The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-21
WHAT DO FARMERS NEED .

| WHAT DO FARMERS NEED
The Agricultural interest is the most i'm
portant and most universally diffuscd at
the South. But since the freshness and the
exuberant vigor of the soil has become
| somewhat exhausted, there is an evident
langour in agricultural enterprise, and
| casting about for other sources OF profit
and more lucrative employments. Men
! shenk from investing capital in business,
| at present esteemed precarious and unpro-
| ftable, while ct the same time, they arc
| afraid to venture into the untried field of
manufactures. From these causes, tho
capital of the country is seeking invest
! ment in bank stock, and the young men of
energy are rushing into professions, or
seeking in the arena of speculation, the
dazzling bubble of fortune. They do not
stop to consider, that such condition of
things cannot long continue-that agricul-
ture must form the basis of all real wealth,
/ since it alone can furnish the comforts and
Aecesstics of life which arc wealth. But
sSorned and neglected it must droop in
langour, while every other business depcn-
dent on this, is inevitably paralyzed and
stagnalod.
1t is capital and economy that the farm
ers need. The idea of working hundreds .f
acres of poor land without the means of
improving and enriching it, is contrary to
ull the principles of sound economy
Many OF our farmers with land enough to
Al,
in Europe, cannot command money enough
to meet the common necessities of life, TO
say nothing of improving the productive
ness of the soil. Were it not for the
gradual rise in the value of land, such
suicidal policy would make them a nation
of bankrupts. This, with the increase of
slaves, keeps up the farmers of the South,
for they. have never learned to make farm
ing per SC profitable. Their policy is OK
ac,ly that of the speculator, who would in
vest large sum in the purchase of min
oral spring, and then from false ideas Of
economy, refuse to expend upon it that
amount necessary to make it a place of
fashionable resort. 1t is q dead weight
upon his hands.
Yes, it is capital the farmer needs and
wise system of legislation would labor to
turn as much of the element as possible in
to this channel, without holding out induce
ments to speculation, and course policy
directly antipodul to the economical in
terests of the State, by the chartering of
private banks. To develope our agricultural
and manufacturing resources is the only
method of preventing scarcity in provis
ions and stagnation in business. But 1t is
impossible to do this without first withdraw
ing the funds invested in speculations, for
there is nc employment which requires such
large amount of capital for successful
prosecution as the proper culture of the
soil. In regard to manufacturing. false
idea is prevalent, namely, that there is
something conflicting between it and ugri-
culture. These two employments are
mutually dependent on each other, and
:here is no reason why they should not
exist harmoniously in close proximity. 1t
will of course require a surplus of labor be-
fore both can be prosecuted to any great
length. But it is agreeable to common
sense. as we'll as good economy, to save
the cost of transportation, commissioners
wages and various incidental expenses, by
manufacturing amid the farmers, a sufficient
amount to supply their wants, and to make
the entire community Independent of the
aid of those at distance. We hope to
see the day, when more attention, and far
more capital, will be brought to the de-
velopment of our farming resources, and as
soon as we can command the labor, let US
by all means have our own manufactures.
YorkUiHe Enquirer.