The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-05-29
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From the Soil of the South.
AGRICULTURE; ITS PROFITS AND IT'S DIGNITY

AGRICULTURE; IT'S PROFITS AND IT'S DIGNITY.
Mn. EDIToR: was much pleased with
an article in your February number, over
the signature of "Abner," "a good name,
10y the way, and no doubt worthily worn, }
but iucline to think little differently from
him. He seems to have satisfied himself,
and perhaps his readers, that cotton plant
ing does not pay seven per cent. upon the
capital invested, and proves it by figures,
that no doubt me correct; yet must be-
lieve there is mistake somewhere, and 1
do not think the figures are wrong. The
mistake, think, will bc found in the fact,
that he overlooks the increase of negroes,
and the necessary amount that goes to sup
port the family. If the same amount was
invested in bonds or bank stock, or any
other stock; and it was all the capital the
owner had, You vii! see upon the same
principle, that the amount necessary to a
support, must come from the interest side,
or capital side, and reduce the interest to
that extent. believe, in round numbers,
thero were million of slaves at the revo-
luton, say eighty years since; we now have
three millions; where will this increase be
charged F! it is the result of capital in some
! Shape. am as enthusiastic as your cores
pondcnt, III the matter Of farming, and as
deeply deplore the miserable policy of the
cotton planter; but contend, that this fact,
IS the highest evidence of its profitable ma
ture. No other business could have lived
under such unnatural and unreasonable
conduct. Suppose we had by proper con-
duct, improved our landed estate as fast as
the other matter has grown upon us
would there he any complaint on the score
Of profits think not. do not intend to
disagree in the recommendation to invest in
other pursuits; this may be proper and
doubtless is. I only wish to help fix the
evil where it properly belongs, and thereby
excite desire, that will lead to a whole
some reformation amongst us. The God
OF nature has assigned the cultivator OF the
earth, proud position in the scale of So
cial being; his is the oldest the most USE
full; the most independent 1 will say it,
the most honorable; the most benevolent :;
and when properly understood and prac-
ticed, the most religious and lucrative of
all others, as tho patriarchs to their fami
lies; and we must be brought to realize our
high destiny, before we. shall make that
progress VIC ought to do. When we shall
reach that point, we shall feel it a bitter re-
proach to have it said, that man had not
sense enough to manage his business, so as
to improve his land, meliorate the condition
of his hands, provide for the comfort of his
animals, take care of small things stopping
the leaks in time, &c, and as consequence,
he must relinquish tho homestead Of his
earliest and best associations, ruthlessly dis
solve tie, that connects the worlds past,
present and to come. never can become
reconciled to this practice, of cutting down,
a'earing out, and defacing nature, for the
ignoble purpose of making more cotton, to
buy more iands, negroes and mules, to make
more cotton with ; this policy has already
in great measure exhausted ono Of :he
fairest portions Of the earth, and it is high
time" we had done with it; and I fully be-
lieve the most effectual mode to do this, is
to exalt our calling to its proper place; aud
thereby inspire our profession with lauda-
BILE ambition, in their calling. think in
this regard, as the old man did, who was
urged to move to the city +; when he replied,
"God made the country, man made the
town." SO Of farming to the other pro-
fessions. Yours,
CLIFTON.
(u:ftan III. 1oE0