Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-23
For the Camden Journal
Internal Resources of south Carolina

Love of country, patriotism, and public spirit,
so commendable and manly, are but other terms
for that divine injunction, "Love thy neighbor
as thyself" And though so literally professed
in every day life among men as right and proper,
is not practised yet more than it ought to be.
And while it affords an excuse for so many OF
our actions that mere superficial observer might
suppose its influence almost universal, candor COM
pels US to admit that there are occasional instances
of naked, undisguised selfshness, and yet We
must believe in charity, that the majority Of men
aim, with more or less earnestness, at the COM
. mon good. All those who devote their time to
religion, politics, literature or professional call
ings, obviously tend that way.
| At the public good we aim, is so frequent an
expression, that we may consider it almost every
mans motto. Therefore, when we speak out our
reflections and call upon all concerned for a
hearing, respectful attention at least is due.
Ideas and opinions are as much and as naturally
the forerunners of expression, as seed time is of
harvest and humble as the pretensions of the
author may be, some thought might escape him,
that others of more ability than himself could
take up, unfold and improve upon resulting f.
| nally, in great benefit to mankind
Beginnings are usually small; indeed, we may
say in every thing that is or has been, there was
a feebleness in its beginning, which should teach
us to examine closely any new project before We
reject or condemn it.
Every good citizen is in measure, bound by
his relations to society to exercise his mind in
looking out for the ways and means of bettering
himself his family, and his fellow men. Though
his tribute be but mite, let him throw it into
the common stock of a progressive age. When
chance offers great things to attempt, we should
not let them pass, but lay hold Of them vigorous
ly-but they are rare, while less things are often
seen and and as much required as the greater,
to make up the whole.
With this preface, and with sincere desire
to be useful, l submit what follows to my fel-
low citizens, asking them to discuss the matter
for themselves, and consider it kindly towards
me.
Ours is small state compound with other
Southern States, but our bounds are fixed, and,
as was once observed in Congress by member
from this state, ave occupy surface pro-
digiously large compare with our numbers"
The area Of South Carolina in round numbers,
is nineteen millions of acres and the population
under six hundred thousand, giving over thirty
acres of land to every individual, old and young,
black and white, and think we may safely say
there is one hundred acres of land for every per-
son engaged in its tilage. If then, we esti-
mate that by anv means, one half Of the land,
or nine and half millions of acres is capable
of culture, there is room enough in our borders
yet, to plant ten times as much more as we now
plant.
Admitting then, that we have nine and a
half millions of acres of tillable land, of which
allow one half for grain and pasturage and plant
only the balance, four and three quarters mil
lions of acres or one fourth of all our surface,
and were to make no more than half bale Of
cotton to the acre, it would give Us crop Of
nearly twenty four hundred thousand bales equal
to the present whole crop of the United States.
THIS is startling, and some of my readers may
throw back their heads and raise up their hands
in amazement. At first, it does look incredible,
that so small territory and but one fourth of
it employed making only half crop should
turn out so much,-but here are the figures and
competent calculators say we have the land.
feel that this is a sort of new idea and some
one may say if South Carolina can do so much,
the other cotton states can do it too, or that
South Carolina is looking ahead to making all
the cotton wanted But observe, l am not tell
ing what we are trying to do, or what we are
going to do but what we could do five would, and
what duty to ourselves requires that we should
boldly attempt for our sake and the sake of
those who are to come after U.S. if we wish to
improve our condition by using our resources or
even maintain our present standing before the
world.
Union or disunion, secession or submission,
this is our present home; here we find our lots
cast here our abiding place. And the Mighty
Makers command to Adam in Eden to subdue,
to dress and to keep it is a command 10 US. If
not so audible from Deity, we hear it from in
terest, from natures first law from the desire to
provide for those dependent upon us, and to en-
large our blessings.
Let our rivers be straightened-thro all the
water into one straight channel, that it may run
off quick and wash out deep-thus securing their
deltas free from freshets, and you open up an
immense mine of agricultural wealth, which
must add to your capital, increase your produc-
tions and comforts, employ your labor and skill
to greater advantage, invite an increase and re-
tain your present numbers if something
is not done, must look out for other fields to op-
crate in. To effect this purpose is worth an ef-
fort-for if we lose them, we lose the essentials
of strength, capital and population-when the
opposite course will encourage them to remain
with their energies, means and productions.
Small streams are ditched drained and re-