Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-28

The following sensible and well written article
appears IN the Charleston Courier 1t is appli-
cable, most especially, to South Carolina but its
sAhortations, warnings and reproofs may be well
taken to heart in other Southern States, and
should be attentiyely considered in Virginia.
We extract it without further comment-it will
speak for itself:
THE SOUTHERN AGRICULTURIST.
Our iaferesis-our otDn intUeStS-when will
we attend to them?
The agricultural community, weighed down by
the dead weight of ignorance and supinenes. has
been frequently called upon "to be up and do
siug.s' and the few who have responded to these
cats. have only shed light enough to make this
our darkness more visible. Such is our actual
situation.
With a knowledge bordering on the confines of
darkness, and a supineness which the knowledge
of this truth cannot arouse, with the most inhat-
ed pertinacity and fitribtmd zeal, (under actual
grievances) we are dreaming away our very exist
ence, and combating in this disturbed repose an
incubus generated by the crudities OF indigestion.
We are in the pursuit of the shadows OF sleep,
and neglecting the substantialities OF wakefu-
ness. Instead Of putting our shoulders to the
wheel, we are crying out against both the Law and
the Prophets. as il they were diabolicai in them
selves, or as if they were marked with abeceda-
rian ignorance-and are catechising each other on
the very alphabet of Constitutional rights. Cad
BONO time will snew.
Great God what taxes are heavier than those
which we have thus voluntarily put upon our
selves? IF we study to increase and vary the
products of industry, and meet with that success
sChich sooner or later, must be its inevitable re-
,oard, will our time be taken up IN discussing the
best mode of preserving the scanfy production Of
ouer tared ignorance, or will not the redundant
bounties of earth oUerpo,cer eUen tyranny asey!
1t is dreadful, we admit, to be taxed without re-
presentaton-or to be grievously taxed-or to be
uniustly taxed. But it is more dreadful to be
alarmed by imaginary existences, and to be mad
dened by the grim approaches OF rhetorical de-
mon, swhich threatens by one fell swooP to end
life. liberty and property" Let him threaten; we
will not submit, nor be terrified. We will turn
our attention to what must, sooner or LATER torce
itself upon every thinking and interested planter;
being we'll assured that no taxes can exceed those
Of ignorance and suplueness, self-taid on, IN
community of declining agriculture.
Carolnians, awake, awake! In social indus
try, perseverng and kind, hand in hand, awake,
.S.be up and DOING Mind yo,T otcn business.
An industrious yeoman reaps in his occupation,
courage, prosperity, lOerty, tldhkiulhesS, hea''h'
the love of man and Of God; and these are a
rich harvest of glory which no tyrant can blight:
II you wish to arm yourselves successfully, and
70 forth conquering, and to cOnquer-be no long,
er bugaboodby the Tariff" no longer alarmed
oy this painted devil''-this eva spirit Of an evil
time; but let your weapon be the ploughshare.
su6due the earth with this, and you will subdue
its enemies, and thus obtain the only bloodless
and prosperous victory which your sniferlngs de-
mand. Then, and then only, will Southern
clouds and Northern lights unite themselves
with the departing storm, and form glorious CO.
yenant Of peace. liberty. and Independence
For, be assured, you will never prosper as Agri-
cuItu, lists again, though the ,chole prohibitoyy
sustes ,sere destroyed, until you cease to be gen
flsmsa farmers. idle farmers, ignorant farmers,
o,oneu spending farmers, go-ths-North farmers,
Eps-iHSoscn farmers, nsineral,catsr-s farmers,
vo,ang favern-iounging farmers. dress-,p-and-
aash-a,cay farmers, magnifcenf1abob- do-no-
thing farmers-farmers who work by deputy,
and consume in propria persona-farmers who
ruin themselves and their posterity.
Mistake me not; these are neither terms Of
abuse, nor are they intended to eharasteri'e the