The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-07-20


Carolina.
To DR.. John p. Barrat, Gen. James
Gillian and Capt. Thomas Byrd.
GENTLEMEy: 1t was with great deal Of
satisfacLion.tm l observed in tile Edgefcll
Advertiser, Cptain Byrd's communication
on the subje Of u proposed State Agrcul-
tural Society wished thento give all the
aid ailo cd6Eelal.vc I,eo::la 10 ti4seproiect,
but having eiorc me the recollection of a
signal failur in which I was associated, in
December, 1873, when meeting was called
in the CapiMtor similar purpose, l thought
it perhaps Eudent for me to remain silent
until tia nattcr acquired some tangible
shape. Th newspapers of the State have
generally gen this great work the all Of a
paragraph, which without other assistance,
amounts toomfort about enough to kill it.
Some, indel, have devoted to the subject
careful thoyht, and the arguments in their
articles in s favor will hereafter become
the toundabn stones upon which the future
structure VII rest. Now, gentlemen, since
you have ,ade public call upon all who
should put their shoulders to the wheel,
fancy no oc who feels an interest should
remain stint, and hence shall trouble you
with the ocrusal of my crude notions OH
the subjec.
You he truly said that the hour has
come for'ction in this matter. South Car.
olina in ut even stationary in her indus
trial pur&ts. She is actually, and rapidly
retrograGng. Her old fields ere charging
her honstcads are decreasing i'll numbers
her factories are standing idle, or languish,
ing for want Of home patronage, her stock
is dwindmg into ghostly anatonies of vital
sembana, and her sons of energy are seek.
ing the more remuncrating, hence more ce
NAL, fields Of the Southwest, upon which
industry smiles by the sweat OF the face Of
labor. Nor are we alone losing white popu
altion-slave population, the true wealth o
the State, will soon become stationary, in
point Of increase, within her borders, by the
colonization and occupation of the rich
planting lands of those favored regions
Shouldt this be? Is old South Carolina still
to furnish the elements of mind and labor
to thehuitful forest lands, in which now
the spirits Of tho wilderness reigns? 1t is
true or soil is poor-poor and infertile-
FROM that careless system Of indifference
which caused our people to contemplate its
gradgal and certain deterioration, with nc
foresight for their rfuture-aolsich IS our noso
That glorious West, with soil as deep as its
extent of acres was broad, stretched out
in valley and prairie, many thousand hands
to bid them welcome. Sylvan retreats in
duced expatriation, and the ties of father
land, kindred and of ballowed association
were cast as sacrifices upon the altar o
Mammon: We must no longer encourag,
the departure of the flower of our land, bu
by developing spirit of improvement, and
thereby increasing attachment to our homes
make the sons of Carolina proud to lingel
and TO labor. upon their natal soil. How
important in this great work would be til.
workings of State Agricultural Society
1t would give a successful impulse to tbi
spiit Of Improvement, and the easy :sanS
accessible routes of public travel wouldsin
press all persons visiting its annual fairsswiti
the advantages which. we enjoy over man,
secions boasting d richer and more prodaEc
tive soil, ,Ks!ong as our people eonSide
that other bsetiona Of the con1tIy posses
greatsr patural advantages than heyysde
they Mll continue restless and dissstisfed
y. ~ - - = ! - So q