Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-07-02
..Decliae of Che south.n

"DeCAlMe Oh the souri,"
1t has become exceedingly fashionable of late
years, in certain quarters, to represent the South
! as degenerating and declining, the victim OF an
ncurable consumption, and rapidly becoming a
mere cypher in respect to resources, private ana
public We deem it scarcely necessary TO say
that, in most cases, "the wish is father to the
thought" All who are convesant with the
present condition of the Southern States in gen
eral, must acknowledge that they are rapidly
ascending the hill Of prosperity. If this state
ment was ever true of the South, 1t Is not true
now. The annual amount derived from the pro-
duction of her great staples is yearly increasing,
while she is rapidly developing those great works
of internal improvements from which must flow
the most gratifying and enrching results. 1t is
not true that she is declining, either in wealth,
population, or resources. The Southern States
constitute one of the most favored and prosper
Gus sections of the Union.
The hand of nature has marked out for the
South a great future. Her destiny is written IN
her noble mountains, teeming with mineral
wealth; in her beautiful valleys, smiling with
fertility; in her glorious rivers, capable of turn
ING the machinery of a hundred Lowels; In her
harbors, inviting the commerce Of the world in
all her central position the most favorable to
commercial enterprise in all her great and val
liable products which must ever find ready
market in every portion of the gIobs; IN inter-
nal Improvements, in public spirit, IN agriculture,
in the development Of her rich and varied re-
sources, in wealth, population and all that goes
to make a,great and powerful State she is stea-
Oily advancing and laying broad foundation
for the time to come 1t is true that much re-
mains to be done, and that if the South would
avail itself fully of the advantages within her
reach she must use every endeavor to diversity
their labor and render herself as far as possible,
independent of the skill and products Of foreign
sections. The Southern people must encourage
their own home enterprises to greater extent,
build upstheir own towns and cities, patronlze
their own schools, academies and colleges, and
in every way endeavor to add to the growth and
prosperity Of their own section. Add to this
Direct Trade between the South, Europe and
ether countries, and we complete the picture of
her glorious and onward career. Who, then,
speaks of her decline! No true son of the South
will look upon her with such feelings or be
blind to the signs of the times. Whatever diff
cuties may exist, it is in the power of our peo-
pie TO remove them.
In the days Of the French Revolution, those
huge baTiicades, which obstructed the streets,
and hindered the progress of those VIII" were In
tent upon liberty, were surmounted by very
simple plan Every man who joined the ranks
of Freedom, piled up stone; and by this mere
B act of many persons acting in concert, the bar
riers we're passed. The people of the South may
well profit by the example. 1t is in the power
of every one of them to aid in overcoming the
obstacles which may exist in the pathway Of
Southern progress. Patriotism and self-interest
c1srt.ss..l of ese -.l--'-A-e-.,
and enterprise necessary to the development OF
those resources with which no other people have
been so bountifully supplied by nature. Let
them be fairly exercised and her high position,
vast wealth and formidable power, will place her
above the reach Of one who may, now, be hypo-
critical enough to point to her supposed desen
eracy and decline.-Georyia Home Gazette