~T / y 4- - JL" 
 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 Speech of Mr. M 
 Conf Pam #648 
 
 DTTOflDTbME 
 

 OF 
 
 ME. M C CUE, OF AUGUSTA, 
 
 DELIVERED IS THE 
 
 HOUSE OF DELEGATES, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 16th and 17th October, 1863, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 BILL TO PROTECT SHEEP AND INCREASE THE 
 PRODUCTION OP WOOL. 
 
 RICHMOND: 
 
 GEO. P. EVANS & CO., PRINTERS, "WHIG BUILDING." 
 1863. 
 

 <• •>* 
 
 
 
 
 **\* 
 
TV.-R. 
 
 C*v^£ 
 
 
 IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES 
 
 OF VIRGINIA 
 
 A motion having been made to indefinitely postpone the Bill to protect 
 Sheep and increase the growth of Wool, Mr. McCue spoke as 
 follows: • 
 
 Mr. Speaker — 
 
 Accustomed as I am to a laconic style of speaking, and trespassing 
 seldonvon the attention of the House, causes a feeling of embarrassment in addressing 
 you at this time. Conscious of the vast importance of my subject, and of my inability to 
 do it justice, increases that feeling. 
 
 Where are we, sir.' Who are you, sir, and who are we occupying these seats? The 
 representatives of one of the constituent parts of this young Republic, just springing into 
 existence, are we assembled. FJm, sir, occupying the seat, graced since the days of 17?fj 
 with a Pendleton, Wythe, Lee, Mason and Bland, and a long line of worthies, that have 
 illustrated and adorned the history of the old Union. We are the successors of the Harri- 
 sons and Lewis, Madison and Marshall, Henry and Randolph, and the long roll of states- 
 men, whose fame adorned the era in which they lived, and enjoy an immortality co-ex- 
 i*tant with the bounds of the civilized world. 
 
 Entering, as we are just doing, upon the threshold of a new existence, and weighed 
 down as we must feel ourselves to be, by the immense responsibility, are we equal to the 
 tccasion.' I fear not, sir. Methinks the shade of the immortal Jefferson, whose portrait 
 adorns our hall, if it could speak, would exclaim, dwarfed, diearfed, when compared with 
 <»ur predecessors of a past age. If it were possible for the marble semblance of the Fa- 
 ther of his country, in the ante-chamber, to run a parallel between the Congress of the 
 Confederate States, together with the past and the present legislature, and the patriots of 
 1776, who adorned our legislative annals, 1 fear we must all suffer in the comparison. A 
 handful of bold and dauntless spirits scattered over a wide country, as yet but partially 
 reclaimed from the forest, hemmed in by a trackless ocean, and threatened by a savage 
 foe, with an implicit trust in God, they achieved independence. Without an army and 
 navy, and destitute of all those appliances necessary to wage a war, they improvised'evcry- 
 ihing, and conquered. We, Mr. Speaker, finding it necessary to adopt their example, in 
 vindicating our rights and in resisting a haled tyranny, severed connexion with the latr 
 Union. A benignant Providence has vouchsafed to lead us, and he is blind, indeed, who 
 can shut his eyes to the belief, that we have not thus far been sustained, by His overrulintc 
 care. "Let not him that putteth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it ort." 
 Virginia, conscious of having done all to preserve the late Union, and anticipating the 
 sore trials in store for her, joined her destiny with her sisters of the South. She did not 
 cast the die too soon, \obly has she borne herself, and proudly, defiantly, and most ear- 
 nestly will she wage this war; until she vindicates those rights dear to her as the brave sons 
 whose life-blood has been a libation, on every battle field, from Mason and Dixon's line 
 to the Rio Grande. Her territory encroached upon by a ruthless foe, aided, alas ! by re< - 
 rrant and dastardly sons, shr will reclaim every foot of it at any sacrijic*. Sustaining both 
 armies, her fields laid waste, her towns and villages burned, her slaves carried off, she 
 falters not. With an army approximating one hundred and fifty thousand in the field, 
 equipped, to a great extent, by her own means, she vaunts not, but sends them forth 
 and cheers them with the promise, to sustain their wire* and little ones at home. It is a 
 promise to the ear, and will not be broken to tht h"pe. We are called upon to redeem that 
 promise. 
 
 A I 
 
But, Mr. Speaker, in entering upon the grand struggle in which we are engaged, we are 
 called upon to vit: iicate in our history, two of the greatest principles ever before illustrated 
 in the annals of the past. The problem which, for three quarters of a century, has been 
 gradually unfolding, whether a "free people can govern themselves," is solved. The Pu- 
 ritan element, as constituting a part of the late government, has demonstrated this prob- 
 lem. It is now being proved beyond all cavil, that the conservative element of that 
 government is lost to it, forever. The balance-wheel is gone, never more to be restored. We 
 are waiting every moment for the electric current to bear to us the result of the late elec- 
 tions in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Who so blind to the events of the past as n- t antici- 
 pate the result? With that result achieved, as it doubtless will be, aided by i e ...ral bay- 
 onets, and an unrestricted suffrage, the despotism of Abram Lincoln is established. If, 
 per chance, we are in error, and freedom of opinion and of speech should seem to triumph, 
 'tis the meteor flash to go out in instantaneous darkness. Anarchy, free and unlicensed, 
 will be the inevitable, unavoidable result. As remarked, Mr. Speaker, the problem will 
 he solved that a government with a preponderating Puritanic element cannot preserve free 
 institutions. It is to be left to us, sir, the descendants of the Huguenot and Cavalier, to 
 illustrate that great problem. May Heaven vouchsafe to us its satisfactory demonstra- 
 tion. 
 
 The other problem that is to be illustrated, as I sincerely believe, is the preservation •/the 
 institution of slavery. All the indications pointing in this direction are unmistakeable. Provi- 
 dence, for wise purposes, permitted the African to be transplanted by the Puritan upon 
 the bleak and inhospitable shores of New England, in order that he should be sent here. 
 This war has demonstrated, what every right thinking mind had, in its conclusions, ar- 
 rived at, that with all their hypocritical cant, they cared not for the African's welfare, 
 either as regards body or soul. Disappointed in finding the institution an element of our 
 weakness, as they hoped, but of our strength, as they have discovered, their aims are lev- 
 elled at its extermination. The war has been and will continue to be waged to bring 
 about that result. England, the aider and instigator, through Exeter Hall and the Thomp- 
 son class of missionaries, of New England, is reluctantly arriving at the conclusion that 
 she committed an egregious ef ror in the manumission of her slaves. Her selfish, policy 
 has, in part, served to convince her of this, and at the same time dictated her course to- 
 wards us. Disappointed in her efforts in India and elsewhere, to supply herself with the 
 article of cotton, and awakening at last, though reluctantly, to the fact she has been 
 misled and deceived by Seward and Sumner, she will presently asquiesce in the policy 
 and the wisdom, and I might say humanity, of the institution of slavery — and reluctantly 
 consent to its permanence here. The salvation of her starving millions depend on it. 
 The Government of France, to a great extent also, influenced by the same considera- 
 tions, is gradually awakening to the same great truth, to wit: — that slavery as it is in the 
 South, must be preserved. She, too, is dependent upon its fabor, and must soon avow that 
 dependence, by recognizing us as a nation, in whose custody and protection Providence has 
 placed this institution. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, who is there will doubt the two propositions I have established — that we 
 must illustrate in our history the ability of a people to govern themselves, and that we are made 
 the peculiar custodians of the institution of slavery. 
 
 That institution being an element of our strength, it becomes us to so legislate as to 
 make it co-operate with our army, in securing our liberty and independence. How is the 
 effectiveness of our army to be maintained? By a wise foresight in providing for its 
 wants, and in feeding and clothing it, and sustaining its families and friends at home. It is 
 a self-evident proposition, that to secure a cheerful obedience from the soldier, and insure 
 his contentment, you must relieve his anxiety about the dear ones at home. As winter 
 approaches and he knows that food and clothing and fuel has not or cannot be provided for 
 them, he cannot fight. You must see to his own individual wants, as it regards these 
 two essential elements of comfort — food and clothing. Are you doing it, sir? I address 
 tnyself to the practical common sense of this House, and enquire if it has, with that wise 
 foresight that characterizes legislators, provided the means to clothe and feed its army in 
 the field, to say nothing of the families at home, and that large class dependent on our 
 foreiight, our slaves ? 
 
 If such steps have been taken, when and where? Show me the results. Have you, sir, 
 or any member on this floor, taken the pains to investigate this subject and learn what are 
 our means to clothe a.nd feed our army ? 1 fear not, sir, and hence my enquiry, if we were 
 worthily filling the places of our grandsires. I have thought long and seriously on this 
 subject^ and have interested myself to get up all the information bearing on the legislation 
 we are now engaged in, and I incline to the opinion, sir, that it may be the sneer will give 
 way to a sad and gloomy foreboding of the future. I wish to arouse your fears, sir, and 
 through this legislature, to excite the fears, and, as a consequence, the efforts and exer- 
 tions of the people to come to the aid of the government. Not a moment is to be lost. 
 Winter is irell nigh upon ws, and we have not a blanket or overcoat to give our troops. Is 
 it prudent to give this information to the people? I think they should know it, and act upon 
 it, and act promptly. In a correspondence with the President and some of the heads of de- 
 partments, as well as several of our Southern governors, I have endeavored to arouse their 
 
attention, and to bring about co-operative leg!-' ition on the part of the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment and the several State Legislatures, to carry out at once, the object I have endeav- 
 ored to attain in th* bill now under discussion. 1 will send to the Clerk a copy of a letter 
 1 addressed the President, and a reply received from the Quartermaster General and Gov. 
 Vance, of North Carolina, 
 
 Stavn-tos-, 07th September, 1863. 
 His Excellency Prlmdext l).\u> — 
 
 Dear Sir: You will appreciate the motive that dictates this communication. As an 
 humble member of tne present Virginia Legislature, I have endeavored to set on foot such 
 legislation as »vill aid the So'ith in keeping its armies clothed. You will feel surprised 
 when ! inform you that we are now destitute of a supply of blankets and overcoats for our 
 troops this winter, and that there are no factories in the South engaged in the manufacture 
 of blankets. We are dependent almost entirely on purchases in-England, and so much risk 
 is there attending this trade, that it amounts almost, to a prohibition. I am informed we 
 bad 350,000 yards of English cloth burned at Charleston a few weeks since. 
 
