The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-07-20
Gou-a,1u omr glattte Naaru."
Decline of the So,th.''

| SSAAAO "a SAS hSSNNAA'
1t has become exceedingly fash.
ionable of late years, in cerain quar-
ters, to represent the Sout as de.
generating and declining, tie victim
of an incurrable consumption, and
rapidly becoming mere gpher in
respect to resources, priv.te and
public. We deem it scarcely neces-
sary to say that, in most cases, 'the
wish is father to the thought All
who are conversant with the present
condition of the Southern States in
general, must acknowledgement they
are rapidly ascending the hill of pros.
perity. If this statementwa ever
true Of the South, it is not true now.
The annual amount derived from the
production of her great staples is
yearly increasing, while sh. is rapid.
ly developing those great works of
internal improvements from which
must flow the most gratifying, and
enriching results. 1t is nottrue that
she is declining, either in wealth,
population, or resources. The South.
ern States constitute one of the
most favored and prosperous sections
of the Union.
The hand Of nature has marked
out for the South a great future
Her destiny is written i'll her noble
mountains. teeming with mineral
wealth; in her beautiful valleys, smil,
ing with fertility; in her glorious riv,
ers, capable Of turning the machine,
ry Of a hundred Lowells;!in her har,
bore, inviting the commerce Of the
world; in all her central position the
most favorable to commercial enter.
prise; in all her great and valuable
products which must ever find a
ready market in every portion Of the
globe; in internal improvements, in
public spirit, in agriculture, in the
development Of her rich and varied
resources. in wealth, population, and
all that goes to make great and
-powertnl State. she $is : ssasisss; ssszas5vsss,; I'd
vancing aud laying o broad founda-
tion for the time to come. 1t is true
that much remains to be done, and
that if the South would avail itself
fully of the advantage within her
reach she must use every cndeavor,
to diversity their labor, and render
herself, as far as possible, independ-
cnt, of the skill and products of for
ciyn sections. The Southern people
must encourage their own home en-.
terprises home enterprises to a
greater extent, build up their own
towns and cities, patronize their own
schools, academies and colleges, and
III every way endeavor to add to the
growth and prosperity of their own
section. Add to this Direct Trade
between the South, Europe and 9TH
er countries, and we canpletc the
picture Of her glorious and onward
career. Who, then, speaks of her
decline :? No true son Of the South
will looh; upon her with such feelings
or be blind to the signs Of the times.
Whatever difficulties may exist, it is
in the power Of oul people to remove
them. In the days of tie French
Revolution, those huge oarricadcs,
which obstructcd tho steets, and
hindercd the progress Of those who
were intent upon liberty. were sur
mounted by a very simpe plan
Every man who joined the ranks of
Freedom, piled up a stom; and by
this mere act Of many pernns acting
in concert, the barriers wrc passed.
The people of the South may well
profit by the example. is in the
power of every one of then to aid in
overcoming the obstacles 'hich may
exist in the pathway Of Southern
progress. Patriotism an( sclf.inter-
est demand Of the peoEe of the
South, the energy and enterprise
necessary to the developmnt of those
resources with which no ohcr people
have been so bountifully spilled by
nature. Let them be fairy cxercis.
ed, and her high position, asst wealth
and formidable power, wi place her
above the reach of one VIII may, now
be hypocritical enough point to
her supposed dcgcneracy ad decline.
Georgia Home Gazette.
GEN. PIERCE oS SLAvEY AGITA-
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