The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-11
MISCELLANY.
AN AID DRE So.

Delivered before the South Carolina Inst;.
tufe' IN Charleston, April II, 1855, 6y
Hon. JAMES L. OnR.
coNcLUDED.
The multiplication of carriage manufac-
torres IN the State has not only diffused life
and activity into many other departments
Of industry, but has put wealth into the
pockets Of the proprietors, and has added
to the comforts and pleasures of the people.
twenty-five years ago. in the country
where L reside, it was rare sound to hear
the rattlng of carriage wheels at a country
church. Occasiohally, when farmer had
grown little ambitious of display in ma
king "turn OUT or when his children were
too numerous to be conveyed even by doub-
ling on poor Dobhin's back, an old gig or a
jersey wagon was called into requisiton,
which always brought from his ncighbors
critiquc on his pride or extravaganza. That
has passed away, and now the church yard
is crowded with vehicles purchased by The
owner from the manufacturer, and paid for
by timber from his forest or surplus prod
ucts from his farm. Both are benefited bv
the exchange, and society is elevated and
refined by extending the personal comforts
and cXalting the tastes and aspirations of its
members.
The extensive carriage manufactory at
Greenylile employs some fifty mechanics,
and sells annually not less than scventy-five
thousand dollars worth Of work The mar
ket which it furnishes to the various branch
es of industry in the district, in its consump-
ton OF lumber, materials, provisions, &c,
ditfuses prosperity in the district greater
than is done by all the capital expended by
our friends from the middle and lower dis
tr'cts, IN their summer excursions and resi-
dence in this beautiful mountain town. A
dozen such manufactures, employed in ma
king other articles of prime necessity now
purchased abroad, would make every hill
and every valley blossom with plenty, and
every heart swell in happy content.
There are other branches of manufactur-
ing industy meriting special commentator,
which must omit for want of time. Some
thing has been done, but mitch, very much,
remains to be consummatcd before that
bountiful prosperity hovers over us, which it
Is our duty to WOO and win to our embrace.
We want manufactures and machine
shops-they co-exist together. We want
enterPrising, intelligent, inventive mechan-
les. We want them to increase until their
labor will furnish us every machine and fab.
nc for mans use that can be as cheapy ma
tured here as elsewhere How are these
wants to be supplied? Let our citizens
cease to expatriate themselves from the bo-
som and kind affections of our common
mother, and devote themselves to the crate
full task of fostering and warming the con-
dition in which she now languishes. Let
them not deceive themselves by the delu-
sive hopes Of sudden wealth in new and dis
tant lands, and let them resolve that when
"lfe's fitful fever" is over, that their bones
shall repose side by side with their fathers,
beneath the native soil. Take it all in all,
we have the best country which have seen
in the broad expanse Of this great confed-
eracy-let US be contented to occupy, and
improve, and develope it. Providence has
blessed us with every variety of soil and
surface, climate, production and resources,
with no stinted hand-let us do something
worthy of the munifcence we enjoy, and
bequeath to our children a heritage and
country greater than we received from our
fathers. -
The first great step to be taken in the
reformation Of our habits, to re-invigorate
our decaying prosperity, and to develope
our exhaustless resources, is for our planters
and farmers to invest the whole of the nett
profits on agricultural capital in some spe-
cies Of manufacturing; the field is broad
and inviting, but little has yet been occupied.
With prudence and energy there can be no
failure in any branch. A short experience
will demonstrate, that the investment is
more profitable than it would be in agri-
culture, and it must continue so, until the
distribution of labor and capital in, all
branches of'industry equalizes profit. It
will be many years before the demands Of
labor and capital in manufactures will be
met, and until that period arrives, manufac-
turing products must be predominant. Such
INVESTMENTS must be made with bold conf
dence, audpressed with vigilant energy, to
heimburse IN the adventure The absence
,of all experience in this Departmental in
dustry has resnltedin miscarriages in some
sangdine experiments already made, and
they are held up a. beacons by the croak-
ers to warn all Others from venturing, buti it
will be found on strictscrutihy that miscar-
riagcs have been more common in agricul-
rural Investments that :hays been made and
supervised by inactive and inexperienced
2 men than in mahafactu eaterprizes.
Our planters and, farmers are ever. too
timid when invited to make ohtlays. Of cap
ssstai in anything new, aud taaets they. carry
their Eberality even 70 Pfodigalff :in se3is-
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