February 1847

It is now said that the Mexican War is al- ready paid for in the enhanced value of cotton and breadstuffs now to be sold by our people; and chiefly of cotton, a novelty, a single article on whose manufacture such immense mechani- cal powers have been concentrated that it takes the lead of all other articles of trade. Now I suppose this is mere ignorance. Not a single plant, perhaps, in the whole botany, that is not also adapted to general uses, and w'ill not hereafter make the bread of millions, by its manufacture.