 By a joint resolution of our legislature, I desire to call the attention of the Confederate 
 Congress, and each of our State Legislatures, to the subject. 1 think we should prohibit 
 the slaughter* of sheep for food, in the army and. in the several States. Stringent legisla- 
 tion is necessary, also, to protect them from the ravages of dogs. I hope, toy dear sir, 
 the views I have presented will attract your attention to the importance of this subject' 
 and that you will favor me, at the earliest moment that may be convenient, with an inter- 
 view, in which I desire to have a more free interchange of opinions as to the propriety 
 of my suggestions. 
 
 I am absent from my seat in the House, for a few days, and will be in Richmond about 
 the 30th instant, at which time I will be happy to have an opportunity to meet you. 
 With much respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. McCUE. 
 
 Confederate States of America, i 
 
 Quartermaster Gen.'s Ofiict, \ 
 Richmond, Oct. 12, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir: In response to your letter of recent date and the recent, inquiries made by you in 
 person* I submit the following : 
 
 The subject you have under consideration respecting the bc-t means of preserving the 
 wool in this region of country, is a matter of much importance to the public interests, and 
 especially to this department. Wool is rem scarce, and limited as our manufacturing facil- 
 ities are, they are still unproductive, in part, by reason of a want of the raw material. 
 The enemy, as you know, control sections of this Slate in which a large proportion of this 
 article is grown, and for the present we are cut oll'entirely from the trans-Mississippi region, 
 which is so productive of this particular item of supply. An arrangement has been made 
 to draw largely from Texas. Orders were issued a long time since, for the purchase of a 
 large quantity of wool in that State, and directions given to have it forwarded, as speedilv 
 as possible, to this side of the river. Over 1,00(1,0(10 of pounds were provided, some 
 months ago, but the fall of Vicksburg, and consequent ditlicultics of communication, have 
 prevented its receipt, and still exclude any reasonable prospect thereof, (t has become, 
 therefore, a matter of the first importance, to husband the resources of wool-producing 
 sections, this side of the Mississippi, and any means to that end the State Legislatures can 
 devise, will be both expedient and wise. 
 
 As regards the other resources of this department, I can only state, in a general way, 
 that there are several articles essential to the comfort and efficiency of our armies, that it 
 will be impossible to provide this winter without relief from abroad. Blankets, for in- 
 stance, are very scarce, and the facilities for procuring the same in the home market very 
 limited. Shoes, too, are much needed: our manufacturing means being made, however, 
 to procure what is needed; but there are so many contingencies attending the same that 
 it is difficult to say in advance, what the result will be. 1 can only add, in conclusion, that 
 so great is the demand for articles of supply in the way of army clothing, and such the 
 difficulties and uncertainties attending their procurement from abroad, that there is every 
 consideration appealing to both legislators and individuals to do all that they may be able 
 to develop and economize our domestic resources. 
 
 Very respectfully, vour obedient servant, 
 
 A. R. LAWTON, 
 
 Q. M. General, 
 Hon. J. M. McCur., 
 
 House of Delegates Shite of Virginia, Richmond. 
 
 *Ji Vjj 
 
 a . 
 
State of North Carolina, Executive Department,) 
 Raliegh, Oct. Gih, 1862. J 
 
 J. Marshall McCue — 
 
 Dzar Sir: I have received your recent letter upon the subject of fostering and pro- 
 tecting the growth of wool, and I beg leave to assure you that your appreciation of its 
 importance is most fully concurred in by me. 
 
 This State, over whose destinies I have been called to preside at this critical junc- 
 ture, having undertaken to clothe her own troops, feels the want of this essential material 
 which will enable her to make good her obligation. Indeed, a supply could not be ob- 
 tained within all our borders, and we have been compelled to seek it in other quarters, 
 which is attended with much expense and inconvenience. The loss of Vicksburg, has cut 
 ui oft" from the markets of Texas, and increases the necessity of adopting measures, to 
 provide our own productions, at home. 
 
 r ~It will atford me great pleasure, to call the attention of the General Assembly to the 
 subject, at its approaching extra session in November. 
 
 ( I return you my thanks for your proposed patriotic action upon so important a subject, 
 and earnestly hope your efforts may not be unavailing. 
 
 With great respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. B. VANCE. 
 
 As apposite to the subject of Gov. Vance's letter, I will here take occasion to- say, that 
 his Slate has shown to her sisters of the South the most commendable zeal, and keen fore- 
 sight, in studying the comforts of her soldiers and- people, and at the same time, putting 
 money in her pocket, and set an example to us that we should now follow. Will we do 
 it? I fear we are not equal to the occasion. She has, with her own rich products, sent 
 out to Europe a number of vessels, freighted to their utmost capacity, and brought b'ack 
 an amount of clothing sufficient, in certain articles, to supply her own soldiers, and leav- 
 ing a surplus for sale, and a heavy profit to her. Within a few days past, one of her ves- 
 sels succeeded in reaching one of her ports, commanded by a personal friend of mine, 
 who has won honor for himself, and profit, as well as distinction to his adopted State, by 
 his courage and daring. Why has Virginia not anticipated the action of Carolina, the Rip 
 Van Winkle of the past? Alas ! Mr. Speaker, I fear the blame rests on us. To the credit 
 of our Governor, be it said, he has been anxious, for a time, to see this course pursued, 
 and urged it in personal interviews, I am told, with members, but to little purpose. I am 
 not sure that he did not make the suggestion to Gov. Vance, which he has so nobly acted 
 upon. All honor to the Old North State and her patriotic Governor. 
 
 Pardon the length of my digression, sir. 
 
 This communication to the President was referred to the Q. M. General, and was re- 
 plied(to by him, as will be found above. It is proper that I should correct an error I was 
 inadvertently led into, in the statement I made about .150,000 yards of English cloth being 
 destroyed at Charleston, a few weeks since. I ought to have said $350,000 worth of army 
 supplies, consisting of clothing, shoes, &c, which was burned in the passage from Nas- 
 sau to one of the Southern ports. 
 
 1 took an early opportunity to see the President. He assured me of his most hearty co- 
 operation. That he had anxiously pondered over this subject, and was desirous to see pub- 
 lic interest aroused to the necessity of adopting such a course as suggested by me; said he 
 had sent my letter to the Q. M. General, who would respond to it at once. He desired 
 me to see the Secretary of War, and to say to him, he hoped he would adopt such prompt 
 measures as would preventthe further destruction of sheep in the army. 1 saw Mr. Seddon 
 immediately. He coincided in views with me perfectly, and said he would at once give 
 orders to "hold off the dogs of war," if I would see to it, that the legislature would muzzle 
 the canine destroyers. Will we do it, sir? Can we find that intelligence here that can 
 grasp the magnitude of this subject, and have the manly independence, regardless of the 
 gibes and sneers of the inconsiderate here, and particularly of that pestiferant class 
 of small demagogues, of the bar-rooms and cross-roads, at home, who, by appealing 
 to the vilest passions of that population who, unfortunately, are the possessors of 
 the redundant quantity of dogs, have hitherto prevented legislation on this subject: 
 I do sincerely hope we can, sir. We have reached a crisis in our history, when we must 
 brush away all unworthy considerations of that sort, and rise to the dignity of legislators, 
 intelligent enough to appreciate the condition of our country; and independent enough, to 
 carry out such wise and wholesome legislation, as the times demand. It is no time, sir, to 
 indulge in sickly sentimentality, and shrink from paltry sacrifices. We are called upon to 
 make great ones, and to aid, not only by our legislation here, but by our course at home, 
 in instructing the public mind to a like necessity. We must set them the example of self 
 iacrifi.ee. It is presumed we were selected for our intelligence. Let us not disappoint a 
 confiding people. The times were dark and lowring when we were chosen to come here, 
 and the trustiest pilot is selected in the storm. In regard to some particular feature of 
 the bill before us I hear members say " I can't support this bill, sir, if am not permitted 
 to keep hounds to kill foxes, and thus protect my pigs and my lambs." Another, "you 
 
must make an exception in favor of the terrier, or the rats will devour me." These and 
 numerous other objections of such a character, have I heard, Mr. Speaker, yet in justice 
 to members I will say, they have not reflected on this subject, have not examined it, and 
 could hardly be prepared to appreciate its importance, and hence, I hope to find a modi- 
 fication of their views, and to claim their free and unselfish support of the bill when time 
 has been allowed them to consider it. 
 
 That great and good man, the late Jho. S. Skinner, of Md., on one occasion, when urg- 
 ing, through the medium of his agricultural journal, "The Plow, Loom and Anvil," the 
 imperative, necessity of stringent legislation to protect this interest, says: "A strong per- 
 suasion of the South 's adaptation to the raising of wool, prompted us to apply to Col. 
 Randall to illustrate and prove it, which leaves to the Southern landholder, who desires 
 to txtend his flocks, nothing further to be wished for in the way of information, except to 
 find out how to place the owners of sheep on a level with the owners of dogs, in point of in- 
 fluence with demagogue law-givers, whose love of popularity trancends, somewhat, their in- 
 dependence and love of public interest." 
 
