and almost all the soil is suited to
the growth of cotton. There are more than five thousand square
miles of bituminous coal in Texas, presenting seams five feet
thick, and hills of pure gypsum seven hundred feet high. These are
all covered by a generous sky and climate beneath which the white
man can live and work without fear of malaria or sickness, and
where he can enjoy all the blessings of the tropics without their
attendant disadvantages.

It is this superb country which we trust General Lane and his forces may
soon redeem from the curse of slavery.

The woolen manufacturer has an equal interest with the cotton-spinner in
demanding that this shall be done, for with this unequaled country for
the production of wool remaining under the curse of slavery, we import
annually nearly thirty million pounds of wool,--about one-third of our
whole consumption. With Texas free, and emigration from abroad--for a
long time reduced almost to nothing--freely encouraged, we should become
exporters of wool, not importers.

But I am warned that I have exceeded the space allotted me. The absurd
assertion that the emancipated negro lapses into barbarism and will not
work, can only be met by the question, 'If he will not work except by
compulsion, why does he work extra after his compulsory labor is over?'
Evidence that he does so work can be presented _ad infinitum_, upon
Southern testimony; witness that De Bow's _Review_ makes only a _few_
selections.

The _peculium_ of Southern servants, even on the plantation, is
sometimes not trifling. We make a _few_ selections, showing--

THE NEGROES' CROP.--A friend has reported to us a sale, on
Tuesday, of a crop of cotton belonging to Elijah Cook, of Harris
Co., Ga., amounting to $1424 96-100.--_Columbus_ (Ga.) _Sun_, Dec.
29, 1858.

Mr. J.S. Byington informs us that he made two cotton purchases
lately. One was the cotton crop of the negroes of Dr. Lucas, of
this vicinity, for which he paid $1,800 in cash, every dollar of
which goes to the negroes.--_Montgomery (Ala.) Mail_, Jan. 21,
1859.

Speaking of negroes' crops, the sales of which our contemporaries
are chronicling in various amounts,--the largest which has come to
our knowledge is one made in Macon, for the negroes of Allen
McWalker. It amounted to $1969.65.--_Macon (Ga.) Telegraph_, Feb.
3, 1859.

Upon Louisiana sugar plantations, the exhau