by which they will sutyijrte wj. Let us, theii,
make an Issue with them upon thrt, ami ? how them
that we arc Independent of then in ery respect. I,
A not tati font eVicre m ttton.
for one,
Truly your,
D. A. COVlNUloX.
Mr. James A. Leak, ha printed "fyr
gratuitous dis:ribu?iin anion? Volunteer's fam
ilies, twenty five buhh of Meal, for' winch he
paid" two dollars per bushel preferring this
mode' to hauling it from his pUntation, across
the river, v .
J js. We beg those who owe us to remember
us. Next week being Court-week, they will have
opportunity 'to' bring us something toeat. We
are at starvation's point. We had rather hive
prod ace. than money. . Corn, and Meal we are
desperately io"want of, and everything else. Do
bring us owfAiji for humanity's sake, if not
for our sake. It you waot.to rfecpwingbt
remember the Editor. 1 . ,
ArrKTiiv Magistrates. An order ap-
pears in this" paper from the Commandant of
Conscripts for North Carolina, for the enrollment
of Jaatices of the Peace between the ages of .18
and 40. . ; '
COTTOI.
The time has come when the question of final
separation from the North a separate and peace
ful existence for :'th South the sucjee or fail
ure jMheeffjrM made an 1 making fur-Southern
' laicpewJerwej? transferred from the military and
leff to the deci-Ion - of ..civilian.. Ail the vast
expense of none' and means of blood and trea
sure of sufiering, want, and wo all the super
Launan efforts and untofd privations of our brave
pcldiers. will have been for oaugbt worse than
vain if the Planters of the Confederacy, instead
of planting every acre with bread stuffs, are
guilty vof " the suicidal policy of planting; more
Cotton than will supply the home demand.The
conduct .'of .our Planters last year, was patriotic
, .and praiseworthy, aud baa, for the present, saved
our caused hat the temptations held out to the
avaricious, are ration greater thi year, owing to
tts0 high prions of Cotton in the market ; and we
are sorry that the Legislature of North Carolina
d id not legislate for the restraining of those un
pLtriotie enough -to hazard the interests' of the
catioa for gain. If men will, wheb the salva
tion of the country depends upon the raising of
f.iod for the army and for home consumption,
koowiug, that without provisions the army enn-
" r'.'t te subsUted,'and must therefore be disbanded,
w, at least, broken up Into small divwioos, scat
tered hither aod yonder, just where food happens
' to be most plentiful, thus giviog the enemy ad
vantages which they will qot be slow to profilby,
jtJiataghkhwiljgnablfttbem
tv."t euperwr nutcibers and equipments, one di-
lisioa fter ari9tUcri arid thus subjugate and
rus tp!w .uudvr.ih yoke of Lincoln; con-
1 not by force of arms, but by starvation'
structioo worse, far worse," than the pestilence
that iralketh in darknesi rnd wasteth at coon
day! for, in the hands jo ota impJacahle eqemies,
it will bring to the families .of Aa South murder
and incest. ' Every heaithtstono tf ill be teddett
ed witli'the blood of innocent women and chil
dren, whose fate, horrible a murder can make
it, will be happylf they thus, escape a fate far
worse than deatn. , , ;
H.LerDot thfl people oLthis..State aqd thelCon
federacy neglect tho warning lest couscquences
ensue which may cost them not only their cotton
crops, but all that they have, and all that they
expect to have in future We c5n never be coo-
"qTeTFy'lKe apas of the enemy. We may be
by hunger, if wo neglect to husband all the re
sources for the supply of provisions, which a kind
Providence has-placed within' our reach. "At-
tempt to conceal it as wo may, the fact is unde
niable, that the great question in this revolution
is now a question of bread. The army must bo
fed. and their families at home supported, or the
sun of liberty will soon set in darkness and btttod,
aud the voice of freedom wijl be forever hushed
in tho silence of despotism.
We have now the pledge, the earnest, of com
plete final success, iti this our struggle for Jue,
liberty, and independence. Is not the fact that
we have been victorious in every battle an earnest
that God intends to give us tho victory, ij kc
continue to be faithful to ourmc'Si Ktat armies
have been tried and found worthy "a tfd faithful.
God is now about to try those who have the largest
stake in the contest the Planters of the ifouth.