 As we desire the aid of other Southern States, I am glad to learn that Georgia has for 
 some time past, abstained from killing any sheep; my informant being an intelligent mem- 
 ber of the Georgia Legislature, who says it has been regarded there, for some time, as 
 sacrilege, to use his own language. Webster defines sacrilege to be "the crime of appro- 
 priating to one's self, or to secular use, what is deroted to religion — the crime of viola- 
 ting or profaning things sacred." I would, sir, that this great interest could be regarded 
 as sacred, ai this word of solemn import, implies. 
 
 By the comparison of the census of 1860, Mr. Speaker, which it has been my good for- 
 tune to secure a few moments ago — the only copy that I know of in the Southern Confede- 
 racy — I find the population of the Southern States to be 9,175,544. Of these States, 
 Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, tico-thirds of Louisiana, a third of Mississippi, 
 a sixth of Alabama, a half of Florida, a. fourth of the Carolinas, and half of Virginia have 
 been overrun and are in the hands of the enemy. In 1850 there were in the Southern 
 States the following number of sheep: 
 
 1850. 1860. 1850. 1860. 
 
 Wool— lbs. Wool— lbs. Sheep. Sheep. 
 
 Virginia, 2,860,765 2,509,443 1,310,004 1,042,946 
 
 North Carolina, 970,738 883,473 595,249 546,749 
 
 South Carolina, 487,233 427.102 . 285,551 233,509 
 
 Georgia, 990,019 946,229 560,435 512,618 
 
 Florida, 23,247 48,594 23,341 29,958 
 
 Alabama, 657,118 681,404 371.880 369,061 
 
 Mississippi, 555,619 637,729 304,929 337,754 
 
 Louisiana, 109,897 296,187 110,333 180,855 
 
 Texas, 131,917 1,497,768 100,530 783,618 
 
 Arkansas, 182,595 410,285 91,256 202,674 
 
 Tennessee, " 1,364,278 1,400,508 811,591 ' 772,317 
 
 Kentucky, 2,297,433 2,325,124 1,102.091 938,990 
 
 Missouri, 1,627,164 2,069,778 762,511 937,445 
 
 12,298,253 13,112,417 6,429,701 ~6,889,494 
 
 Increase 
 Increase only 814,184 of only 359,793 
 
 Of the wool in the Southern States^in the territory overrun, 8,594,800 lbs, 
 
 " " " .« not overrun 4,517,617 
 
 It will be seen the increase in the wool of the (J. States from 1850 to 
 
 1860 was 8,064,385 lbs. 
 
 Increase in Southern States only • 814,164 
 
 Mr. Speaker, it will be remembered that the Q.JH. General and Gov. Vance both re- 
 ferred to Texas being cut off from us, as one cause of the diminution of wool. In 
 1860 Texas had but 1,497,748 lbs. — an increase of 1,365,831 lba. — yet how inadequate to 
 the great, the fearful, alarming wants of the country? What are these wants, sir? By 
 a carefully prepared statement of Judge Beatty, of Ky., that appeared originally in the 
 Amer. Agriculturist, it appears the consumption of the population of the United States 
 was set down at 6 pounds per head. This will be too low an estimate for the South, as 
 our colored population, being less careful of their clothing than the same class in the 
 North, the estimate can safely be made at 6 pounds per head. "A northern farmer or la- 
 boror in comfortable circumstances, will consume about 20 lbs., the poorer, not for from; 
 10 lbs., a boy 8 years old full 4 lbs. a girl, in country, dressed in woolens, 4 lbs. In the 
 
cities and villages, there is a large class, whose consumption ranges from 30 to 40 lbs., and 
 even 50 lbs., including carpets; a Southern slave, from 8 to 10 lbs. Four pounds will 
 not be too much, for the whole population of the U. States, but six pounds nearer the 
 truth in the Confederate States." 
 
 Our population in the Southern States in 1860 is 9,175,544, and consuming 6 lbs. of wool 
 
 Eer head, would require 55,053,264 lbs. — an alarming exhibit. By the preceding table we 
 ave in the region not overrun by the enemy the pitiful sum of 4,517,617 lbs., or % pounds 
 t» taeh individual. Is this not an alarming exhibit, Mr. Speaker? But will there be two 
 pounds each, left to us after calculating the consumption in the army and among the 
 neople ? 
 
 What is the consumption in this city, and larger towns of the State? By the politeness 
 Mr Moffett, and Messrs. Grills & Robertson, salesmen of stock, in this city, I am furnished 
 with the following returns of sheep sold here, for slaughter. Attached to Mr. M.'s state- 
 ment, was also an account of cattle and hogs, that will be found interesting. The sales- 
 men concur in saying, as many sheep are purchased by butchers, from other sources, as 
 pass through their hands, and that a large number, are sent from the country to be re- 
 tailed here, at the vegetable market. 
 
 Number Sold by Mr. Moffett. 
 
 
 Cost per not gross. 
 
 Sheep. 
 
 Cattle. 
 
 Hogs. 
 
 January, 1861, to October 1, 1861, 
 
 3 cts. 
 
 1,990 
 
 2,200 
 
 450 
 
 October 1, 1861, to January 1, 1862, 
 
 J 8 
 
 2,675 
 
 4,350 
 
 1,896 
 
 January 1, " April], " 
 
 1 
 
 1,120 
 
 3,040 
 
 1,470 
 
 April 1 «« July 1, 
 
 9? 
 
 3,360 
 
 980 
 
 1,120 
 
 July 1, " October 1, " 
 
 115 
 
 7,690 
 
 3,975 
 
 1,695 
 
 October I, " January 1, 1863, 
 
 16i 
 
 5,080 
 
 6,594 
 
 3,490 
 
 January 1, " April 1, " 
 
 38 
 
 598 
 
 3,472 
 
 246 
 
 April 1, " July 1, " 
 
 432 
 
 584 
 
 326 
 
 210 
 
 Julyl, " October 1 " 
 
 40 to 50 
 
 1,325 
 
 1,290 
 
 246 
 
 No. sold by Messrs. Grills and Robertson 20,445 
 
 No. purchased from other sources 20,000 
 
 Lynchburg, 3,500 annually, say 10,000 
 
 Petersburg 7,500 
 
 Staunton 4,000 
 
 Lexington . 600 
 
 Danville, 600 
 
 24,422 26,207 10,823 
 
 40,445 
 
 22,700 
 
 Total. . . c. .87,547 
 
 This sum is an approximate calculation of those in the cities and towns. The consump- 
 tion in the country would reach 5 per cent., perhaps, 10, of the nuuioer raised. Of those 
 killed by dogs, the per cent, through the State might safely be put down at 25. In Augusta, 
 out of 11,915 s^eep, as per census of 1860, from the best hirormation obtained, 1,500 head 
 have been killed since 1st Jui^ , 1861. From different counties we hear ofihe extermination 
 of entire ilocks. A gentleman from Fauquier told me of the loss of 150 head in a few i..^htg, 
 and in Rockbridge, Frederick, Tazewell, Wythe and other counties, similar accounts 
 reach me. In the latter county, the gentieman who took the last census, noted on his book 
 as he travelled around, the number destroyed, and for one year there were 1,000. A 
 given flock, with proper care, will double itself every four years. Not so in Virginia, the 
 immense loss sustained by dogs will scarcely permit any perceptible increase. Of the con- 
 sumption in the army 'tis difficult to make an estimate. In the office of the Commissary Gen- 
 eral, where these statistics can be found, the labor connected with their compilation, was 
 of so herculean a character, as to deter me in undertaking it. In justice to the depart- 
 ment also, I may say, while disposed to aid me, they had not the force to make the search. 
 We must only judge, then, of the per cent, of consumption, both of those purchased by 
 the commissary officers, as well as of that number sold to officers and men in the army by 
 citizens and speculators near the camps. In the Northern Army of Virginia the con- 
 sumption has been immense. On the Potomac, in the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, 
 Frederick, Clark, &c, the greatest wool-growing region of the State, except the Pan 
 Handle and the Northwest, which has been completely lost to us, with all its valuable 
 flocks, from the very commencement of the war, our flocks have been almost completely 
 exterminated. So also is Culpepper, Orange, Madison, Fauquier, &c. There are members 
 here who, either as connected with the army, or being there frequently , have seen this con- 
 sumption. Much of it was of sheep sold directly to the army by citizens, without the 
 medium of commissaries. I, myself, personally acquainted with the fine flocki of Dr. Well- 
 
ford, of Culpepper, second to none in his county, as to quality or number, except that of 
 my friend, Mr. Bradford, saw it just before it was consumed by our army. The sheep 
 brought $3J to $4 each, which now are worth from $75 to $150 per head. So alio of other 
 fine flocks in that vicinity. From the county of Clarke was driven out last fall, by a gen- 
 tleman, late a member of this House, a flock of 400 of the sheep of the Ware, and Bur- 
 well, and other fine flocks of that county; they passed through our county on their way 
 here. I did not see them. They were described to me by an intelligent farmer of Rock- 
 iugham county, who had seen a flock that I had driren out of Berkeley and Frederick the 
 fall before. He said many of them (they were all •wes) would hare weighed '250 to 300 
 lbs. gross. Think of it, Mr. Speaker, these were among the finest sheep in the knmen world, 
 for only a few years since, Col. Ware, having purchased in England the royal prite buck 
 that had taken the highest honors at their national exhibition, brought him here, and at 
 the State Fairs of Maryland and Virginia, he eclipsed, by far, any animal in competition 
 with him. These ewes were of his stock. What sacrilege to hare destroyed them. 1 
 pronounce it sacrilege, to thus destroy the seed corn, so to speak. 
 
