February 11, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
March is near at hand, and throughout the Confederate States the practical question of what is to be planted for the season of [illegible] must be decided concerning every field. The country, it may be said, will be richer. The temptation to plant cotton is great, and the world would undoubtedly benefit by having a large amount of cotton at the close of the year at very low prices. And, on the whole, our resources might be greater. But as a present weapon of defence in a gigantic and terrible struggle for independence, a scant production of cotton may be used to teach an ignorant and inimical world the importance of these Confederate States to its prosperity and happiness, and to compel their unwilling justice. It is not a mere question of money-making and moneyed resource for the country. The present amount of cotton on hand may bring in the markets of the world just as much as if another crop were added to the supply; yet even if it greatly increased the future means of the country, which we deem doubtful, it does not at all follow that another crop will aid us in the achievement of our independence or shorten the struggle. That is the great object. All else is insignificant. Cotton is a great political engine, and upon the supply or withholding of it depend the prosperity or misery of millions in the quasi neutral nations of Europe. Their one-sided and criminal neutrality against us is redounding to their great detriment. The screw is tightening, and it is our policy to stand still as regards cotton, and let the screw run down to the lowest turn endurable by the Abolition Governments of Europe. They are interested in our planting as much as we. Who can do without cotton the longest? It is only a question of endurance, in which the people of the Confederate States at least will not starve.
We, therefore, trust that large crops of corn will be everywhere planted, not only because it is not wise to plant too much cotton, but because with our large armies in the field, there is need of producing much food. Most of our troops are farmers, who cannot this year plant. Others must plant a double quantity. The question of food is now important, and every care should be taken to put it above and beyond doubt for the coming year. It is the duty of patriotism, and is a vital matter.