The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-09-26
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INDUSTRIAL PRoGREss AT THE SoUTH.--
1t does no, admit of denial that all that por'
ton of The region adapted to the culture ol
cotton which is embraced in the Southern
slope of the Atlantic, is now undergoing an
industrial transition. There are unmislakc-
able evidences of this progress as regards
South Carolina and Georgia, even il VIC ex-
cIrnle from this description North Carolina
and Alabama This change can he little
promoted by legislation, or retarded by adj
verse opinion IN a f W sections of the Sonrh-
crn country. 1t is the manifestation of an
economical law. 1t is tho effect Of a cause
of general operation. Whether slave or
while labour be either Of them the exclusive
instrument nf this change. il is as inevitable
as TIC determination IF our agricultural in
dusry. at one period, into particular
channel. according to certain circumstances
of soil an climate.
The appeal To the statistics of tho cotton
trade. showing the recovery of the balance
between production and consumption will
not reverse tho conclusions built on an or
dinance OF nat. re or industrial necessity
The argument that looks to prices current
exclusively, to solve question in economl-
cal progress. leads to laacv and error. 1t
adopts for large extent of country, of va
rying natural capabilities, the facts and con-
clusinns which arc Of limited appcalion.--
or what value is the inference to the Caro-
lima producer tia, upland cotton is, on an
average of many years, rcmuneratvc to tho
errwer on The rich sniis of the Red River -!
How dors i, reconcile The former 10 the
change in his position when he is told that a
price which afforded liberal return nn his
inves,mrn, in 1912, when his lands, bcrg III
their virgin richness, yielded product one
iour'h larger than at present This may
afford consnIatnrv hope 10 the grower on
the shores Of The Mississippi, but it will prove
unfruniul philosnrhy To the cu'IIvalnr ON the
banks Of the Congaree. 1t appears, there
fore, that comparative views as to consnmp-
ton, supply and prices. nmlting all estimate
oi The rcalivc ca rabiIitics to produce of d'f-
lcrcnt regions, lead I" ND practical result OF
general application.
The evidence of this is that the sagacity Of
sc'f interest is proving too strong for figures.
The sure instinct That conducts to profit is
about solving the problem. Ingenuity has
been ,asking itself To- shrw that cotton ought
to be every where in the South remuncra-
tive. Action is leaving The spcculalnns of
the closet and the calculations OF political
arithmetic, to a triumph barren of practical
rc suits.
The transition, then. from less to a more
rcmuucrallve scheme of labor. is fact demo.
ting industrial progress guided by cnlightcn-
, ed sell lnlc. est. Ii affords another illusira-
ton of That truth which shows the tendency
IN all the pursuits OF industry to arrive al
level, not only as regards individuals but sec
lons of country. There cannot exist great
inequality OF advantage where capital may
freely flow, not merely from crupaion 10
occupation, but from one division ot territory
to another. The cotton planter OF South
CaroIlna will cmiSralc with his capital TO
more productive regions II he has neither in.
cenlive equal to the EeceSsitIcs Of his position
cor an adequate field for his labour. Be-
tween change and lranSier-bctwcen fyily
and migralIun, ilicrc Is no middle course fr
lhnse on the more Southern Atlantic slope
who occupy lis worn out soils. These views
are suggestive "t others ncritIng Illustrations
connected with The peculiar position of
South Carolina, to the people oi which is
presented the alternative Of abandoning lhc
land of their f rctalhers or falling in with
! that industrial change which is going on
both TO The North and South of har.
Eoe. Nr,os.