The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-26

| Iy for our country, wo have no such lakes
to recIai,n-our lands are all above the sur
rounding water. But is introduced to show
what can be accomplished by patient indus
try, guided by enlightened judgment, and
aided by a liberal government. If it paws
the little kingdom Of Holland with an area
one fourth the size Of South Carolina, to
expend millions in reclaiming liz, 900 acres
OF her land, what would it not paw to our
State, in her future wealth and prosperity,
to expend million or 40 Of dollars in re-
claiming 100000 acres Of her riches, land.
| repeat the work can and must he DONE
The State has the ability and means to rer-
form the work, and all that is wanted is for
our practical and scientific men to take hold
of hcsuhject. Let our legislators turn their
| serious attention for once to this important
subject, and in their economy, Industry and
perseverance initiate the little kingdom of
Holland. Let there he established a Bo ri
OF Internal Improvements, with ample pow.
ers to organize corps Of engineers, whose
iuty 1t shall be to survey our river and in
land swamps. Let our Legislature set aside
small appropriation annually, to he cxpcn.
ded in this work. Let the engineers make
careful survey OF the swamps, and report,
whether the work is practicable or not and
If practicable. what will it cost per acre, and
their plans of operation. Ifthey report the
work impracticaLle, I will then be satisfied
that we have done our duty 10 our country,
and to posterity, but not until then.
There are other sources of wealth, whicl,
have been heretofore too much neglected.
and which, if developed by our capitalists
and enterprising men, would pay hand.
some proft-beneft the farmer, and great.
ly increase tho internal resources Of our
State. alnde to the manufacturing and
mechanical departments of Industry. 7
know that there are some political econo-
m'sts in the State, who deprecate the idea
OF the people of our Stale engaging to any
extert in manufactures thinking it would
have tendency to demotalize our p, ople,
and corrupt our negro population. These
economists would have US to continue for
all ages to come "hewers Of wood and draw.
ers Of water" to other nations, because we
are agricuturists. Let me ask, do we not
want clothing for ourselves and negroes p
Do we not want leather and shoes. carriages.
wagons and carts-do we not want good
farming implements to plant our crops -
gather and prepare them for market-can-
not til csc actual necessaries lie manufactured
in our midst' answer, they can, but un-
fortunately for our people, they prefer pat
ronlzng their worst enemies to those of our
friends, the manufacturer and mechanic at
home. If we had not the power and means
within ourselves TO manufacture these arli.
Giles at home, then 60 and buy from the
l'lilistincs. But thanks lie to y bountiful
Providence, we have the means strcwn all
around lis, and all that is wanted is for the
bone and sinew of our country, to bnck and
encourage the manufacturer and mechanic,
and we can and will throw off this depend
enceu pom other States.
Look at the unparalleled success of yir.
s'n'a and our sister State, Georgia, in these
various branches of home industry. By Iii.
versi'y of labor and capital, their agriculture
fiourislIes, their manufactures clothe their
own people and send r surplus abroad, and
their mechanics and foundrymen supply tile
people with every machine and implement
they desire. Their people have not leen
contaminated, nor their negroes corrupted.
But on the contrary, If there is any truth in
the last census. they have improved vastly
in wealth, and visit to these States will
show to the unpr~judiced mind that they
arc not corrupted in morals or religion by
any Of the isms Of the North-that their
negroes are far better off in point Of comfort,
moruls and religion, than the .oAite slares
Of the North, and in point of education,
they have no superios. Then let our cap.
italists and enterprising men seek out our
fine water powers, erect manufactures and
mechanical work shops. and give employ
ment to thousands Of our poor who need
encouragement. Let them develope our rich
mines Of iron and lime, Which is now need
ed by the farmer and mechanic, and above
all, let us patronize our oDn manufacturers
and mechanics, and in this way the people |
Of our State will flourish, and become indie.
pendent of the North in all the departments
Of industry.
The next and last subject 10 which shall |
invite your attention. is the management.
and treatment Of orr slaves. The great
staple produced at the South, and upon
which We rely for our wealth, power and
greatness. Is Cottons Take away the cotton |
Of the United States, and what would be.
come Of the millions Of laborsn of England