The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-09

u.
and so it may be, for great allowances are
to be made IN exploring new grounds
we are liable to make over and under es-
Inmates, but let it be looked into; if wor-
thy the trial, let the Legislature move
on the subject, and move earnestly here
is something worthy of its aid, and lust
IN character with the enterprise of our
people when they move at all, and in
which our public men have always been
disposed to join. Our State pride is pro-
verbal. See how much has been spent
in improving the navigation of our rivers,
by canals and clearing out obstructions.
And now, when they are made safer and
better than they ever were before, is near
ly superseded by railroads, which have al
so been cherished into usefulness by the
aid of public money. Besides, see what
the State has done to preserve and pro-
mote the prosperity Of her citizens re-
built the city of Charleston; built Ham
burg; see her Atlantic steam navigation
Company; her College, her Lunatic Asy-
lllm, her Bank of the State and its bran
ches; indeed her munifccnce has been
ever on liberal scale. No sectional in
terests are recognized. A long pursuit of
this policy may eventually burthen DOS
terty with our debts, and be it so, if we
put them in possession of ample means of
payment, to which we are prompted by
every duty and worthy motive. Can It
be possible that the great author of all
things who placed these fertile lands where
they are, did not intend them for the use
OF man? They can be used and it be-
comes us to make an effort to appropriate
them to our benefit; or shall they re-
main Wilderness or worse than wilder
ness in our midst as it were to taunt us ?
Shall we fold our arms and remain as we
are; shall we Use no effort to make the
waste places glad, the crooked paths
straight, to set our houses in order, not
to die but to live2 Should succeed in
waking up my fellow citizens from their
apparent apathy, to investigate my prem
Ises and push their enquiries in search of
new schemes of utility, shall feel that
have been the humble intrument of doing
great good. 1t is no labor trouble, or ex-
pcnsc, to join me in the project thus sta
ted. These lands of.so little value now.
should be rescued; it is desirable, and il
is practicable Take a common s.use
view or any other view of it, and | fancy
! you will concur with me.
Much has been written and said, and
many plans and propositions offered and
tried, of cheap and easy means of trans
Portation Of our staple to market. What
bring before you is of higher considera-
tion, that is, increasing the great staple
ITSELF
The work can be done by the planters
along the river and not by northern con-
tractors or emigrant laborers. II will not
require the outlay Of dollar, or employ
ment Of a man beyond the limits Of the
State.
On looking round for objections, but
two present themselves. II NAV interfere
with the navigation of the river, which is
Is so slight now that river navigation is
nearly abandoned, that no opposer would
resort to that plea. The other, it would
interfere with individual boundaries, and,
might cause confusion. There is some
weight in this, but second reflection blows
it to the winds; for where is the man who
would object to having the value of his
property increased five hundred per cent 2
IL such an one can be found we would es-
TEEN him a brilliant specimen of the mo-
dcrn eccentric.
The great interest Of South Carolina to
which all Others are at present merely
subordinate, is the planting interest; that
is the head spring the main fountain of
our strength; and here, it may be, we
have committed an error in having plan
ted too much, and pursued it to the exclu-
sion of other callings. To trade and COM
merce, to ships and steaml oats, to banks,
railroads, turnpikes and lately to plank
roads, we have not been inert; and in
politics, State and national entirely too
much time and talent have been expcn-
ded, which has had the effect to put us
ahead in politics and behind in almost
everything else, but especially in domes
tic industry and enterprise, in which we
humbly confess that other and apparent
~ less favored portions of our country
have gained the advance on us. We
have lived too easy in the past for our
~ W "'"'O SOot "c nave HOJ thel
our birth-right to the greatest advantage.
and have most unwiseiy sighted the gifhs
OF nature. Other quarters Of the country
have raised our food for us, when we
c0ttid rs we'll ha'e raised Il our,clvcs.
while our raw cotton has been sent off 20
enrich old and new England and other
sections, many Of whom We sec now ONLY
as foes inst"ad Of friends
IN the retrospect there is but little To
Halter or console us; the present only is
ours, and may the future historian in ina
king true record, have it to say, that in
'hr beginning Of the second half or de
nineteenth ceniury, the sunny South was
born again, her people became practical
they were struck with new views. and
learnt their duty, and like enlightened
men they done il, the result Of which was
they prospeFcd and went on 10 prr,,per
had Plentyf earth's good dim o. and
were happy. RrcHLAvp.