Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-26
From the Southern Agriculturiss.
EmiGratiOns

Mr.. Editor,-There are few of US who
have not relatives or friends that have emil
grated TO the West, and whose fa,tering &C.
counts of that region do no. render us unea'
sy, not to say unhappy at our situation
here. Many Of US have been there ourselves
and their deep rich soil, their luxurlant
fields, their boundless discourse ofhundreds
of thousands and Of millions, have seldom
failed to make us look back with absolute
contempt upon our own barren and spirit.
less land. With imag' nations fred by the
glow which rests and shines on every thing
around, many purchase at once. and return
home to pull up stakes and abandon all the
endearing associations ofiniancy. youth and
manhood, for the glorious prospect OF un.
bounded wealth in more favored cllmes. II
any come back to look once more upon
his own fields before he determines to give
them up forever, and the lapse oftime. the
change OF scene, the comfors Of home and
friends, wear away his first vivid impress
sion, and deprive him of the resolution TO
go-still. in most instances, the thorn ran.
kles in his bosom, and he feels that he has
made an immense sacrifice to his unforun.
ate attachment 10 the spot where an unkind
DESTINY has cast his lot. Most probably
he vet hopes, at some future period. to
break away, and looks upon the soil and in.
s,ituions OF his father scarcely as his own
certainly as not his chidren's. invite all
such, and all who from the accounts Of 9th.
ers NAV be troubled with this fell spirit of
emipration to follow me in the calculation
| am about to make, by which ! hope to
convince them tina, the difference is not 50
great as perhaps they imagine. But first,
ia the light pine lands, two acres more OF
let them look around and scan more mar.
rowly the circumstances ofthose whom, they
so much envy. do not ask them 10 look
a, men who left us with regulations impair.
ed or broken fortunes. To such men, al
mos, any change is for the better, because
j, gives new habits, new energies, and above
ali, new hopes. Their gain is not to be
easily estimated--itis is moral rather than ply.
scial. Blu, look at those who left here
L" we'll to do at homc," 10 better their con-
dition. Count their slaves, count their a.
cres. count their children--the noblest por.
ton of their wealth. | do not ask you TO
coun, their friends, or to trace the connec-
tons which these children may have formed,
or to enumerate those sad hours which bear
them back to their native land. But ask
them how much clear money they have on
hand each year after all is paid, and then
inquire how much properly they can pur.
chase with it. Ifyou can perceive no great
accession to their visible wealth or comforts
If they number no more slaves, and have no
broader lands bought and paid for, what a.
walls any high imaginary value, which IN
conformity with the fashion ofthat country.
they may place on what they have; and
how much swee'er are the bought and bar.
rem luxuries Of foreign land, because pur'
chased with more money. Let me ask
them to do one thing more if it is in their
power, 10 go and inquire of their friends o.
relatives, If laying aside all affectation, and
speaking in the honest sincerity of their
hearts, they do not wish they had never
left their native State-nay, ifthey do moi
ye, indulge the hope, vague perhaps, bu'
very comforting of one day returning shIth'
er.
Bu. to my calculations. lido not desire
to appeal to feelings, but to the interest, and
to show that the cou,se which the heart SC
naturally dictates, the understanding may
justly sanction.
Twill assume that every ordinary cotton
planter IN this State can plant to each full
task hand, ten acres of cotton and eli Oh. a.
cres of corn, potatoes, &c. The quantity
and the proportions vary know. In the
stiff up country soil they may plant less