The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-26
r,. p.nublic on physics ana Metaphysics,

The Republic has undertaken 10 sho" 'he
superiority of the physical, over the metaphy-
,;cal system of politics 1t says that South
Carolina regards this Union as league and
that the North has acquired influence by per
verting it and appropriating its means-and that
South Carolina has attempted to counteract this
nv constitutional construction and amendment.
This is what the Republic calls metaphysics
On the other hand, Georgia has relied on the
development of her physical resources, to furnish
the means of asserting her rights and OF achiev-
ing her independence of the North. This is
what the Republic calls physics. ..f 49,. ......
After thus showing what a whimsical notion
of the meaning of words will sometimes get
into the head of an editor, the Republic pro-
ceeds to perform some exploits in argument
Thus:
ain contrasting the results Of the two sys-
tens which have filled South Carolina with In
dignation, and bestowed upon Georgia the
proud appellation of the Empire State of the
South" we should do injustice, however, If we
did not attribute the discomfort OF the one, and
the prosperity of the other, to a combination OF
causes which we shall eudeavor to present"
That is to say, in contrasting the results Of
the two systems, it would be injustice to say
that they ,oere the results of the two systems
but of combination of causes
He proceeds
"The employment of the population of South
Carolina in 1910 shows the following results,
Indicative, we think, of defective political sys-
tenn. Of the male population, about seventy
five per cent are employed in agriculture, about
six per cent in commerce, about seven per cent.
in manufactures, and about one and a half per
cent in the learned professions. There is thus
a large proportion of the labor of this State en-
ployed in the production of single staple, upon
land naturally inferior, often utterly exhausted
by long course of culture. The consumption
of the State is thus charged almost exclusively
upon its staple productions. With this staple
they must buy their supplies of merchandise
often of provisions from the Northern ano
Western States" *
From all which we are to infer that system,
of employment chiefly agricultural, is indicative
of defective political system-that is of a
metaphysical system.
He goes on:
ave do not choose to resort to the delusive
representations, in regard to the popular inteli-
gence of South Carolina, to be derived from the
census, nor to argue that her limited appropria-
tons to primary education are insufficient to
establish high ratio Of popular requirements
amongst the free white agricultural laborers.
We infer the fact that there is little knowledge
amongst the class to which we have referred,
because there is little intercourse with Others
because the motive to educate themselves, which
invariably results from division of labor, is
totally wanting amongst community cxclu-
sively agricultural"
We infer, then, that class of people of little
knowledge, and without motive to educate them
selves, is the class that naturally betakcs itself
to mataphysics-and agriculture! or that pco-
pie accidentally agricultural naturally fall into
metaphysics and ignorance!
But we must now give specimen of the
allegations that keep company with these bril-
liant achievement in logic-and philology. We
are told: ......: .. 80. -
"The institutions of South Carolina are les
Democratic than those of most other States
The right of suffrage is restricted to freehold
qualification and its exercise confined to elect
ing members of the legislature that body does
everything. 1t fills the military, civil and judi
cial appointments 1t casts the electoral vote
of the State. 1t conducts the relations of the
State with the Federal Government"
Now it so happens that, with one exception
every statement is wrong. The right of suffrage
is not restricted to freehold qualification at all
but belongs equally to persons without pro
perry. Its exercise is not confined to electine
members of the Legislature-but extends te
civil and military offices, sheriffs clerks Of
court &c. The Legislature elects but one
military officer, the Adutant General, and elects
few other civil officers but those of the Judiciary
which, is the case in most other States.
1t is true that the Legislature casts the cleo
toral vote of the State-that body being on that
occasion essentially the electoral college, and
voted for with reference to that election But
as for conducting the relations of the State with
the Federal Government, we thought that was
done precisely as by all other States-by Sena-
tors and members of Congress.
Then we are told:
"The physical and social condition of this
State is peculiar, and is favorable to preserving
tho ascendcncy of the politicians and REFRESHING
that Of the people. The lands of South Caro-
lima are described as presenting extremes of fer
tility and barrenness. The Low country is
covered with forests of pitch pine; the soil is
unfit for cultivation The alluvial lands pro-
duce cotton, and the swamp lands, when drained,
constitute the rice plantations. The Middle dis
trict, except npon the streams, is barren, and
scarcely fit for cultivation The Transmontane
district is an elevated table-land, healthy but
generally fertile"
This is a great discovery Lands presenting
extremes of barrenness and fertility" are ssfnyor
able to preserving the ascendancy Of the politi-
clans and REFRESHING that Of the people"
Well, it appears that not only South Carolina,
but the world itself which presents the ex-
tremes of fertility and barrenness," has been
unfortunately made. They are adapted to the
metaphysical policy, not the physical. And then
South Carolina has the additional misfortune of
having social condition in harmony with her
"physical" condition. But then we may observe,