 Wc will suppose the per cent, of consumption by the army at 25; that by dogs at 25; 
 that by the cities and towns, and in the country, at 25 — in all, 75 per cent, per annum. 
 Under favorable circumstances sheep will increase 25 per cent. The number of sheep in 
 Virginia in 1860, was 1,042,946; add 25 per cent., the annual increase to 1,303,682, and de- 
 duct 75 per cent, of loss, and we are reduced to 325,921 head. Estimate the wool at 3 
 lbs. each — 967,763 lbs. Half of this lost to us by the enemy. What a sad picture. This 
 consumption will continue, unless checked by prompt legislation of the most stringent 
 kind. 
 
 Until within a few weeks past, of all the sheep killed in the army, the pelts were dis- 
 posed of, at a ruinous loss to the government. Tbe wool was lost to them entirely. Lately, 
 they give the skins to the tanner, to return them the wool washed. 
 
 In 1840, in a report of the State Agricultural Society, of Ohio, Gov. Trimble says, the 
 annual loss of sheep destroyed by dogs was $600,000, an interest on $600,000. 
 
 There seems to be an ai)solute passion, existing in all ranks of life, to keep thrice as 
 miny dogs as are required for any useful purpose. The amount of food consumed by 
 them now, when it is difficult for many of the poor to survive, is alarming. [See Appen- 
 dix.] By a calculation there made, it will be seen what number of children, up to 14 
 years of age, might be raised on the food consumed by this worthless class of animals; 
 also, what number of hogs can be raised. Will not these figures open the eyes of our 
 people, to the heavy tax they are paying for this luxury? I am conscious of the fact that 
 there is some difference in dogs, and will not indulge a wholesale denunciation of them. 
 I speak of that pestiferouss breed, whether 
 
 " Puppy, mongrel, whelp or hound, 
 Or cur of low degree," 
 
 that is constantly preying on our flocks. His vicious propensity is strikingly portrayed in 
 the following lines: 
 
 " Alone in wanton mischief he pursues, 
 Alone in reeking blood his jaws imbrues: 
 Chasing amain his frightened victims run ml. 
 Till death in wild confusion strews the ground, 
 Then wearied out, to kennel sneaks away, 
 Ami licks his guilty pawito break of day." 
 
 It is characteristic of this sheep-stealing dog, that he has the sagacity to leave his mas- 
 ter's Hocks unmolested, and travels off miles from home in pursuit of other people's. He 
 is often accompanied by his owner, in the person of a slave, who has trained him, and it 
 rather aggravates the offence, that with respect both to the thief and his dog, it's ten to one 
 but the owner answers to the name of Ciesar or 1'ompey, while the dog implies the oppo- 
 site of what he is; so true is it that 
 
 " a cur may bear 
 
 The name of Tiger, Lion, or whatever 
 Denotes the noblest or the fairest l>east." 
 
 ll will be admitted the estimate of the number of dogs in the State at 500,000 is quite 
 too low. There is more than one to every three inhabitants. But at the data assumed, 
 the politico-economic considerations in these times, is a startling one. Taking the heavy 
 loss of sheep killed into the calculation, which we may, in passing, estimate at 25 per 
 rent, of the whole number in Virginia in I860, viz: 1,042,946, making 260,236 head, worth 
 
 now, say $50 per head, a low estimate, and we have $13,011,800 
 
 Allowing two dogs to each hog raised — value of each hog $100, gives 25,000,000 
 
 Estimate the value of carcass for oil at I gallon each, $15 00, 7,500,000 
 
 " skins dressed, at $38 00 each 19,000,000 
 
 You have this remarkable exhibit, , $64,511,800 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 Is not the sum of sixty-four millions ofjiullars, an item worthy of consideration, especially 
 when, in realizing it, you abate, as ali~will allow, & great nuisance! There are other eco- 
 nomic considerations connected with the subject. In a large class of dogs their pelts are 
 covered with a soft, long hair, so thick as to make it necessary to shear them in warm 
 weather. It is as valuable as the coarsest description of our hairy wool, and can well he 
 carded, spun and woven into cloth — and the better if mixed with the refuse wools. One 
 of the best, and most durable and handsomest carpets 1 ever saw, was made of eoic's hair 
 and hip lock \cool, as it is called. It was easily carded, spun and woven. If a hair, as 
 short as that of the cow, can enter inio coarse fabrics, and be conveniently manipulated, 
 how much more so the long hair of this valueless animal? But to encourage this economic 
 view, new, when we must improvise any thing, that will shield our soldiers from the in- 
 clemency of winter, and protect our slaves, now passing through the city by thousands, to 
 take their places as iaborors on the fortifications, it behooves us to do it. Pardon me for 
 saying, Mr. Speaker, that when a friend described tome the melancholy procession of 200 
 slaves from his county, (Halifax,) as they passed through two evenings since, I could not 
 but feel that an escort of some of the military of the city might, with propriety, have pre- 
 ceded them, with arms reversed, and the band playing "the dead march in Saul." Judging 
 by the sad experience of last fall and winter, when so many of them marched there, and 
 usually with joyous countenances, which is the reverse of their appearance now, andnever 
 more to visit the homes of their childhood, I do not think the picture too highly drawn. A 
 want of sufficient clothing is-evidently now to be seen, and it is experienced everywhere. 
 But pardon this digression, sir. 1 was speaking of cow's hair and coarse wool, as consti- 
 tuting a cheap and durable cloth. I am confirmed in this opinion, in an interview, a few 
 •venings ago, with an intelligent lady of Yadkin county, N. C, who informed me she had, 
 for some time, used it in making her servant's clothing; and that it was soft, durable, and 
 easily worked. The materials can be worked on the wool hand-cards. She deprecated 
 the working of the tithe law, so far as wool was concerned, that it would deprive fami- 
 lies from making up socks to send to their friends in the army. Examining the books of 
 the Q. M. General's office here, I am satisfied the 10th of wool received by the Confederate 
 States will not clothe the clerks in the department. She remarked that most of the carpeting, 
 both of churches and private families, had been cut up and sent to the army from that 
 sectien of North Carolina. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, in a debate a few nights ago, on the bill to suppress "gambling," it was al- 
 leged there were in this city 164 gambling saloons. A friend consulted, thinks the amount 
 ef carpeting in each saloon would average 100 yards each — equal to 16,400 yards. The 
 carpeting is of the best kind, worth $5 per yard, say $82,000. I am not a friend to im- 
 pressment under any circumstances, yet, if justifiable at all by government, it would be in 
 this case. 
 
 But to return t» the statistics as to dogs. An intelligent member of the legisla- 
 ture of Georgia, now in this city, informs me that his State, almost ever since the 
 commencement of the war, has abstained from using sheep for food. In an enter- 
 prise for manufacturing cttton and wool cards for her people, that she has been engaged 
 in for some two years or more, it was found impossible to procure suitable leather 
 to make the lining to hold the %oire, creating the consumption of a large number of 
 sheep, to get the skins. It was suggested that dog skins would make an excellent 
 substitute, indeed, better than sheep, as 'being more tough. The result has been the 
 almost entire destruction of dogs for that purpose. The great want of cards induced the 
 people, through their representatives in the legislature, to make immediate application at 
 the factory. To induce the supply of leather, the obtaining cards, was placed upon the 
 furnishing of it, by "those applying. As my informant said, the appearance presented at 
 the next meeting of the legislature, was amusing; members were seen wending their 
 way to Milledgeville, from all parts of the State, each in charge of a lot of peltry, or dog 
 skins, if you choose, as the contributions of his constituents, to enable him to procure 
 the cards, without ichich, the loved ones in the army in Virginia, and elsewhere, could 
 not be clothed. All honor to those ichole souled delegates, I say, Mr. Speaker, worthy de- 
 scendants of those of '76, who were not ashamed to appear in buckskin in the Half 
 of Burgesses, or in the drawing room, or in the tented field. How many delegates 
 on this floor, are there, who would do likewise? Few in number, I much fear, sir, and 
 yet, are we any better, than our brothers in Georgia? I trow not, sir. It may be, 
 before this war shall be waged many years longer, we will be willing enough to 
 not only bring here, those articles that may subserve the comfort of those at 
 home and in the army, but to wear a much more humble garb than that many of us 
 think, comports with our dignity and importance now. May it be otherwise. I hope 
 I may, in this connection say, that our mothers, wives and sisters, in the country, now, 
 and for a long time past, have been submitting to a most rigid system of economy in 
 dress to meet the exigencies of the times, and are clothing themselves in homespun, 
 and changing the old dresses, to make th«m new again. Are their sisters in this city, ri- 
 valling them in economy and self-denial ? To witness the sweeping of our streeti from 
 one end of the city daily, in mud and dust, with silks, and other costly dresses, trailing out 
 sometimes a loot or two behind, soifed, draggled and ruined, would induce the opinion 
 
II 
 
 that Lyons and Paris and Birmingham were in easy reach of us. Could the fair wear- 
 ers, be conscious of the feelings and remarks, this needless and shameful extravagance 
 jives expression to, methinks the practice would abat«. The times, demand a change; 
 'tis an example coming from them, would have a deserved influence. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, as I remarked before, I have found myself trammelled by an anxiety 
 to say or do nothing, in the discussion of this subject, that would, in the slightest de- 
 cree, do us injury, in putting the enemy in possession of information, that might enure 
 to our prejudice. I do indulge the hope I may have done so. I know the great prej- 
 udice of sitting with closed doors. And the information I wish to influence the minds 
 of members, and our constituents, and not them only, but the people of the South- 
 ern Confederacy, could only be imparted here. This question must be met, and 
 that immedittlely, by the entire South. It is the most momentous one, except the question 
 of food, that can be presented to us. 
 