He haa'so ordered, that the erent of the struggle
rests with them If .they are faitntul all is
well. If not, all is lost. The responsibility is
with them, and we beg them to consider well the
consenuences which wait uron their action. We
beg of you, let not the historian have to record,
for the scorn and contempt of future generations,
that the South, which all the arts : and combina
tions, and power of its tremendous euemy could
not daunt or conquer, whose brave soldiers tutl
the serried ranks of their invader, and scattered
and Touted them on every field triumphant
defiant victorious, confident was subjugated, at
last, in the hour of assured success by hunger
ttarvation because the Planters of the bouth,
ware so blinded by an unhallowed lust for gain,
as to refuse to raise food for the 'sustenance of
the array, that would and eonM have won for them
liberty and independence. God savo them from
the commission of ao inexcusable a crime, and
grant us a safe deliverance from all our trouble,
all our wo. JJut, we repeatit all depends upon
.the action of Planters. ' Cotton, and8ubagation
certain. Uread, and liberty, certain : tor we can
not doubt that God intends to make us a free,
hapoy, and powerful nation if tee are not re
l v
! crcant to onrscUcs.
Wc'have received a letter from our cor
I respondent, "Ef .Jiady,", from which we make
the fullowing extract. c will publish the letter
entire next week : i : :
''txj. if aiia iri7 plaii Cotton instead of bread
'iiU audr "ittch - ctrcdmstaoces, 'ovgU they not
to he rat rained f . "
, Even now, In North Carolina, mony will not
buy bread at a reasonable price, notwithstauding
the superabundant crop of Corn last year. Sup.
pose the usual crop ot CottQn had been grown in
oar State- last year, what would be the condition
of our soldiers and "eitisens at this timo? Well,
ff our'P!aaters, (hit ?awnt plant Cotfoa bstead
of grain, it is f'y to eee what will eihe fate
4t':fs Confederacy 1 5 ubjugatioo "J . Sahj uga
I regret to name it that there have recently
taken place from this brigade (but not this rcgi
ment, thank God !) several French leaves of ab
sence. This time these men were not all con
scripts they were principally men who, up to
leaving; were considered good soldiers. hen
such as they leave In such a way we are led to
look and enquire for the cause. It was not
from want of bvc for the cause in which they were
engaged, nor from want of confidence in its ulti
mate result the achievement of our iodepend
ence, nor.from the harshness of the discipline
or from any other cause in the army. No, it was
not from -any of these : but-T regret to say the
cause lays at and near tlelf own homes, and among
the great class, who are out of the army among
the planters, the farmers, the mechanics, the men
who lose no opportunity to get the highest prices
for what they have to sell, and who ncglcet no
opportunity to, shove the necessaries of life to the
highest figures. It seems to.the army that every
person that is left at home; has gjven himself up
to speculation, extortion and-the devil, and, not
trttahedithr-rrtndiiiifie'W
the-wives and children of the soldier', and the
Confederate Government, are now bearmg down
heavier lhan ever upon the army.- Whatever
there is of demoralization in the army may be
safely laid to the account of the speculators and
extortioners wno caa tnemscivea larraers and
planters', tanners, cotton factors and shoemakers
And to the account of these same gentlemen, i
the South ever comes out of this contest worsted
may be laid the cause of bur failure. Instead o
acting like honest' patriots, sustaining the credit
of the government and ita currency, they are
lending themselves to the Yankees and the devil,
and aiding them all they can io subjugating us.
i bey charge that there is too much Confederate
money, in circulation that fluit is an excuse for
thdr high prices; wliile they are charging this,
they a re at that very time forcing the govern
ment to put still more in eireulatiou to keep up
r.bmrt h.AiA'-"'r A iPf.ng XtL-Lni anv nrictj. - Yen' th'ev in. undpr
For the Argus.
Mf. FmosfrOar country is very much -in
the condition that Turkey wis once iaid to be
ike a lick man, ' But the sick man is, fortunate
v. under, the cafe Ud, treatment of, the family
physician,' Dr, Davis, surrounded by a.kitcben
ull of cooks,, nursca, and attendants to maxe
teas, aoups, plasters and poultices &o., and if he
can't savo him why, 'there is nothing left but
for the sick man to die. .guaclcs may continue
intruder their nostrums and notions, on the
Doctor, but it will be of no avail; for he is not
ikcly to notice them, and if ho did, it would only
insure aqd hasten the threatened catastrophe'
tho death of the patient, j ; ... ' : ' ?
This analogy has been suggested by the univer
sal clamor, through the prcsui."end.pmate corres-
pondence oi tue counvry, aooui -uwivwu,
ulation, Ac, &c. : , . -:r ;
That Extomon and Spccoiatiouaro nien me
;n.1 'mine will denv but it is the natural re
sult of certain causes always hasbccn. and al
ways will be, until 'human, ttnttire ir xJim'fjedt
and it is worse than idle t be ringing the chang
pm on the cruel heartlcssne.s of Extortioners and
Speculators irorse than idle, because it may have
a pernicious reacting effect upon the public"
The scarcity in some places ana tne vniversai
hi?li prices of provisions is the general cry and
eotutlint and abuse i unsparingly laid at the
door of tbe producer or Polder ot tuese aruciew,
b this entirely riaht f -en if tight, i it politiof
As a question of. inqrals it is a. ways ngni io
decrv and rati aeainst the vices ot tne times.
s6umin2 this to be one of them then, in that
view, it is at least.not wrorg however hopeless
the undertaking. may to tu cbange bumanua
turc; but that Extortion and Speculation iU be
the invariable effect of like causes in all times,
eannot be denied and is tPerciore - aumea ;
then it seems to be the pSrt of wisdom so to deal
with it. l'ou cannot dim up a stream so as com
pletely toconfine its waters r therefore jou mn?t
so provide for the currcut as, to do the least nii-
thief otherwise it will nod an outlet tor mcir,
afcd by diverting its course into new channels
rK still greater r.iscblet.
