Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-06-07
81 From the Cha1teston Mercury.
COTTON MANUFACTURES AT
THE SOUTH,

the South TO supply herself WIN manu-
featuring skill, and with operatives COM
pcten, for the performance Of the work,
at rate Of expense, and with readiness
that would enable the South to compete
with the Norlh7 With vastly more pro-
pric,y a similar objection might have
been raised in New England half a CEN
tury since. She imported skill, in the
business, across the Atlantic, aud has
since, from those beginnings, created her
own skill AMI made her own operatives.
The South, in these RESPECTS, enjoys
superior advantages. In the Northern
and Eastern manufacturing districts may
always be found sufficient number Of
persons we'll skilled in the manufacture
of Cotton, whose services might be COM
manded in any part of the Union for a
1ritlins bonus over their customary earn
ing, 10 superintcnd factories, and give
all necessary instructions TO qualify 9TH
crs TO carry forward the operations.
From these the knowledge of the busi-
ness would extend itself, and thus the
South would soon possess the requisite
skill in abundance. To doubt the truth
of this proposition would be 10 call in
question the capacity cf the SoutbcIner
10 learn, or his disposition to acquire
valuable information TO make himself
useful to himself and the community.
AS respects operatives, such as spin
ners, weavers, &c, these can certainly
be no question that, in point Of
cost, the South has greatly the advantage
over the North. AT the North, vast
amount of ordinary household labor is
performed by white females, which at
the South is performed by blacks. Be-
sides'this there are great many species
of manufacturing operations, from those
for cotton, unknown at the South, in
which white females are empIoyed.-
From such causes, the labor of females
is in great demand, and the manufac-
lures find it difficult to keep up their
supply ofhelp. The laboris consequent
ly dear. At The South, different or
der of things exists. White females
cannot, without comparative degradation
and Improperly, become servants and
thus earn a livelihood; and il they did,
wages would be small. There is little
or nothing for them 10 do in any line Of
manufacturing; and hence, they must; if
poor, either labor in the field, beg suffer.
or do something else worse. 1t is by
no means an exaggeration TO say, that no
higher ACT of charity or benevolence
could be performed, Than to ogiverespec-
table employment to the thousands Of
suchepersons scattered over the South;
and how gladlywouId multiludes ofthem
accept such employment, at,a very mo,
derate compensation, Thus would a
greatdeal oflabor be appropriated, now
worse than wasted, much wealth crea-
ted by it for employers, and comfort
and comparative happiness conferred on
many persons, who, nov destitute and
miserable, must without some such
means Of employment, SO remain.
From such sources the South may COM
mand any quantity Of labor required, at
a cheaper rate than that at which it can
be procured in New England, and there
fore can run cot,on>mils a, a sma!lar ex-
pense,
ButI shall be told that to all these per-
sous the business will be new. ard that
that head there is difficulty. II is
presumed the business has been new to
every body. There is not an opera
live in any mill in the world who has
not had to learn. We'll what then! In
the present simplified state of cotton
machinery, TO learn its management is
a very short and easy process. A few
months success, under competent over
seers, to accomplish the work. With
some half dozen we'll qualified per-
sons, as heads Of the various drpaIt-
ments, company of operatives, who
never seen a cotton spindle, will learn
to perform all the ordinary dulics of the
mill about as well in six or eight months
as in as many years Besides, whcr
you take company of persons entirely
unacquainted with the business, you
have The very desirable advantage Of
training them up properly 10 ii, and
without those habits of carelessness so
common with many experienced hands.
While on this subject, permit me to
say, there is duty which devolves on
every man in possession Of wealth, to
use it in such a manner as that, by so
doing. he may benefit others, while he
Injuries not himself. This is duty which
the man of philanthropy and public
spirit will n o, hesitate 10 perform. Ger
tain causes, either providen,ial or 9TH
erwise, operate 10 make portion Of
mankind the keepers of wealth, while
another portion is left in poverty, with
no honest means Of support bp, the la
Dor of their hands. To the wealthy
it belongs, as a portion Of The great
brotherhood, 10 devise measures, if pos.