The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-06-13
NUMBER a..

I tllSi ~" vi iiSlSl'i"Ss va W. w hShSs
after, inferior to their Northern neiglibors in
wealth, but the reverse.
The triumph Of Southern enterprise aud
capital in the accumulation of wealth being
established as a fact, demands of us an in
vesIigalIon of its causes-and this, think,
will materially elucidate the character Of
modern civilization. and particularly that
which has been developed in the United
States.
The original methods Of acquiring wealth,
adopted by men on their organization into
communities, wasby conquest Or commerce.
Hence the the almost exclusive military
character of one great class of the ancient
States, which resulted in the universal en-
pire succcssivcIy of the Assyran, Persian,
Greek, and Roman governments; and hence
the rise of Tyre and Carthage. Hence, also
in the middle ages, the empire Of Charlie
magnc, and the long protracted efforts of
France to conquer England, and England
to CONCUR Francc-and the wealth OF Ye>-
nee, Genoa, and Holland. Al Iater:periuds
when the arts had made more progress,
manufactures were included in the means
Of creating wealth. The policy Of England
has combined the three conquest, com.
mcrcc, and manu- actures-and by these she
has succeeded in the construction Of an EN-.
pre- which, for extent OF territory and
wealth, has never had a parallel. The pDli-
cv of England has been dictated By her in
snIar position. This rendered it necessary
for her to acquire the empire OF the sea to
be- secure from invasion by great continental
powers and with the dominion Of the sea, it
was easy to establish great continental en-
pre. The growth of such great power
N commerce, was the strongest possible
stimulus to progress in the arts and manu-
features hence her success in them. But
an extraordinary development of commerce
and manufactures has always resulted IN
the concentration of large masses of people
in cities, which causes inequality OF condition,
great depravilv of morals, great increase OF
want, and of crime consequences thai are
falal in The first place to liberty and govern.
mclnS, and finally to independence IN ma
tons. This tendency has been so obvious
and universal among the great States of all
ages, as to have caused the belief that con-,
mnnilics, like individuals, contain within
themselves the seeds of dissolution which
must ultimately bring them to the dust.
But whether we consider state as a.
moral being, whose essence consists IN the
principles on which 1t is constructed, and
therefore not necessarily mortal, or whether
we regard it as mere creature OF Inc race a9
or persons that founded or inhablt II, and
therefore transient, there can be no doubt
that lis prosperity is seriously lmpaued'py
the evils referred to, that generally attend
the progress Of civilization.
Rural life has always been celebrated by
the roc;s for its Innocence.
"God made the country aad man made
the town." but il is a kind of life that has SCI
dom been thought favorable to The accuinu-
Ialon of wcaIlh-the first want OF civlza.
ton. II, is also usually associated with rude.
ness &C manners. Hence the Vo,arIes of
E,r.ui and society have preferred the city,
ar! Ii, to these We add the vast multitude
wh, seek The immediate. qualification OF their
appc;ilcs and passions, which cities Afford,
at the hazard of fortune and want, VIC have
clear solution Of the undue tendency to city
al lhc expense Of country life. This great
evil sufficient Of itself to cast a stagma on
civilization and even ultimately TO deslroy,'t,
was for The first time sul >essiully encounter
ed and CONQUERED by the institution oi ire
South; and in the great achlevement'Yir
gina led the way. Amongst the cary
white settlers of Virginia were many OF dhe'
Cavaliers who had been driven into exile by
the triumph of the roundheads and OF Csom'
well. The Cavaliers were of tho country.
NJ Engaud. the cities and towns were more
generally devoted to the Roundheads. The
Cavaliers Of Virginia seem to have bronght
over with them from England a hostility
c:cn TO the modes of the enemies they lett
behind them, as the settlers OF New England
on the other hand, from the Roundheads,
became highly commercial. These Pecu-
lari!ics we're exhibited in striking manner
in The progress of the two colonies. Ban,
croft tells us: lsAt
"Bul the greatest fc.guard of liberty IN
(jrrinia was the individual freedom OF mind
which formed the necessity, the characer
Of Independent an;i holders living apart on
their carnations. In the aye OF commercial
monnpv, Virginia had not one market town
n,i orc place Of trade. As to all outward
ururarance i, lookcd all like wild desert,
an,! the mercantile world. founding its indy
r,cu on the absence of cities, regarded II as
'onc Of tic poorest, mserab!esl, and We. worst
countries in America 1t DID not seek to
share activity in the profits of commerce;
it had hlic of the precious metals, and stli
les; q. credit-it was satisfied with agric''l-
turc. Taxes were paid in tnbacco, remit
lances To Europe were madeIn tobacco,;the
revenue of Inc clergy, and the magistrates
Of the colony, was collected i'll the same cur
rencv; the colonial 'radcsman received his