Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-04-28
PROSPERITY oF THE SOUTH.

The most fruitful subject Of selfgratulstion IN
dulged in By the Black Republican press and SPEAK
ers Of the North, consists in a comparison OF their
own prosperous, happy and virtuous population
with what they assume to be the thrifless' unen-
tsrprisinr lazy and wicked habits Of the unfortu-
nate persons occupying the benighted region lying
South Of Mason and Dixon's line Without exam
iustion into facts as they exist they assume the ex
istenee of certain condition Of things IN accord
anee with their theory, and from this stand, point
their argument against the institution Of slavery
That the facts do not sustain the allegations, every
intelligent observer in the South knows, and yet
from early habit from political affiliations, or from
other causes even less creditable find these false
declarations paraded before Southern people in
Southern papers, with lugubrous expressions Of hui
initiation and regret that the glorious South under
the baneful effects Of the peculiar institution" is
fast languishing into condition of imbecility.
Southern editor with the evidences constantly be-
fore him. is either excessively stupid, wsntonly
unjust to his own section, as well as to the North
who have not the means Of acquiring knowledge Of
the facts from personal observation who admits or
even by silence sanctions the PRONUNCIATION Of such
errors.
We wOnld ask our Southern contemporaries who
take the Northern side of this question: in what
element of prosperity are we inferior to our trGdu-
cers3
Is it that they have a redundancy Of population
to the square mile compared with ours? We read
ly admit the fact If this be the great object Of am
bitou among nations, China is immeasursbly in ad-
vance of all of US. But this prepOnderance may be
q counted for much more readily as the resul-
natural, as well as other causes, than as the
effect Of slavery. The nature of the climate, and
he productions of the South not attractive TO
European emigrants.-In many portions Of tie
South it requires acclimation before the citizen
be assured of good health. The South is remote
from the Atlantic sea board, while the Northern
States lie contiguous thereto and receive at first all
retaining for generation at least the bulk Of those
who are seeking TO improve their fortunes in Il e
new world. Thus the emigration from the Northern
States to the South and West is not observed in The
enumeration Of its Inhabitants because their places
are more than supplied by the constant accessions
of population from abroad.
But we are informed by way of practical iIlustra-
ton of the evils of slavery that even there is
an unprecedented exodus of the inhabitants Of Vir
ginia 10 the Western States. This is doubtless
true and would no doubt be well for Virginia, if
she could by any legitimate means, restrain this
emigration.
But why do our Southern cotemporaries select Vlr-
ginia isolated example, while the evil if it
indeed be one, is to all the old States, and
in fact many of the new ones Almost every news
paper we read, from every quarter, furnishes in
formation Of the lalmostl mania for emigration To
the Territories. Almost every Northern State is
lo9sng from this cause in ratio fully equal to Il e
loss Of population in Virginia, and the only differ
encs whatever, in their relative condition upon this
point is that the foreign emigration to the Northern
States, in the one case supplies the mere numbers,
necessary counterbalance this loss of the older
population.
But another fact is strangely overlooked by the
IHelligaesr and its copyiss in the South. The very
emigration from Virginia, which they deplore a
calamity attendant upon slavery and as evidence of
decline Of the South, is in truth one Of the very
st agest and most conclusive proofs of its pros
per g. So long as the value of land in the old State
is estimated low rare there is no particular in
centive TO the poor to emigrate to Territories,
but when prosperity prevails and the labors Of the
agriculturist is suitably rewarded, the price Of land
avances point, which compared with its cost in
the new Territories at once produces, as necessary
consequence, the effects complained of.
Small ProPrietors, and men of humble means, dis
pose OF tLtir possessions to their ore opucnt 81
bors, and emigrate to new Territory where they
may purchase thousand acres of land, for the
the amount realized by the sale Of one hundred in
Virginia. This course Of depletion must continue,
while the same cause is in operation, and until Viz
GINA ceases TO be prosperous she cannot avoid to
some extent least the loss ola portion Of her pop
laton. An equilibrium will in progress Of time be
bIou. ht about, by which the relative value Of land
in the different sections will produce more fxedness
in the population, but during the existence Of the
immense disprOportion, which has brought about
this result, the evil TO the old States continue.
The same cause is operating powerfully in Ten
nessee at this moment Thousands Of her most in
dustrious citizens are emigrating to the Terri
tories for the reason that the land which they pur
chased few years ago for three, four and five dol
lars per acre, they can now dispose Of at twenty,
forty or fifty dollars per acre and with the proceeds
invested in the Territories, in lands of equal pro
ductive value they can become the possessors Of
ten times the quantity which they surrender here.
-'ot"t'l7tt.4iA6 tAl4 AaCtr where IS lnere on the
face Of the globe people more blessed with all
which constitutes happiness and prosperity than are
the citizens Of Tennessee. What Tennesscean
would exchange the condition of Tennessee slaves
and all Tor that Of any other in this or any other
land Where do we find happier or more content
ed people? Where a population free from dcs i,u
tiOn? Where more emiuently virtuous?
1t would be well for the cause of TRUTH if those
in cur midst who are constantly croaking over The
evidences OF decay in the South, would assist in
Graduating rather than nghening the false
symptoms Of the North. predicated upon n theory
as false their assumed facts that such results are
brough about through the deleterious influence of
slavery. Without pretending present 20 give the
cause which has produced the results we venture
the declaration without fear of contradiction by
any intelligent observer That the inhabitants OF
the slave States white and black are at this moment
in the enjoyment Of greater dsgree Of prosperity,
contentmen, and happiness, than any other popuIa-
ton Of the same number on the globe And, fur
Their that there is less real desutu.ion and want.
for the necessaries Of life, than among any other
people, numbering half the amount OF POI ulaliou,
TuE SOUTHERN CoNvENTIoN.-TlePrc President Of tie
late Southern Convention, JAS Dyons, Esq, Of luch
mond, requests that the committee appointed by
thar body 10 take the subject OF Southern school
books under their auspices and select and prepare