Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-12
FOR THE ADYERT1sER.
THE EFFECTS OF SEPARATE STATE sECEs
SION ON THE COMMERCE. AND PROS
PERITY OF TIE STATE.
Co1tinued.l

sion Charleston has now On exporting trade of
100000 900, and an importing business of only
$l0,OOO,000, since she isfasmere thoroughfare
for at least one-half the imports that enter her
harbor "
Under separate government, while the i'm
ports upon which she derives mercantile profits,
would at once rise from 10000, 900 to sl5, ,OOO,'
600 (the Just imports upon, the exports proper of
the state) the exports from products of other
States would, probably, notibe much diminished;
for Charleston, under our exercise of free trade,
would furnish the best exporting market for
Southern and Western produces and although
tho government might impose heavy restrictions
upon imports from Carolina into the other States,
it could impose none upon the. exports Of other
States into Carolina. Charleston would still be
q fine mart for the produce of the neighboring
States, and though prohibited from selling them
merchandise, she could direct her ships laden
with commodities derived from this produce, to
any port in the Union, or to any part of the
world, and compete in o fair field with the Mer'
chants of other countries, 49,
But let us estimate the benefits Charleston
would derive from the natural increase of the
population and productive industry of the State,
Taking the increase Of appropriation, every de-
cade, to be 20 per cent, In ten years from this
time, unless from unforeseen causes, there will
be added to our present numbers about l30 900
souls. Now it is self-evident proposition, that,
in every community, each member is a consul
mer; and all who do not live by charity, contri-
butte somehow to probationary their industry,
their capital, or their land: = This is SO unlver-
sally true, that, in Political Economy, il is be.
come maxim-a euery gfoga person is an &C.
eumulated capitsl"
The productive industry then, of our State,
gradually increasing every; year, would, at the
end of ten years, yield an annual increase in our
exports of more than s., 100000; for this would
be about the productive valde Of 100000 inhabi-
tants after deductng domestic consumption.
Take, for example, tho three Districts of Able
vile, Edgefeld and Newbsrry. In 1910 they
had an aggregate population 30, ,553 white and
black. Their aggregate production in Cotton
was l9, 244,7l4lbs.t Thisat 10 cts would make
the exporting value of each inhabitant s24.
supposing the l3o, 900 increaseof our population
to have the same productive capacity, they would
furnish, as already stated ;sannual exports more
in value than s3,OOo,OOO. These would yield,
in profitable foreign trade, nearly s4,OO0,OOO
of imports. Hence Charleston. in the next ten
years would have, from thisssource, an increase
Of her present mercantile profits on sa,ooO,ooO
of exports, and nearly $4,000, 900 of imports
in all, s7,Ooo,OO0. This sycalculation might be
extended through asucoeasion d: decades, show
ing the largeincrease off produce and trade,
ill, from over population and other causes, the
present ratio between production and population
be destroyed. ,
But the productive industry of the State would
be increased in another way At present, q capi-
tai of something like s5,0Oo,0OO, by being trans
ferrcd to the North, is annually Withdrawn from
the productive agencyo of the State. In introdu-
cling improved methods in our various branches
ofindustry and in facilitating our inter-commu-
nication, this sum might add considerably to the
exporting capacity Of the State. An annual saw
ing of S5,OO0,000 would give, at the end of 10
years, exclusive of interest, fixed capital of
s5O,OO0,OOO. Allow sl,ooO,OOO of this to be
unproductively consumed blythe State govern
ment, there would still remain s49,OOO,0O0f
productive agency. The reproductive power of
this sum, invested in the usual occupations in
State, would furnish exporting products to the
value of s2,ooo,ooo. Thus Edge6eld District,
which by the recent Census. has an aggregate
wealth of about Is16, 100000, yields exports in
Cotton alone to the value Of 100000.
In addition to this, there'would be, under a
separate government, several hundred thousand
dollars of commodities for public consumption,
which would go to swell the imports of the State.
From these data it viii be reasonable to csti-
mate the exports proper of South Carolina, at
the end of ten years, should the State be allowed
to enjoy the fruits of peaceful independence,
at about slS,OOO,0OO, and her imports at more
than s2O,OOO,OO0. This will add to the present
business of Charleston mercantile profits on $l0,-
OOO,O 900 of imports, which now merely pass
through her streets, adding mere trifle-t to the
wealth of the city, while her exports will be
equal if not larger than they are at present. And
this increase viii gradually 60 on for centuries
according to population and production.
From her facilities, moreover, in combining
skill and capital, Charleston would become con-
siderable manufacturing Town, not merely Of
Cotton, but of various and useful commodities,
especially of implements and machinery for me-
chanical, agricultural and manufacturing purpo.
ses. With her genius and capital properly de
rectcd to this branch Of industry, she might add
immensely to her wealth and prosperity. Only
few Towns and Cities, whose natural advanta-
ges for Commerce pour the wealth Of nations
into their harbors, become scry prosperous and
wealthy without manufactures. Charleston should
look to this as source of great prosperity
What now are the prospects of the State at
large9 The increase Of its population and pro-
- 49, L.