"Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, July 10, 1839

Summary: The editor countered abolitionist charges that bringing slaves to Texas was detrimental to both whites and blacks. Cited reports of the vast fertile lands in Texas and that, because of climate and the rigors of cotton growing, white labor would never suffice; thus Texas required slavery. Also happily reported on the expected crop yields for the coming year and predicted that Texans would soon be a very wealthy people recognized by the world.

We have just conversed with an intelligent gentleman from the United States, who has been visiting that beautiful section of our country upon the Brazos and San Bernard rivers. His glowing description of the fertility of the soil abundant pasturage, and fine promise of crops. (even in their present suffering condition from drought) confirm us in the opinion, so often expressed that this is without exception the country offering most inducements to the Southern Planter. The objection urged by many men of capital in the United States, to emigration with negroes to Texas, has been, that the most fertile portions of our land are so unhealthy as to risk the lives of both whites and negroes in their culture. With any one, however, who has seen the finest cotton lands of Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, this objection would have none or but little weight, after a careful and unprejudiced examination of the lands of Texas. To claim for the richest lands of Texas the reputation of perfect healthiness, would of course be idle; but the plain, unvarnished truth will bear us out in asserting, that a far greater fertility here is accompanied by far less sickness than in any productive portion of the United States with which we are acquainted, and of this we judge by the comparative appearance, in the two countries, of the crops and of the inhabitants.

Our country needs a working population, and, moreover, a slave population for experience has shown, that on account of climate, white labor will never be sufficient for the production of cotton, which is our staple, and in the exportation of which--whether our much talked of loan is effected or not--our solvency and financial operations as a Nation, must ultimately depend. Let us, then, offer every inducement to the planter of the barren lands of the Southern States to come amongst us, and whilst he is rapidly realizing that wealth which every man desires for himself, to aid us in establishing that firm basis of Currency, which must in every country depend upon agricultural production--Star.

CROPS IN THE EAST.--A gentleman from the Eastern counties, informs us that the crops in Eastern Texas are exceedingly forward, and promise an abundant harvest It is calculated that in the counties of Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Sabine, Shelby, Jefferson and Jasper, there will be made this season, at least 15,000 bales of cotton Corn also looks very flourishing, and will yield a heavy crop. Under such circumstances, a very few years will find us an unincumbered, free, and a wealthy people, our independence recognized, and our commerce sought after by all the world.

Source Copy Consulted: "Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, July 10, 1839, p. 3