 "Tlien. shepherds', then begin to spare your flocks, 
 And learn with wise humanity to check 
 The lust of blood," 
 
 But, Mr. Speaker, I may be indulged in saying there has been a most striking want of 
 that cheap, yet e.cceedsngly rare and scarce article, usually known as common sense, not onlv 
 as it regards the management of State, butof Confederate Government affairs. We have had 
 many, very many, lessons since our troubles commenced, yet we have failed to profit by 
 past experience. The reckless and cruel waste and extravagance everywhere, in man- 
 agement of army matters, has called for redress, yet it is not attempted. Take the sup- 
 plying of the army with beef, as an illustration. Enough of that, in the first two years 
 of the war, was wasted, thrown away, or fed to the thrifty camp-scavengers, the hogs, 
 to have furnished the entire army six, if not twelve months. This is not all. Soap 
 has become a serious article of necessity, and has risen 20 hundred per cent, in price. 
 The army, when in quarters, through the fall and winter, has swept away the forests as" 
 fuel, accumulating ashes of the best quality, because of green wood, by thousands and 
 thousands of bushels. In slaughtering for the army the offal of tallow, has been lost 
 to the government, being given, in most cases, to the parties butchering. The hides 
 were, also, for a long time, at the commencement of the war, at a consideration so 
 low as to amount to the same thing. It would have been a comfortable relaxation 
 to hundreds of the soldiers, in camp, to have been engaged in making soap and candles, 
 and thus have supplied two great and indispensable articles of comfort. Except the larger 
 portions of tallow, which also enuted to the butcher, the remainder was either fed to hogs 
 and dogs, or buried, to cleanse the camp. Will any one calculate the loss to the govern- 
 ment? In the article of leather, we not only have been, but are now very scarce, and 
 the price, like that of wool, has gone up to astounding figures. All made now is unequal to 
 that, made before the war. Why so, sir? Because of the want of that only ingredient 
 necessary to make the best leather, neat's-foot oil. The blockade has cut off fish oil. The 
 former is much superior, and enough could have been made, to have dressed all the leather 
 in the South. 1 assert this, that 1 do know. In the several camps, since the war com- 
 menced, the feet of all the animals slaughtered, would, with thateconomy thatwould have 
 characterized any man, of a small modicum of common sense, in the management of his 
 business, at home, have furnished oil, of this kind, fully sufficient, to the wants of the 
 government. Within twenty miles, of one of our small encampments, last winter, 
 Mr. Speaker, I requested the commissary to have the feet put in some of the wag- 
 ons, passing me every day, and I had the oil extracted, giving the government half. The 
 result was oil enough to dress two to three hundred sides, of leather. A large part of the 
 feet, one-third, or half, had been destroyed, before any were sent me. At same time, 
 having a surplus of worthless curs, I had them disposed of in similar way. The yield of 
 oil was nearly or quite two gallons to the dog — and they medium sized. The substitute 
 for oil, to dress leather, now used, rosin oil of North Carolina, is ruinous to it, as any hon- 
 est tanner will tell you. Now, sir, if there had been enough of common sense with those, 
 directing and managing these things, that amount requisite" to conduct properly, business 
 at home, ought not the result to have been different? I must submit these, to serve as 
 instances, that will prove my assertion to be correct, and hasten on; for I find the diffi- 
 culty to be, not what to say, but what ought, not to be said, and if I err, in this latter regard, 
 I do it, assuredly, from no motive to prejudice the cause I advocate, or derogate from or in- 
 jure the government, which commands my sincerest wishes for its success. 
 
 " Love me, love my dog," is an adage so common, that it may be supposed to have its 
 root, as it ought, in every man's heart. Man has not a more faithful servant than a dog. 
 Amongst our fellow men we find, alas! great variableness. The loss of fortune, or of 
 power, or of health, each has its result. Friends who once rallied around us, in sickness 
 or sorrow, shrink from the test; but the dog never changes feelings towards us — he is al- 
 ways the same. Faithful to his master, he lays at his feet his courage, strength and tal- 
 ents, and only waits his commands to fill his will; he is always ready to forgive, and 
 will lick the hand that gave him pain — in this, a good example to us all. To a question 
 
12 
 
 as to the nobility of the horse and the dog, and their comparative claims on our regard, a 
 lady, with that nice sense of discrimination, which belongs to the sex, said: — "Ah! the 
 horse is the faithful servant of man, but the dog is his/rie?id." 
 
 These remarks, Mr. Speaker, I regard as applicable, to that noblest specimen of the dog, 
 the sheplierd's, the stock, no doubt, from which every sort has sprung. And that class," 1 
 desire to see excepted from the provisions of this bill. I think their introduction should be 
 encouraged. Some years since, sir, I saw one of the Messrs. Patterson, of Washington 
 county, Pa. , alone, bring several hundred sheep through our mountains, aided by two of 
 these beautiful, sagacious animals, all the distance from his home, in Pa., to the exten- 
 sive sheep walks they had, in Bedford county, of our State. I would here refer, to this 
 dock of the Messrs. Patterson, in connection with that finest of sheep range — the Pied- 
 mont region of Virginia, lest I do not think of it again — to say, that an extensive wool- 
 dealer, in New York, in 1851, when collecting: specimens of wool, from every part of the 
 United States, for exhibition at the World's Fair, in London, to the one from this flock of 
 the Pattersons, the premium ivas awarded, and it, but one, out of one hundred specimens. 
 To those seeking information about this noble variety of shepherd dog, I refer to a letter 
 from Geo. W. Lafayette, to the late John S. Skinner, to be found in the Plow, Loom and 
 Anvil, vol. 4, p. 137. 
 
 I cannot let the opportunity pass, of paying a deserved tribute to this man, John S. 
 Skinner, late of Maryland, who was, in the fullest sense of the term, a benefactor of his 
 race. 
 
 "Peace hatli its victories uo less renowned 
 Thau war," 
 
 and this great man, in his Jong and most useful life, achieved them, at every turn. Next 
 to the reputation of that noble citizen, of our own State M. F. Maury, I regard the repu- 
 tation of the lamented Skinner. And yet no marble monument, erected by those 
 whom he faithfully served for thirty years, may mark the spot where his remains repose; 
 no gathering of thousands, and public eulogy may express to the world the estimation in 
 which he was held; but will those in whose cause he spent the strong years of his life — 
 the farmers of America — will they reap the fruit of his labors, and decline to pay him 
 his hire? His was the first voice that was heard claiming for agriculture, its rights as a 
 science." 1 shall have occasion, before 1 can close, to refer to other distinguished men, 
 who have rendered service to their country, and though one or two of them happened to 
 be born north of Mason and Dixon's line, they, nevertheless, are entitled to our warmest 
 gratitude; for the benefits we have derived from their writings and agricultural wisdom. 
 I mention John Taylor, of Caroline, of whom ii was said by a distinguished man, " he 
 did more for Agriculture than any man in America;" the venerable Edmund Ruthin. Jesse 
 Cuel, Henry S Randall and Lewis Gay lord, the three last of New York. Posterity will 
 write, in imperishable characters, on their tombstone*, benefuctors of their race. 
 
 I must now trespass upon the attention of the House, Mr. Speaker, long enough to pre- 
 sent some facts, that will show, without fear of contradiction, that the territory embraced 
 within the limits of this Southern Confederacy, is preeminently entitled to be designated 
 as better adapted to sheep husbandry than any portion of the world. But before doing so, 
 1 must urge upon this house, as one of the strongest arguments, in support of this bill, 
 this consideration. The territory now comprised in the limits before designated, as not 
 being overrun, by the enemy, besides furnishing to the Southern Confederacy, its wool, 
 and its mutton, has another obligation resting on it, of most serious import, it will have 
 to re-stock all the territory now overrun by the enemy, with sheep, of its own production. Why 
 so, sir? Because all that large belt of debateable ground, alternately in the hands of both 
 armies, is now, and will continue to be, almost entirely destitute of sheep. That portion of 
 Northwest Virginia, that has been less interrupted, Missouri, Kentucky, and West Tennes- 
 see, will be robbed of all its sheep, belonging to disloyal or Southern men, as the enemy des- 
 ignate; u«, for it is notorious, they have been robbed of almost 4 every thing. 'Should the war 
 terminate in a short time, how will it affect all the region, now in the hands of the enemy, 
 as regards their cattle, sheep, &c ? Why, in this way, sir. All the Union population, 
 conscious of the severe retribution that will await them, at the hands of those much 
 wronged and cruelly treated, sympathizers with the South, will commence, in time, to get 
 their dastardly carcasses, into a safe place, and will flee, with their flocks and herds, out of 
 Missouri into Kansas, Iowa and Illinois, out of Tennessee, and Kentucky, across the Ohio, 
 mid from Northwest Virginia, into Ohio and Pennslyvania, and not with theirs only, but 
 with alt of Southern sympathizers, they had previously stolen, or will then steal. Not 
 one wilt be left, and the country will be left as scarred and blasted, as the plains of Lom- 
 bard)-, by the barbaric hosts of Alaric, the Visigoth. This is no fancy sketch, sir, but 
 will be, a sad reality. How can it be prevented? We will be powerless to do it. They 
 will scent danger from afar, with all the keenness of perception, that the Condor of the 
 Andes will trace out the wounded deer amid the far off crags of the Huallaga. What will 
 be our duty, then, sir? An obligation of the most solemn character, will compel us, to 
 'share with them, our flocks and our herds. Can we do it, if the present state of things 
 
