Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-04
From the Souih Carolinian.
= From the South CarOnlan.
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA
To Dr. John P. Barrat, Gen. James Gillian
Capt. Thomas Byrd.

CARULlNA.
To DR.. John P. Barrat, Gen. James Gillian
Capt. Thomas Byrd.
GENTLEMEN: 1t was with a great deal Of
Satisfaction that observed in the Edge6eld
Advertiser, Captain Byrds communication
on the subject Of a proposed State Agricul.
tueal Society. Iwished then to. give all the
aid and countenance could to the project
but having before me the recollection of
signal failure, in which | was associated, in
December. 1853, when meeting was called
in the Capitol for similar purpose, |
thought it perhaps prudent for me to remain
silent until the matter acquired some tangi-
bic shape. The newspapers OF the State
have generally given this great work the aid
ofa pardgrwph, which, without other as
sistance, amounts to comfort about enough
to kill it. Some, indeed, have devoted to
the subject careful thought, and the argu.
nents in their articles in its favor will here.
after become the foundation stones upon
which the future structure will rest. Now,
gentlemen, since YOU have made a public
call upon all who should put their shoulders
to the wheel, fancy nc one who feels an
interest should remain silent, and hence
shall trouble YOU with the perusal Of my
crude notions on the subject.
You have truly said that the hour has
come for action in this matteE. South Car.
olina is not even stationary in her industrial
pursuits. She is actually, and rapidly, re.
trograding. Her old fields are enlarging,
her homesteads are decreasing in numbers,
her factories are standing idle, or languish.
ing for want of home patronage, her stock is
dwindling into ghostly anatomies of vital
semblanee, and her sons of energy are seek
ing the more remunerating, hence more gen.
Ml, fields Of the Southwest, Upon which in
dustry smiles by the sweat of the face Of
labor. Nor are we alone losing white pop.
ulation-slave population, the true wealth
of 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.
Should this be? Is old South Carolina still
to furnish the elements Of mind and labor to
to the fruitful forest lands, in which now the
spirit of the wilderness reigns! 1t is true
our soil is poor--poor and infertile-from
that careless system Of Indifference which
caused our people to contemplate its gradual
and certain deterioration, with no foresight
for their future-phich is our nop. That
glorious West, with soil as deep as its OK.
tent of acres was broad, stretched out, in
valley and prairie, many thousand hands to
bid them welcome, Sylvan retreats induced
expatration, and the ties of father.land, of
kindred and of hallowed association, were.
cast as sacrifices upon the altar of Mammon.
We have had enough Of this in our State.
We must no longer encourage the departure
of The flower of our land, but by developing
a spirit of improvement, and thereby in.
creasing attachment to our homes, make,
the sons of Carolina proud to linger and to
labor upon their natal soil. How important
in this great work would be the workings of
State Agricultural Society! 1t would give
successful impulse to this spirit of improve.
ment, and the easy and accessible routes of
nublic travel would impress all persons visi.
ting its annual fairs with the advantages
which we enjoy over many sections boas.
ting of richer and more productive soil. As
long as our people consider that other sec:
tions of the country possess greater natural
advantages than they do, they will contin:
ua restless and dissatisfied. This feeling of
dissatisfaction is incompatible with spirit
Of Improvement, for men will not bestow
time and labor upon the preservation OF land
which they expect to abandon. Anxiety to
moye-syen ifit be, like the terrapin, with