The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-04


city, over the shoaly beds of the Broad, Sa.
luda and Congaree rivers. An Unlimited
amount of machinery could be propelled
and great variety Of works and fabrics pro.
duced. 1t is easy Of access by the railroads
converging within its limits, and is placed
thereby within few hours of every de-
scription Of raw material furnished BY the
State. Nearly all the upper districts are
likewise prodigally supplied with WATERPROOF
er. The streams have their sources in the
mountains and are fed by bold unfailinr
springs yielding in their channels uniform
regular current, exposed neither to congeIa-
ton IN the winter, nor to evaporation or alb
sorptlon in the summer. This secures US Il
striking and important natural advantage
over the northern and eastern States, for the
severity of their winters freeze the streams
and ice-bind their wheels so as to suspend
for several months the working of all ma
chinery driven by water, and as a copse-
queuce curtails profit by suspendng all labor
depending upon such agency, to the detri-
mcnt Of the stockholder. Our operations
may be continued the year through without
any such interruption or draw back on the
profits of the investment. The extraordi-
nary low price at which water power NAV
be purchased, being really little beyond the
intrinsic value of the land usually annexed
to it, should induce enterprise and capital
to cover the base Of every shoal in South
Carolina with machinery, for the extensive
and economical manufacture of all useful
fabrics and implements. IF this picture
could be converted into a reality, how many
happy light-hearted mechanics, artisans and
machinists would find employment, and
what new prosperity would be diffused with
In our borders2 The answer may be found
by estimating how much of our wealth.
hard-earned wealth from tho laborious TIL
lage OF cotton and rice in soil once rich
but now gradually impoverishing-is annu,
ally expended in remote sections for the
commonest implements and utensils
Whence comes your axes, hoes, scythes.
reapers, chains-yes even your plows. har-
rows, rakes, axe and auger handlesq Your
linsey, brogans, blankets, and much of your
domestics9 Your furniture, carpets. calicos
and muslins9 The cradle that rocks vour
infant to sweet slumbers-thc TOP YOUR bow
spins-the doll your little girl caresses-the
clothes your children wear-thc books from
which they are educated carriage YOU
ride in, and the guns and fishing tackle YOU
sport with, are all imported into South Car
olilla, and the products of the soil are borne
away to pay for them. In despite of all
| this the State has prospered, but how much
more exalted would have been her progress
and improvement if her wants had been
supplied at home by the labor,of her own
cItizens2 Growing towns and smiling vii
lagos would greet the eye-no quilted fields
or diapidatcd mansions would tell that ag-
ricnlture l,.Dguished, if we had wisely diver
shed labor.-Can policy SO. obviously at
war with every preccpt Of political ecoao-
my, and so fatal to every principle OF social
progress be longer persiste! in2 There is
no natural obstacle to supplying ourselves
with every article have enumerated, BY
properly directed labor in our own State.
We have genius, education, industry and the
material; and. if our citizens would estimate
the Advantages to flow from changed policy
soon, we would have capital seeking invest
ment, in practical manufacturing schemes.
None Others should be encouraged. 1 would
not urge my fellow-citzens to establish. an en-
barge on all foreign industry--to refuse to
| purchase abroad such articles and materials
Tor use and pleasure rs from soil, climate,
cheap labor, great skill, large experience or
other cause, could be obtained at a less cost
than they could be matured at within our
own limits. I would not controyert the
sound political and socialeaxiorn,. ,."to buy in
the cheapest; and sell in the dearest mar
| ~, ToS
so as to make it our interest to buy at home,
when there is no natural impediment in
making the home market as good as any
other. 1t inspires sense Of Independence
and brings freighted in its train wealth, hap
pipess,, and contentment. .lt.
Some of the deficiencies of long duration
are now Being repaired; BY the active. ener-
gy and enterprise of our citizens. Cotton
manufactures .arespringing up, and stock.
| holders who have secured prudent, supervis-
ion Of their Establishments, are now, and
have for some years past been realizing a
I greater'per cent, on the capital invested,
than has been yielded. by investments !; in
agriculture Experience fand the enlarged
skill it brings, Will certainly ensure even
larger dividends in the futpre. This. bsspch
Of manufactures should be.extenled until
the markets of the whole world are supplied
fwith cotton yarn and coarse fabrics, PRO
Ednced In the manufact tories Of the Southern
Statek =. We are waiting in no singular nat.
ErraI advantage to compete successfully with
fevefy rival The cheap mote, q ihealthful,
salabrious climate, tnild, ,ahd eauttable TEN.
lrsiatYrs e cheap build ling abgn,