Now as an i-lstract proj-otiiioa the pianter
who raises crn, has as much right to expect and
receive the market price as he who raises cotton
it is objected that in these, scarce and high
price times as a humane man, he ought not so to,
expect. This is an appeal to his charity. The
exercise must be Jeff to tho voluntary independent
promptings of each individual, or else the appeal, ;
if made, must b so made as to bear, or at least
seeui to bear, equally vn all, the cotton planter,
as well us the corn planter; or it will lai! ot its
object; Even then, daily expericuco shows its
success to be but partial, and it an attempt is
made '(as has been; to bring to bear on tho (orn
planter the pressure of public opinion, and there-
by morally fhrce him int a compliance with t.e
promptings of humanity and charity if the at-,
tempt docs not reJultlri entire fuilurei: will at
least be but partially successful; while it will
greatly endanger a pernicious, reactionary erect
for the m
situated will be to this effect If, while my
neighbor iiallowed to sell his cottou for ail he
can get, I tiborccJ, by this outcry, to sell my
corn at whatever any ono may choose to say or
at less than the highest market price, I must
per force, yield to tb'0 pressure lo the extent of
what ! no w h avc bu t Ijv ill .lakestn fa ture
to follow the example of mymofe'eautious neigh
bor, and plant cotton also then, having no sur
plus corn, I will escape this public odium,-and
be placed on an equal footing withmy neighbor;"
the obvious result of which will be ivtill greater
scarcity and higher prices. .
T Hut it may bo replied, let planters be prohib
ited from planting cotton, and they will be forced
to raise provisions to D'nd employment tor tbeir
-T . 'j , , .... , , ,-. ., ....
provided topa? for it partly out of them--tJj
partly also eui 6f ether$ ; ond crib, doora.aodt
mkVa. ltai well V. A VA ft ikil AYtAAfrfnlfv C k
CiJUAvT UUU C9 Will VO VJ'VUIM VMt-UtUHJ, l ( MVJ
thing will Cor it. Not onlyi'l this, I thin, bo -
IDS reauu, mi at 11:3 aams u vj yoc vyoyerj ims
sclSsh ariciou4 principle into a means of greaf
pupno oeneui, ano uarmonize me pnvaio ituer
est of the individual with the pubho good. . In.
stead of darning up, the stream, you clean out its
cnannei ana maxe mat wmcn wouia omerwiee bo
a cause of much injury, the instrument of great
good you encourage them and others to continoo
and increase their" ctojs of corn and "other Jindjr
of breadstuffs and in a corresponding degree dU
minish the crops of cotton that msy be planted.
Much fear and apprehension is entertained
about the quantity of cotton likely to be planttd
.. . . ii ; t
tins Season. - inere a no it;i jwrainin pian
tera. It u thought as I think jastly--thai our
existeace m t people dcpencU mainly on our be
iog able to feed our armies and ourselves.7? H wilf
require all the planting ferce in the. Confederacy
to do this., To ioduco- the plapters of North
Carolina to abstain from planting cotton. and tu
bacco, in the absence of legal restraint, you uutf
make it their private, interest not in the theo-
ritical wsnse either-botio tbe way in which they
are mccusiomed to look after their intercM or
else too much cotton, too much tobacco will lo
plaptcd, and the result will very prolalfjf U our
defeat and ruin as a people. ' v
Tho? Legislature has suthorired the County
Courts to levy taxes for the support ilf the poor
generally, and more recently to levy taxes to sop.
port indijicnt families of volunteers. It has Uu
appropriated 8100,000 to be, and it i now heir 2
distributed among tbe different counties. I til
also authorired "the Governor to aproint7agntr2
to buy provisions and to tuake depieitoms at oil
fereut cuBveaient point in )he latc, to be fur
niched to the county agenU at cjt and i'uargia
-wto be furniilicd to those who ncd. So, tiruj lv
meafiis.havc been provided it they aie iu proud
to. pay fwr" provisiuni even at market t rices.
TLerrfore let have the privilege of sflling at
market prices-rand leave the question of sellii g
at lew price to each man's own conscience.