13 
 
 exist.' Unquestionably not. Our own section of country, Texas included, cannot be 
 much better off than the overrun portion. By the reckless destruction of army and people. 
 and dugs, this useful animal will be exterminated. It cannot be otherwise. In a time of 
 peace, with care and attention, a flock doubles itself in four years. Now, with all the 
 ncgleet consequent on the disturbed condition of the country, and man, and beast preying 
 on it, how can it increase? This is not all. The few sections of the country, in which 
 there were animals of pare blood, of the several varieties, such as Merino, Saxon, South- 
 down, Cotswold, &.c, will be destitute of them. Without them, it will be next to impos- 
 sible, to improve the common stock of the South. This is a serious aspect of the case, 
 and no less serious than true; and yet members will permit, cobweb difficulties to pie- 
 vent them from a cheerful support of this'bill. Mr. .Speaker, in the present condition of 
 our flocks, it would take three to four years of peace, to increase them, to the number we 
 had on 1st January, 1861. Yes, more time, would be necessary. The increase in ten 
 Hears, in Virginia, from 1359 to IS'GU, was less than a million pounds of wool, and this, 
 under the incentive created by our State and county Agricultural Societies, the numerous 
 importations by our best breeders, and the personal rivally which" such a state of facts 
 created. If there was so paltry an increase, as 814,164 lbs. of wool, in ten years, of pro- 
 found peace, it is not extravagant to say, four years of war will exterminate the entire 
 flock. The numerous "dogs of war," and the stimulus to avarice, of 50 and 60 cents per 
 pound gross, added to canine rapacity, the result is inevitable. We must act note, sir, or 
 return to a stale of nature, for we cannot even clothe ourselves in skins — they, too. will he 
 gone. For the indissoluble attachment which seems to exist between members and the dog, 
 or the dog's master, it may be,l would not like to say, sir, which it is, would not even al- 
 low us poor Tray's hide, to hide us, so, disagreeable as is the alternative, tee must stay out 
 in the cold. 
 
 I now return to my proposition, announced a short time ago, which was to illustrate the 
 capacity of the South as preeminently adapted to "sheep husbandry." I will draw on va- 
 rious sources for my facts, on many of our own intelligent and practical writers, on that 
 subject, and who have been large raisers of sheep. But in the series of letters of Henry 
 S. Randall to II. F. W. A Us ton, of S. C, published, at the instance of John S. Skinner, in 
 184!), 1 find the most of the facts, 1 will rely on, Bet forth. 1 will also draw some of them 
 from personal observation, knowledge and experience. 
 
 The Hon. And. Stevenson, in a letter to John S. Skinner, says, "The prejudice 
 which the late Col. John Taylor, of Caroline, had atrainst sheep, has been the means 
 of rendering this description of stock Unpopular in many parts of the Southern country. 
 If this distinguished patriot and sta ad lived, at this day, he would have changed 
 
 hisopinion." It is probable also, thatjhese prejudices are referable, in a degree, to the 
 concurrent opinion of the i.o less eclebrafed John Randolph, of "Roanoke," who, even 
 on the floor of Congress, g*ve them utterance, in vehement and bitter denunciation, 
 against the iiarmless r imal itself, going so far in his animosity io it, and to all encour- 
 agement of the great industry which it was formed in subserve, as to declare, that he. 
 would a! any time go out of his v,j> , "to kick a sheep." 
 
 A prejudice, or more properly, n mistaken idea, has been entertained, Mr Speaker, 
 by our people of the South, that it is too -'-arm for sheep to flourish. Sheep have been 
 bred from the period at Which the shepherds on the Plains of Bethlehem watched their 
 Hacks, down to the present-time, on the eastern continent, from the equator to the 65th 
 degree, n. 1, from the burning plains of Africa and Asia, to the almost perpeiual 
 frosts of Iceland. The Merino (the different families of which, as will be shown, con- 
 stitute the only varieties suitable for wool-growing, on a scale of any considerable extent,) 
 has been bred in Europe as far sonth as between the .'16lh and 37th parallels of lati- 
 tude, and has. within the last few years, been acclimated, with perfect success, as far 
 north as various points in Sweden. If any difficulty exists in the South, in the climate, 
 rendering it unsuitable for the rearing of sheep and wool, it must be its heat; and this must 
 alfect the wool-i>rvducing qualities of the animal alone, and not its health. Sheep flour- 
 ish in the healthiest condition, on the hammock and swamp lands, in Florida, as far 
 south as the 29th degree. As fine mutton as is found anywhere, is brought to Charles- 
 ton market, from the rice swamps of Florida, and similar lands in S. C. In Louisiana, 
 Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, they not only flourish in the northern and more 
 elevated sections, but on The low, fenny, tide-water region, which skirts the " Gulf of 
 Mexico." No portion of the Southern States, is lever, hotter, or more unhealthy, than 
 much of the preceding, and none, according to commonly received notions, would be mora 
 unsuited to the healthy production of sheep. Yet, that Iney are just as healthy there, Mr. 
 Speaker, as amid our mountains, is a matter of notoriety, to all conversant with the facts. 
 If the health of the animal is not affected injuriously, is its wool-producing qualities.' I 
 will here give a brief table, giving the weight of wool per head, in the Southern States 
 mentioned, comparing them with New York, and with the census of 1840. 
 
14 
 
 Virginia, 
 N. Carolina, 
 S. Carolina, 
 
 lib. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 7Toz. 
 
 2 1 
 
 3| 
 
 
 
 Alabama, 
 
 Mississippi, 
 
 Louisiana, 
 
 lib. 4 
 1 4' 
 8 
 
 Georgia, 
 Florida, 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 4? 
 
 New Y 
 
 oik 
 
 lib. 
 
 Tennessee, 
 Kentucky, 
 2i ozs. 
 
 1 4? 
 1 7 
 
 But these census returns are shamefully inaccurate, for in 14 counties in Louisiana, for 
 instance, 30,261 sheep are returned, or nearly one-third of the whole number in the Stale, 
 and yet not a pound of wool is returned. In a larger table, including four counties from 
 each of the above States, taking the averages as a test, it would appear that the difference 
 between the average products of the Southern States and New York is, in some instances, 
 in favor of the former. Kentucky in the middle, and Mississippi in the extreme South, 
 exceed the average of New York. The facts reported fully sustain the assertion, that 
 warmth of temperature, at least, to a point equaling the higest mean temperature, in the 
 Southern States is not injurious, but absolutely productive of wool. The reasons are ob- 
 vious. Warm climates afford green and succulent herbage, during a greater part of the 
 year, than cold ones. Green feed keeps a sheep in high condition, which promotes those 
 secretions which form wool. Every one knows that a sheep kept fleshy, all the year round, 
 will yield more wool than a poor one. Now sir, as the effect of climate, upon the quality 
 of wool, it may be well to say briefly, that wool seems to be finer in cold, and coarser in 
 warm climates. This is usually attributed, by theorists, to the effect of cold and heat, in 
 contracting or expanding the pores. The more reasonable plan of accounting for it is, in 
 the amount and quality of nutriment. The effect of warm climates and green food is, to 
 increase the quantity or weight of the fleece. The weight is increased, by increasing 
 the length and thickness of the separate fibres. Mr. Youatt, in his excellent work on 
 "sheep," after discussing and admitting the influence to some extent, of warm tempera- 
 ture, to render wool coarser, says, "Pasture has a far greater influence on the fineness of 
 the fleece. The staple is increased, in bulk and length, like every other part of the sheep, 
 if it has a superabundance of nutriment." Dr. Perry, a correct and able English writer, 
 says, "the fineness of a sheep's fleece, of a given breed is, within certain limits, inversely, 
 as its fatness, and perhaps, also, as the quickness of its growth in fat. A fat sheep, has 
 usually comparatively coarse wool, and one which is lean, either from want of food, or 
 disease, has the finest wool; and the very same sheep may, at different times, according to 
 these circumstances, have fleeces of all intermediate qualities, from extreme fineness to 
 comparative coarseness." Samuel Lawrence, the head of the great Lowell Manuf'g Co. 
 Bays, "that the properties of wooi are affected by herbage and soil, 1 have no doubt, and 
 were it not invidious, I would name some sections where wool-growers are greatly fa- 
 vored by nature. One thing is certain, whatever may be the character of the soil, where 
 there are good shepherds, there is sure to be good wool. By care in crossing, I believe a 
 breed may be reared, which will give four pounds of exquisitely fine wool to the fleece." 
 
 Any part of Virginia is admirably adapted to wool-growing. To show the extraordi- 
 nary products obtained, we append the shearing of the flock of the late Richard K. 
 Meade, of Clark county, of 1849. They show what may be accomplished by giving the 
 force of a clear and determined mind to the attainment of improvements in any particular 
 branch of agriculture, as Mr. Meade did his to that of sheep husbandry. These facts show 
 that the climate and soil of Virginia, is well adapted to the highest development of that 
 animal for all its useful purposes. We here condense the statement of the weights of Mr. 
 Meade's fleeces: — Seven year old rams averaged 13 9-10 lbs.; two year old, 9 lbs.; two 
 2 year old wethers, 9J lbs.; eight 1 year old wethers, 9| lbs.; ten yearling wethers, 9£ lbs.; 
 fourteen ewes averaged 6 3-7 lbs.; twenty-one ewes was 10 fi-16 lbs.; ditto of 35 ewes was 
 6 11-16 lbs. Have these weights been equalled by any other flock in the United States? 
 
