Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-15
SEPARATE STATE SECESSION
PRACTICALLY DISCUSSED IN 4
SERIES OF ARTICLES.
'ublished Originally in tho EdgtfIeld Advertiser.
BY RUTLEDGE.
EY RUTLEDGE.
MO. v.

| II IS easily 10 Dc seen, Wc Lililh, uitt Lilt
Commerce and prosperity OF the State will ht
increased and not diminished by separate State
secession. Charleston has now an exporting
trade of SIG G,0OOOG0, and an importing busi
; ness of only 8l0,O00,O00, since she is mere
/ thoroughfare for at least onc-half the imports
That enter her harbor.
! Under a separate government, while the irn-
ports upon which she derives mercantile pro.
| fits, would 1T once rise from 5l0,000,O0O
to $l5,OO0,000 (the just imports upon the
exports proper OF the Statc) the exports
from products of other States would, pro-
badly, not be much diminshcd for Charles
ton, under our exercise Of free trade, would fur
nish the best exporting market for Southern and
Western produce; and although the govern
ment might impose heavy restrictions upon inn
ports from Carolina into other States, it could
impose none upon tho exports of other States in
mart for the produce of the neighboring States,
and though prohibited from selling them mer.
chandze, 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 fair field with the Merchants
of other countries.
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 our population, every
decade, to he 20 per cent, in ten years from
this time, unless from unforeseen causes, there
will be added to our present numbers about
10000 sonls. Now tits q seli.evident PROPOSE
tion, that, in every community, each member is
a consumer; aud all who do not live by chari-
ty, contribute somehow to production by their
industry, their capital, Or their lands This is
so universally true, that, in Political Economy,
it is become a maxim-"eDeyy groom person IS
an accumulated ccpital."
The productive industry, then, Of our State,
gradually increasing every year, would, at the
end of ten years, yield an annual increase in
ou: exports Of moro than S3,000,O00; for this
would be about the productive value Of l3o, 900
inhabitants after dcdrcting domestic consump-
ton. Take, for example, the three Districts Of
Ahbeville, Edgcfeld and Newbcrry. In 1910
they had an aggregate population of S0,553,
white and black. Their aggregate production
in Cotton vas I0,244,7l4 lhs.t This at 10
ct. would make the exporting value Of each
inIlaLitant S24. Surprising the 10000 ill.,
crease OF oar population TO have the same pro-
dac:ivc capacity, they would furnish, as already
stated, annual exports more in value ti.aii 3d.
100000. These wouli yield, in Il profitable
foreign trade, nearly $4000,000 Of imports.
Hence Charleston, in the next ten years would
have, from this sourcc, IN Increase of her pre-
sent mercantile profits on $$3,00O,UOO Of exports,
and nearly 81 coo 900 OF imports-in all, 49,,
000,O00 This calculation might be extended
through :: succession Oi decades, showing tho
large increase OF our produce and trade, till,
from over population and other causes, the
present ratio between production and popuia-
ton be destroyed
Eut the productive industry of the State
would be increased in another way. At pres
cnt, capital OF something like $4,000, COO, be-
ing transferred TO the North, is annually with
drawn from the productive agency of the State.
IN ntrodu, ing improved methods in our various
branches Of industry and in facilitating our i'll
r-communication, this sum might add con-
sdcrably to the exporting capacity of the State
An annual saving of s5,OOO,0o0 would give,
at the end of 10 years, exclusive Of interest, 4
fixed capital Of S50,000,09O. Allow 81 ,0o0,-
0O0 of this to be unproductively consumed by
the State Government, there would still re-
man $540, 100000 for productive agency. The
Reproductive power of this sum, invested in
the usual occupations in our State, would fur
nish sporting products to the value OF S2,00o,-
600. thus Edgefeld District, which by the
recent Census,4 has an aggregate wealth OF
SiG,OOO,OOO, yields exports in Cotton alone to
the value OF S3O0,00O.
In addition to tilis, there would be, under a
separate Government, several hundred thousand
dollars of commodities for public consumption,
which would 90 to swell the imports OF the
State.
From these data it will be reasonable to cs
timate the exports proper of South Carolina, at
the end Of! ten years, should tic State be allow
cd to enjoy the fruits OF Il peaceful indepen-
dcnce, at abont SIS, 100000, aad her IMPORTS
ut more tam $2O,0UU,OOO. This will add to
the present business OF Charleston mercantile
profits on SlO,OOO,OoO Of imports, which now
merely pass through her streets, adding mere
triic to the woall Of the city, while her &C.
ports will be equal if not larger than they are
at present. And this increase will gradually
20 on for centuries according to population
and production.
From her facilities, moreover, in combining
skill and capital, Charleston would become
Say Pol Economy.
fEigeficld with Il population OF
33.515 proluccd 7.Gl3,l 1875 lbs Of Cotton
Abbevilln 2D35l 8,52h1S2