Fair Vlaw
, , '...- : . , . Fur .the A rg,?. ' .
Mr. Fento.v; , ; ... -
We are in the very crisis of our ftc, -Eur)
thing depend upon tbe patriotism of V.nr Pbu- ,
tcrs. . H J)sey plant Cottdn at the txeiM rf
bread, tho country is subjugated, and we ttu
hewers of wood and drawers of water for tho Al
liiionistJ. I fend you the following extract,' fur
the Argus from Gov. Brown's Message to the
Georjjia Icgislatare :
Failing to accomplish our subjugation by the
force of srms, and tho power of numbers, tLe
cneuty has called to his aid the terrible appiiin
cis of want and starvation, and is carrying oat
this savage and inhuman policy by stealing ou
hlaves, the seizure of provisiuns, and even tW
destruction of agricultural impleoicntss Areyps
Planters of North Carolina, prepared to" aid-It'
this j-oliey by pursuiaga cuuie which ntiy trtl
to its accomplishment ? Look around you at this
moment, when the crop upon which, the jr
must mainly depend is not yet planted, and to-
hold the want and destitution . which, notwith
Handing the munificent provision made by pub- :
lie and private benevolencer is t be found at the
hearthstones of many whose legitimate protectors
have fallen in battle or are now fighting in the
defence of, your your homes and property. ; Let
us not deceive porselves. The failure to raise
the largot possible quantity of supplies the pres- '
ml year may bring" disaster and ruin upon, our
cau?-ii. Tho soldier must bo fed aod his family
provided fori and our home population, wbiie
anil black, be supported. The experience of the
pat anu tne necessities ci toe present give se-
VI -T,r., ,iWrl rMtinn-nf ;randnrn-tim- S.,h.i 'S eyioccu .utw rmyr a am irau mere wiu t9 t
-.- f' -r. :v - .-. - . .. ' - a reckoninir some Of these davs and terrible, it Ifaa. it is called!
" T 1 I. A I I & t rt rH Gla 1 M 1 an aim tAts l 9 ' - . ! , J- X .
i..rari,m T he verv ekmeatthat is now the rlorv -1 ;t. ..j k4."i I t,;
hands: . I say, too, let that bo done. I think iH03 ar,t olcuin warning as to the future. It
sbculd have been done by our last Legislature -
still, this i no answer. . No such legislation
has been hd,' and men are loft free to oVas they
will, in that respect. AU men are, more or less,
govercned by motivee of self interest, and dot pile
firtiy W
fentiment, that will, at last, be the great govern
ing principle. . ' " ;
Now is it not the better policy to fully recog
nise this opiversal principlein men in so shaping
our course as to permit men to indulge it unmoM
lestcd, under tbe sole restraints of theirown con
sciousness, and at the same lime, reach the end
aimed at that is. a supply of provisions,to tho
poor and necessitous.
:Hut- how is Ihat to' be done, it may be asked f
Uy encouraging men to sell their "provisions for,
all thej can get, if their own fce'ese of propriety
and humanity will permit it, and let tho public
authorities make provision, ample, for tbe poor
and needy, aod lay'a iax to raise the means
which tax will come afike cut of all who are able
to pay taxes, according tohi9 means sa wett the
cotton as the corn planter. Hut we can't get it
for the money, it is'gaid. Holders refuse to sell
j do. under -the" p'mturi
of publioopioioa; ihey jwt choose to ratoejrices'
but. are unwilling to take wnat
not our armies which have hitherto, bv the ths
singssof God, proved invincible, be cooqueied or
disbaoded by the want' of subsistence in their
camps, Oibccome demoralized by .the presence
of 'famine in .their : homes" These rresalts can
4Ad-iU-'fete4iil4lif Blatwif:wimnni.yt
realize ineir neavy responsioiury, ana uiiicnn.r
their full duty to the country. The fndicstione
of n continuance of the wsr are so unmistakable,
and the necessity of providing the means indis
pensablo to its prosecution so urgent, that 1 have
thought it not improper to unite in the appeal (o
ttiat class of our population through whose active
energies and foresight alone those means can he
supplied, and ;" which of all others is -the moft
deeply interested in the issue of the contest now
being waged.: And I sincerely trust that thisap.
peal may not pass unheeded, but that the planteis
of North Carolina with united purpose, will devoto J
their lauds and labor to the production of subsi- .
fence for, the people and tbe armies of the Con
federacy. ' ' ' ' . -
S.
t Extortiox in- Mobile. A Writer fn the
Mobile Register intimates that " midnigU5W
pre$iure ; tell'them: to sell tot the ftice, will create a general fun among specolatjr
..Jim in -' m - i.. i n r ' i - ' - ' - ...a B mi i 1 Hi ' ' " "'
. .1 : ' ut., v.. ....... .t .; t , - " - km - -