 Australia and Cape of Good Hope, are in 33°, 55' and 34°, 23' south latitude. The 
 heat in December, in vicinity of Port Jackson, same latitude with Georgetown, S. C, is 
 112°, Farenheat, and the forests and grass been known to take fire. Cape of Good Hope, 
 the mean annual temperature is, in winter, 61°, and summer, 89°, yet in both of these re- 
 gions, the Merino has been fully acclimated, and the quality, of wool would be nearly 
 equal to Spanish, which, in London, in 1844, was worth per lb. 60 to 77 cents, when Aus- 
 tralian brought 50 cents to $1 per lb. Mr. Clay, in 1849, to Randall says, "I have for 
 some years, had only pure Saxony at my residence, (36°) but I am now satisfied I would 
 have derived more profit from sheep producing a wool less fine." Mr. M. R. Cockarill, 
 of Nashville, Tenn., (lat. 37°, 15',) says, "I have 1,000 fine sheep, and 400 to 500 long 
 wooled or mutton sheep. With my Saxon, from our mild climate, the staple has become 
 longer. I assert it as a fact, that the cotton region I am now in, (Mr. C. dated from Madi- 
 son county, Miss., where a part of his sheep are kept, lat. 32°,) is better than any country 
 north of it, to grow wool, as the sheep can be kept all the time grazing, by sowing small 
 grain; for grazed off, it quickly grows again, in a few days; and the wool of the fine Saxon 
 sheep, in this climate, is softer and more cotton-like than any, 1 have ever seen, although I 
 hare samples from all parts of the world. I have travelled from this very spot to Boston, 
 
15 
 
 sampling all the sheep of note, on the way, and I found nothing, on my journey or at Bos- 
 ton, as good as the wool I had grown, and so said all the wool -staplers, I met with, and they 
 were not a few. I did not presume the blood of my sheep any better, than many I saw, 
 but the superiority of the wool, I ascribed to our climate and succulent f»od, the year round. 
 Weight of fleece to 3 to 5* pounds each. There is much country in Tennessee and other 
 Southern States, not fit for the plow, that would be admirably adapted to fine wtoled sheep." 
 Mr. Stewart Donaldson, of London, a merchant, says, "the wools of New South Wales 
 and Van Dieman's L^nd, are decidedly preferred to the apparently similar descriptions 
 of wool of Germany. They have a softness and silkiness about them, which, when 
 worked into cloth, shows more distinctly than in fleece. I conceive it to be dependent on 
 the climate alone. 1 am of the opinion no wool of that quality, could be produced in any 
 part of Europe." Mr. Elesworth, a wool broker, of London, says, "theclimateof New 
 South Wales, appears to have the effect on wool to reduce its harshness to a very fine tex- 
 ture. " The country (New South Wales) is remarkably.deficient in water, though ma»y por- 
 tions are subject to destructive inundations. Its drouths unequalled in duration and inten- 
 sity, perhaps, in no other part of the inhabited globe. But I have said enough, Mr. Speaker, 
 to satisfy the most skeptical, that the South, in climate, is, perhaps, better adapted than 
 any other part of the world, to sheep, as it effects length of fibre and fineness. It is not 
 subject to the extremes of heat and cold, that the North and Northwest are. The mean 
 annual range of the thermomter at Eastport, Me. , is'1040, St. Peters, Iowa, 119°, and 
 Green Bay, Wisconsin, 123°. Portland, Miane, Ft. Niagra, Portsmouth, N. H., 99°, 92°, 
 and 87°. Ft. Crawford, confluence Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, 120°. While the 
 cold of the Northern and Northwestern States, so greatly exceeds that of the Southern 
 States, few would believe the heat in the former, reached a degree much greater than the 
 South. Ft. Snelling, lat. 44°, 53', and in central position in that vast territory, between 
 the Great Lakes and the Missouri river, between 41st and 49th par. lat, which 
 may, therefore, be supposed to afford a type of the climate of that whole region, feels a 
 maximum heat of 93°, the same with that of Washington city, 38, 53, and Old Point Comfort, 
 Va., 370, 2*5 Ft. Johnson, N. C, 34°, the maximum heat is 90°; Ft. Moultrie, S. C, 32° 
 42' lat., is 90°; Ft. Marion, Fla. 29°, 50', is 92°; Ft. Brooke, Tampa Bay, lat. 27° 
 57', 92°; Key West, the extreme southern point of Florida, is 89°. Summer heat is 
 higher at Fort Snelling, than at points on sea-board, more than 20° farther south! These 
 facts of temperature show conclusively, the Southern sheep grower need not fear compe- 
 tition in the prairies of the Northwest. To say nothing of extreme cold and heat, the 
 scarcity of water in the prairies, want of variety in herbage, suitable for sheep, and the 
 necessity of keeping large flocks together, trouble of separating, danger of disease, want 
 of shelter, or of wood for buildings, fencing, &c. , and long winter feeding on dry food, 
 settles the question fully. All of these objections, except the winter, apply to Australia, 
 Van Dieman's Land, Cape Good Hope and Hungary and Spain, but in different degrees. 
 In the two first, drouth, violent storms, large herds, and consequent danger of malignant 
 diseases, and the immense distance from the markets of the world, are all serious objec- 
 tions they have to contend with. Spain, for a quarter of a century past, has fallen on in 
 sheep husbandry, so much, as to be scarcely able to export at all. From an interesting ta- 
 bic in "Bischoff's" comprehensive history of the woolen and worsted manufacturers, in 
 1 840, Spain exports less wool than Italy or Russia, and still on the decrease. Once so 
 famous for her wools, she has sunk to a sixth rate producer of this staple. The late Henry 
 D. Grove, of New York, a native of Prussia-Saxony, an extensive wool-grower, and so 
 intelligent a one, as to be often sent to Europe to purchase the finest flocks, for enterpri- 
 sing growers of wool in the North, in a communication to H. L. Randall, Esq., said of 
 Germany, Prussia and Austria, that neither possessed any advantage over New York, 
 of which fact, ten years' experience had fully confirmed him. It being quite apparent, that 
 no part of the Eastern Continent can compete with this country, as it was before the 
 secession of the South, in the production of wool, let us inquire, for a moment, into 
 the relative advantages of the Southern States over the United States, in this article. 
 As before stated we have a most decided advantage in soil, climate and abundance and 
 variety of grasses. There is no part of the South, even including the Pan Handle and 
 the most northern counties in Va., high up in the Alleghany range, as Monongalia, Ma- 
 rion, and Preston, where it might be supposed our winters are the longest, that we 
 have not a decided superiority. In these last counties I have mentioned, so long famous 
 for the production of wool, equal, if not superior, to that of the Messrs. Patterson, of 
 Washington county, Pa., it is not necessary to feed in winter, except under extraordinary 
 circumstances. The meadows and other pastures are kept up in the fall, and when snow 
 falls, sheep being turned on them, scratch away the snow and feed themselves. So 
 it is, through all our Alleghany and Blue Ridge mountains. But the variety of our 
 grasses, blue, herds, timothy, red and white clover, sain foin, crab, orchard, Bermuda, 
 and a long list of others, better known by local names, where they are found, with the 
 wild pea vine, and a large quantity of wild growth, varying in all localities, giro us 
 inestimable advantages over the most favored parts of the North. There, winter feed- 
 ing averages 150 days, and costs, in most favorable circumstances. 27^ cents per pound t 
 of wool, whilst in the Southern States, by Mr. Randall's own showing, it costs but 
 
16 
 
 8 1-12 cents, or nearly three and a half limes greater in the North. He also demonstrates 
 satisfactorily, that with a cost of their land, as average, at $20 per acre, they realize 
 a nett profit of 2U| per cent, per acre. By his own showing, he makes thenett profits 
 in the South, tiro hundred and eighty per cent- per acre, on lands worth $1 50 per acre, 
 and how many thousands of acres of lands are there, at lower figures even than that, sir? 
 How many lands have we akin to the light, sandy lands of the peninsula, or counties of 
 Accomac and Northampton, the thin lands of the Eastern shore, or the belt of land be- 
 tween this and Petersburg.' Compared with the lands I have mentioned, that large body 
 of land between Schenectady and Albany, New York, was, years ago, as valueless, to all 
 appearance, as the Desert of Sahara. The sands were light and drifting, and would be 
 carried by the winds as snow, into heaps and ridges. There was scarcely vegetation of 
 any kind whatever upon it. In 1837, in a trip through that section, I called to see the 
 late venerable Jesse Buel, at that time the Editor, as I believe he was the founder of the 
 "Cultivator." Next to John S. Skinner, no man within the range of my reading or ac- 
 quaintance, held a stronger claim on the people of America, than did this man, as a na- 
 tional benefactor. I found him three miles from Albany, on a beautiful farm, that looked 
 like an "oasis" in the desert, amid this, even at that time, sandy waste. The fields were 
 well set in grass, and the sod seemed firm and compact, and for that section of country, 
 the corn, (Dulton variety,) small, compared with ours, looked promising. He had settled 
 there some years before, to experiment, and see if those lands could not be reclaimed. 
 It was a success. The whole region now "blooms and blossoms like the rose." What 
 was the secret? Sheep husbandry. And like causes produce like effects. All our lands, 
 the thiymest and most unpromising, can be made rich and productive. I promise my 
 friends, the delegates from Louisa and Fluvanna, if they will induce their constituents to 
 adopt the system, posterity will call them blessed. « 
 
 There are two or three other considerations, of a highly favourable character, to be 
 taken into account, among the direct profits of sheep husbandry. The risk of death to 
 the flock, by ordinary causes, is nothing. The sheep is invaluable in clearing up wild 
 lands, and always improves its vegetation. No means so cheap, can be had to enrich our 
 poorer and thinnest soils. The manure of the sheep is the richest of any animal, and is 
 equally distributed, and high lands, inaccessible to other means of being enriched, will be. 
 rendered so by them. Our aged slaves can be made flock masters, and thus be able to ren- 
 der invaluable service still, aided, as they should be, by trained dogs of the Shepherd 
 breed. It is satisfactorily proven, by experience, that the Merino is best adapted to the 
 South, and is equal, either in wool or mutton, to any other variety. The Southern 
 States, including those west of the Mississippi river, include an area of 450,000 square 
 miles, or 288,000,000 square acres. Allow one eighth of this region to be in a state of 
 cultivation, or natural pastures, and we have 36,000,000 acres, which could be devoted 
 more or less; to the growth of wool. Suppose every two acres, on an average, would 
 support one sheep, which they might do with no material diminution of present staples, 
 and that each sheep averages three pounds per fleece, the annual product of wool would 
 be 54,000,000 pounds. What would be equal to our own wants, in time of peace, and the 
 amount of labor and attention, subtracted from other pursuits, would be very small. The 
 South thinks the coarse wools are easier raised and better adapted to her wants. It costs 
 no more to raise one than the other. Fine wool is worth more per pound than coarse, for 
 actual v:ear or use. It is true, a piece of broad-cloth, made of fine wool, is not so strong, 
 nor will it wear like a Chelmsford plain, of treble thickness. The threads of the broad- 
 cloth are spun to extreme fineness. To give it finish, or the beautiful nap, these threads 
 are reduced by gigging and shearing. But spin fine wool into coarse yarn, and it makes 
 stronger and better cloth, and felts better, than any Ions or coarse wool. It is settled, too, 
 that an acre of herbage will uniformly give nearly double the value of Merino — that it will 
 of any English long or middle wools. 
 
