The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-12-06
THE SOUTH-COMMERCIAL INDIE,
PENDENCE.


PENDENCE.
We look with feelings OF satisfaction up
on the rapid advancement OF manufactures
in the South. Ii would rejoice Us TO see
every srre,m in her borders compelled tc
work in the great cause Of American In.
dus,ry. The policy Of the Southern people
| should be 10 encourage every branch Of
manufacturing enterprise within her limits
We would be glad to see every pound Of
Cotton grown 10 the South converted into
cloth on the soil from which il is produced
The Southern States have great advania-
ges over The Northern States for manufac
turing. The raw material IS grown here
and costs nothing for transportation; labor
is cheaper here than it is a, the North; the
great staple articles of food are more plenty
and consequently cheaper; fuel is not so
expensive; water power is more abundant,
and where ii is lacking we can soon sup.
ply its place with steam, and, we believe a,
cheaper rates. These are the essential Gle
menls which give TO any community as
tendency and supremacy in the interests
of manufactures. We have never looked
.n7on it as settled tha, the North was to be,
forever. the leading manufacturing district
of the United States. And although her
capital skill and go.a-head enterprise have
T., I.tr I,r n, rIll
race, il is by no means certain that she can
maintain that proud position. She has,
even nov found tolerably formidable ri.
val IN the Suuth-"ne made formidable Dv
superior advantages Of position, and filled
with the same praise worthy energy and en-.
tcrprise as the population OF the Northern
States. If she has no, now the capital she
never will until she sets up manufacturing
establishments Tor herself. AL that she
needs is encouragement at home.
We do not view the advance the South
is making IN manufacturing. as paving the
way for disunion-;he light IN which some |
Of the Southern presses are regarding it,
We look upon the Union Of the States as
a Gred tact- and we do no, look forward
10 the tine when it will be anything else.
We feel great pride in the rapid growth
of industry and enterprise, in the fast IN
creasmg wealth, in the spirited extension OF
internal Improvements, and the general de
velopment of the resources of the Southern
States, but we are proud 10 feel that our
sym2athies are not so narrow and sectional
that they cannot be penetrated by the feel
ing that its greatness and glory depends
upon the greatness and glory Of the Amer>
can Union. Our devotion is not confined
TO Southern industry alone, but TO american
industry in all its various branches. We
shall be glad to see manufactures IN the
South more and more profitable and exten-
sIve from year to year; and would be glad
70 sec her independent, SO far as the pro.
iacls Of industry are concerned, not only
Of foreign nations, bat of Northern and
New England States. We look upon such
Independence as this as tending 10 hasten
he day when the people of this country
will not have to look abroad fer anything
which their own energy, enterprise and in
luslry can produce. The same shining
lag Witch floats over the snow clad hills
If Vermont, and whose stars are mirrored
n the great Northern lakes, also waves
'ver the sunny fields OF I lie South. Their
industry is american industry, and what.
'ver builds up that within the compass oil
,ur wide domain, builds up the greatness
# the American Union, and binds the
States together in one universal brother
loud.