It will be seen from this statement how vast has been our own contribution of the raw material to Great Britain and Europe generally, and how much more reliable as a source of supply our cotton fields are than those of any or all other countries, as their production between 1851 and 1855 was five times that of the East Indies, and that while during that period all other countries exported to Great Britain 937,024,275 pounds, our own sent her 3,424,502,024 pounds, or more than three and a half times as much. In his first table, Mr. Sharp sets down the import from the United States into the United Kingdom, in 1856, at 780,040,016 pounds, that from the East Indies at 180,496,624 pounds, and the total from all other countries than the United States at 243,846,512 pounds, leaving a balance in our favor of 536,193,504 pounds, and also showing that in that year also we contributed more than three times as much to European supply than all other countries combined, while it must be remembered that our domestic consumption was advancing so rapidly as to require for its use 652,739 bales, which, estimated at 450 pounds each, were equal to 293,732,550, or more than the import into England that year from all other countries than our own. Mr. Samuel S. Littlefield, the editor of the New Orleans Price Current, than whom there is no better informed or more reliable authority on the subject of cotton and the cotton trade, in the Union, estimates the value of our crop of 1857-2,931,519 bales, after making all allowances for differences in their weights in different sections of the country, at an average of $50 per bale, making the total sum of $146,975,950. This gentleman has also furnished me with much interesting information, and several valuable suggestions. From what has been said under the various heads of this report, the following conclusions as to the influence of raw cotton among the nations who are our chief customers for it may be drawn: 1st. That it contributes vastly to their social well-being by furnishing labor, sustenance, and cheap and comfortable clothing to many thousands of their subjects or citizens. 2d. That to commerce it contributes immensely by furnishing a great variety of articles, by which its exchanges are in a considerable degree regulated, and large profits continually realized. That to capital it offers the means of profitable investment and returns, and aids greatly in its accumulation. 3d. That its political influence arises from the fact, that by opening and extending commercial relations, between different nations, it has created sympathies and ties of common interest, which makes the policy of peace and its attendant blessings one far more easy to maintain than was once the case; that it adds to the national wealth and resources, and by furnishing employment and support to many thousands who might otherwise be without either, it makes contented those who would, through idleness or suffering, become burdens to the state. 4th. That the permanent and adequate supply of raw cotton thus becomes to Great Britain and continental Europe, a subject of vital importance, and indeed, of absolute necessity; and that any considerable dimunition in the crop of the United States, would cause the gravest inconveniences, while the occurrence of any state of things whereby it should be entirely cut off, would be followed by social, commercial, and political revulsions, the effects of which can scarcely be imagined. With high consideration, I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN CLAIBORNE. WASHINGTON CITY, January 22, 1858. An abstract of the trade in cotton wool, showing the import into, export from, and consumption in this and the several foreign countries, (except the consumption in the United States,) and the export of cotton yarn and cotton manufactured goods from this country, with the respective total amounts for the seven several terms of five years each, from 1821 to 1855, both inclusive, and the grand totals and annual averages for the entire period of thirty-five years. Joseph Rudworth Sharp, F. H. S., Myddleton Square, London, September, 1857. 1. TOTAL QUANTITY AND VALUE OF COTTON EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES. 2. 3. 4. 5. Compiled by 5. 6. 7. *381, 237, 445 527,862, 978 10,892, 498 9.90 4.95 Grand totals for the whole period of 35 years.... 321, 142, 116 18, 154, 062, 124 18, 475, 204, 240 1,829, 939, 736 9, 175, 489 518, 687, 489 52, 283, 992 Of this sum it would be difficult to affix the exact value shipped to this country, but as the quantity received by us from the United States constitutes 70 per cent. (69.93, see column 16) of their entire export, and as the Sea Island cotton, the most valuable imported, is chiefly consumed here, it would be a reasonable computation to estimate the British amount of this value at something more than the exact arithmetical proportion, or say, 270,000,000 sterling, being an average, for the whole term, of nearly 8,000,000 per annum as valued in America. Ex. Doc. 35—7 ABSTRACT-Continued. TOTAL IMPORTS OF COTTON INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM ALL COUNTRIES. Grand totals for the whole period of 35 years... 12,917,989,369 2,085, 911, 173 95,078, 855 125, 785, 676 121, 700, 991 124, 546, 947 104, 657,072 91,811, 676 115,722,736 114, 317, 428 798,542,526 45, 667, 041 37,913, 215 36, 214, 773 59,326, 171 68, 699, 263 68, 356, 431 165, 915, 539 844, 162, 164 1, 164, 545, 815 1,569, 742, 603 2,303, 980, 986 3,061, 026, 814 3,074, 629, 923 4,361, 526, 047 482,092, 433 16, 379, 614, 352 Annual averages for the whole period of 35 years. 369, 085, 411 59,597, 462 2,716, 539 22,815, 501 13,774, 070 467, 988, 981 It is not pretended that this is the extreme amount of consumption in foreign countries, since some of them may possibly obtain limited quantities direct from the Brazils, the Mediterranean, or elsewhere, and, in the case of France and Holland especially, from their own colonial possessions. But the quantities thus obtained will be of comparatively trifling extent, and cannot materially change the relative proportions or per centages of entire consumption in the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as shown in columns 19a and 196. It may be well shortly to state here that the quantity of cotton worked up in the United States last year was 652,739 bales, which, at an average of 400 pounds per bale, gives 261,000,000 pounds so manufactured in that country. |