 1 desire, to prove, Mr. Speaker, that the attention to sheep husbandry, in the South, 
 will not detract from the great staples, cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar, &c. It has been sat- 
 isfactorily ascertained, by a carefully prepared report, from the Agricultural Committee 
 of House of Representatives of South Carolina, through the chairman, Hon. R. W. Roper, 
 and by a calculation accurately made by the late Governor Hammond, "that of cotton, 
 the United States at that time produced 578,012,473 pounds more than half the crop of 
 the whole world. Of that sum, South Carolina raised 43,927,171 pounds, or l-13th of the 
 quantity, showing a great falling off in her former products. The new lands, being opened 
 in other States, and especially west of the Mississippi, are found to grow 2,500 pounds 
 per hand, and in South Carolina, 1,200 pounds per hand, the entire yield. The cotton 
 crop of the world amounts to 1,000,000,000 pounds, which would require at 250 pounds 
 per acre, 4,000,000 acres. The four States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and 
 Florida, contain 130,000,000 acres, proving, that if only one acre in 32 were found capa- 
 ble of producing 250 pounds, these four States, alone, could supply the demand of all the mar- 
 kets in the uwrld. South Carolina has 16,000,000 acres of land, only 1,300,000 of which 
 are cultivated. Cotton occupies 175,000 acres; rice, 80,000; Indian corn, 500,000; potatoes, 
 22,612; wheat, 24,079— making 800,000 acres; the balance, 500,000, taken up in oats, rye. 
 tobacco, &c. To what use, then, is the .balance of our territory of 14,000,000 of acrc> 
 
17 
 
 to be appropriated ? Are we to be forever supplied with stcck from the west, bread-stuff* 
 from the Middle States, and manufactures from the North ? What a pertinent inquiry, u 
 this last, Mr. Speaker, now ? Not as it applies to South Carolina, but to Virginia and all 
 the Southern States. How forcibly docs it appeal to us to bring the plow, the loom, and 
 the anvil, by the side of each other. Here, the mighty James chides us for our apathy 
 of the past, as it chafes, and murmers, over its rocky bed, hastening to pour its waters 
 into the noblest harbor of the world. Nature has lavished with unstinted hand, around 
 this city, all the elements which we should combine, to make her the Birmingham, Shef- 
 field, and Lowell of the South. The rich deposits of coal hard by, and the hills and 
 mountains, teeming with the richest ores, invite us, in language that cannot be misinter- 
 preted, to make ourselves independent. I believe it would have been well for us to have 
 had the blockade of our ports complete, and an impassible gulf must be made between us 
 and the North, in the stern determination to trade no more with them. Instead of suf- 
 fering, as our people are now, for the want of the small article of cotton and wool cards, 
 and wlien it is possible to get them at all, have to pay $40 each, for them, we should be 
 making them, and many things besides, indispensable to our wants. 
 
 We can but look forward to the future, Mr, Speaker, dark, though, the prospect now 
 i*. I have never, for a moment, doubted our ultimate success. We will yet have more 
 trials to encounter, and sacrifices to make, in working out the two great problems, de- 
 signed by Providence, for our demonstration. That we will have virtue enough, as a na- 
 tion, and wisdom enough granted us, to enable us to show to the world, that "man 
 is capable of self-government," I firmly believe. As to the permanence of the institu- 
 tion of slavery, among us, and its intimate connection with the well being of society, 
 he is skeptical, truly, who doubts it. Events that have occurred since our separation 
 from the Union, and are daily transpiring, show, beyond refutation, the dependence 
 of the civilized world on negro labor, properly organized and conducted. England and 
 France, are both, now convinced of its truth, and true to that stubborn principle, in 
 our weak nature, are resisting its admission. They will be compelled to yield. The hungry, 
 starving thousands, in both of those Empires, are forcing the truth upon them. Even 
 the Yankee must admit that the great staples of cotton, rice and sugar, can only be 
 cultivated by the negro. They have been convinced of this fact, in the progress of the 
 war, if they doubted it before. England, availing herself of our troubles, renewed her 
 exertions in India, to secure a supply of cotton. How far she has succeeded, let the 
 facts embraced in this brief paragraph show. 
 
 Cotton in Indi\. — Mr. Samuel Smith, who was sent out from England to India, to 
 investigate the subject of cotton culture, in a pamphlet, thus sums up the reasons why 
 that country cannot compete with America in the cultivation of cotton: 
 
 " 1st, That India is not able, as a cotton growing country, to supply the place of 
 America: 2d; That large supplies of cotton can be drawn from India only by excessive 
 prices, and whenever prices return to a normal level, 1 lie production will recede corres- 
 pondingly, and 3d, That no hope whatever exists of India being able to fill the void 
 made by the stoppage of the American cotton trade at anything like remunerative prices 
 to the spinner, and very little hope of her being able to provide a quality that would 
 suitably fill the place of American cotton." 
 
 He holds that Egypt is, in many respects, a better cotton growing country than India, 
 and that a very considerable increase in the ordinary supply of cotton may be obtained 
 from that country. 
 
 At this point, Mr. Speaker, I cannot forbear to allude to that anomalous class of our 
 population, "the free blacks," and to say, that this war has taught bothjthemand us, 
 another lesson. It is this. That the South is their guardian and protector. Where, in 
 the North, is it that they have fared any better, or as well, even, as the slave? Let the 
 late riots in New York answer. Our course towards them, in the past, has been harsh, 
 and not dictated, as it has appeared to me, by a sound policy. In my legislative ca- 
 reer here, now verging on twenty years, I have frequently stood out against the harsh, if 
 not cruel, and to me, short-sighted policy proposed against them. What has been 
 their conduct in this war? With one single exception, so far as memory serves me, 
 have they proved themselves loyal, and that their sympathies are with us. Why not, 
 sir? They have a large share of intelligence. They cannot but see, that the policy 
 of the North bodes no good to them. They, in common with the slave, have re- 
 ceived the same cruel and harsh treatment at their hands. They have borne them- 
 selves with us, as a class, well. They have rendered much valuable service, and have done 
 it uncomplainingly. They regard us as their true friends and guardians. Why not? Many 
 of them are manumitted slaves, or the descendants of such. They still look back, 
 sometimes, through one or more generations, to their old homes, and no doubt many 
 of them, with regret, to the day when they were pronounced free. Let our policy 
 towards them, be dictated with less harshness. In many portions of our State, before 
 the war, they constituted an important element, in the labour of the country. How 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Below will be found some facts from a practical business man in regard to the ttlue o 
 the carcass of a dead dog. Facts are stubborn things, and my anxietj ia to convinee the 
 public mind. 
 
 THE VALUE OF DEAD DOGS. 
 
 In the present scarcity of leather, the following correspondence will be found interest- 
 ing and suggest ire: 
 
 Horse of Delegates, 21st Sept., 1663. 
 Edward Fdrkethough, Esq. — 
 
 Dear Sir: Being desirous to obtain all the information in my reach that I can, upon 
 a question of practical character now before the House, I propound to you some ques- 
 tions, because of your long experience in the business of preparing leather, and knowl- 
 edge of the ingredients and materials made use of. I am sure yoa will cheerfully impart 
 any information in your reach. 
 
 How long hare you been engaged as a practical tanner, and wholesale dealer in 
 oils, &c. ? 
 
 What is the most valuable oil used in dressing leather ? 
 
 Have you any knowledge of the value of the> oil extracted from the carcass of the dog ? 
 and if so, state its comparative value with the other. 
 
 What is the next most valuable oil ? 
 
 What oil is now used as a substitute for these oils, and how does it compare in its ef- 
 fects upon the leather, and in price ? 
 
 What per cent, of other oils than this substitute are now used in the Southern Con- 
 federacy ? 
 
 What are the prices of the several oils above named ? 
 
 What is the relative value of leather made from the skin of the dog, compared with 
 calf skin ? 
 
 What is an ordinary sized calf and dog skin worth, green, and after being tanned? 
 
 What quantity of oil can be extracted from the carcass of a common sued dog, as fat 
 
 as they are ordinarily found about the cities and towns ? 
 
 Very respectfully, yours, 
 
 J. M. McCUE. 
 
 IticiMOKB, September 81, 1863. 
 Col. J. M. McCoe, House of Delegates — 
 
 Dear Sir: I have received your communication, appreciate your motives in making 
 the inquiries and take pleasure in giving you all the information in my possession. 
 
 First. I have been engaged in currying and preparing leather, &c, from sixteen to 
 this time, when I am forty-iix years of age; For some years past have beep engaged in 
 wholesale dealing in leather, hides, oils, fcc 
 
"*%. 
 
pettmalifG« 
 
 P H8.5