Holly Springs gazette., 1849-10-12
Correspondence Of the Ii. S, Gazette

Correspondence Ot the Ii, ), Gazette.
KALAMAZOO, Michigan, Sept, 10Th, 40.
DEAR GAZETTE;
In my last letter, promised TO fill
the present, with statement of the causes of
the prosperity oftho New England States, and
to vindicate the Southwest against tho char.
gcs Of apathy and want of public spirit, SO fre.
qucntly urged against it. shall now redeem
that promise to the best Of my ability.
ltis difficult for citizen Of the Mississippi
valley TO form d correct conception of the
barrenness and sterilty of iankce-Iand. AS
have before remarked, its principal domes-
tic exports arc granite and ice, and its soil is
all stone and lille dirt Thousands Of
tons of rock have to be removed before the
husbundman can reach sufficient soil to return
even ncager reward to his labors, IL is not
a farming country. Such being the case,
her citizens were compelled TO look 10 other
sources for wealth. Commerce offered the
most speedy and profitable reward for capital.
The ships of New England dot every sea, and
all lands pour their merchandise n,oher marts.
Commerce is the parent Of capital, and the
latter was soon increased SO greatly as to leave
large surplus which could not be invested
in the former, Manufactures next solicited
and received attention. This still further aug
mcned capital, and it was soon discovered
that Commerce and Manufactures had render
ed the North eastern states the weathiest of
our Union, ((or, there is beyond all doubt,
more capital in them than in any other sec.
ton Of our country.) Excess Of capital only
rendered its possessor moro anxious to seek
out other sources of profitable investment.
: Farming presented but little or no inducement
| on account of tho sterilty Of the soil; and In.
.tsaEa.a.lI improvements, in It's commonly under.
stood sense, offered rich rewards. Rail Roads
almost literally checker every foot oftheir soil
. and they have stretched out their iron hands
10 every section of our Union, and are gather
ing golden harvest. The only matter Of as
constituent is, that the yankee did not sooner
: resort to the Improvement Of his means Of
: transportation. They have literally no inter.
:. nal steam boat navigation. The amount Of
q it in the whole of New England does moi equal
f that, which is afforded by the Tennessee or
e Arkansas River: The little which they have
d Is frozen up nearly half the year. Is i! then
:, matter of astonishnient, that the yankee, pos.
: sessing such vast capital, such an abundance
:, of fcommercial articles for transportation, such
;. limited means for that transportation, and SO
barren q, soil, should materially turn his utten'
hon to internal improvements! Whether they
. willcd it or not, necessity compelled them tc
y construct their artificial channels ofcommerco
Nature has done but little, nothing for them
i and they have attempted to supply her defects
d In this they deserve the commendaton o.
r. every person; but their efforts in this behalf
gives them no privilege to ccnsure their neigh
# bors. more best by nature than themselves
J., and 10 charge them with apathy.
n How is it with the Southwest! Nature ha'
- given us q soil tho most prolific on earth
= "Tho world cannot equal us there" She ha'
,r cut her canals through every section of ou
If country, and has poured through them he
1t mighty rivers. She has furnished US eli
J., mate that will not suffer the frosty breath o
Of winter TO chill her finland seas She has. ii
:, d word, given us country perfect in itself
u. Look at. our own state. No spot in it is NOR
then thirty miles from steam navigation, an
l. almost half her citizens daily hear the can
It, nonading OF Our western boats. Shall me
N thus happily situated he charged with apathy
s, beeuusc they have not checked their soil wit
in tho iron channels of communication! W
of point with exultation and gratitude to bount
~ rul nrlure, who his relieved us from the ne
ve ccssity of their construction. But even II "
=. did not possess these great natural advant'
IL ges, we might we'll say TO those who charg
" US with apathy, that our great Southwest lsy
r in its infancy. No millionorcs yc, live in OF
;" country. Capital hns not yet accomu'0'eo
'r' the hands of the fcw, and property is equitaO
en- distributed amongst thc ma"y. None arc r''
Oh and but fec poor.
hs But we are not only unjustly charged wi
Oh apathy, but our domestic institutions arc POI
zen .ed nj. rs rs cause. Is this just! The old
ow Southern states, Virginia excepted, can prou
ate " boast of an equality with their Norite
ION brethren. Georgia has more rail road III
dly anu other State Of our Union Eorth O
sip, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware
ICY, bounding forward in The race Of internal
thc proyemeht They are the compecrs Of III
vail Yankee brethren. Virginia in the Slave,