Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-27
For the Adrertiser.
Letter from Southwestern Georgia.

GrN PONp p. o.. GA.
MR. EDIToR: Having to-day completed half
years probation in this Gland of promise" pro-
pose to give you, and through you, to the numor-
Gus readers Of the Adcsrtiser, n few thoughts and
dottings of my experience while sojourning here.
Just six months ago to-day, landed here buoyant
with hope and the expectation Of finding place
more congenisl with my feolings. To a great ex-
tent this d-Sideraum has boen fulfilled, though in
some respects there has been n considerable dis
crepancy. In the first place, this u much better
farming country than old Edgefeld. In illusra-
tion, will mention upon the authority Of high
toned Carolinians, that hand can make frnm S
to 10 bales of cotton, Weighing 500 poupda per
baln, and 200 bushels of corn-the cultivation Of
which consists, generally in two plOwngs,--aerer
putting hoe into il.
In regard to the moral condition Of the country,
there might much be said on both sides of the sub
ject There is nallfarious compound Of people
here from heightened literati, to the Numerous
free negros, devoid Of all other qualification to
citizenship, save an eIpertnes. in roguery md VII
lainy, in association With the original Inhabitants
Of the country, whose landed proprietorship only
gives them O pre-eminence in the main attribute
Of good citizenship,-weulth, which is the measure
here, as is too much the case in great many
other places, Of mans moral standing. Double
dealing, trickery and duplicity are some of the
yauntcd characteristics of the latter, as somo Of
your immediate community have found out to their
hearts content, and have no doubt to their sor
row. This, Mr.. EDITOR, is an unpleasant part Of
my scroll, and has only been. induced from an
advertisement in your columns and the many pri-
vate assurances of number of your people yisi-
ting this country for the purpose of purchasing
lands and becoming citizens of this country, which
is destined Mt no distant day, to be the Eldorado
of Georgia,-now the Empire State of the South,
and which she Is bound to remain until tho once
clone Star" shall wrest from her grasp the
| sceptrc.
It is no uncommon thing here for man to sell
the lot lots of land to two or three different
individuals, taking from each q bonus-or first
payment, which conformity, more than compsn-
sutes for all the lawsuits and moral degradation
that may ensue; vho the seller, occupying po-
sition nothing removed from Billy Bowlegs in
point of accountability and high toned sentiment,
feels as FREQ as he.
Thi, whole Southwestern Georgia has the ap-
pearance, no doubt, to stranger, Of being pine
barron, resembling very closely the piney woods
of your District, particularly in the immediate
| vicinity of our mutural friend, WN. G. ". Of
piney woods memory, who, by the way, believe
expects to visit this section before long, perhaps,
for the purpose of buying land. 1t is however,
much more productive than it generally looks to
be-; in addition to which, hand can cultivate at
least so, if not 100 per cent. moro land than in
Edgofeld; which is the great desideratum, more
than anything else, of the superiority Of this coun
try over any other that have eyor econ.
We have a good Baptist Church convenient to
US Uhcro thcre is preaching nearly every Sabbath,
aud also, quito prosperous Sunday school. which
is toerably well attended, and quite degror Of
interest manifested by both teachers and scholars.
When this vast area Of forest land shull have
been put into cultivation, which is now only
roamod over by the cattle and tho driver then,
and not till them will this section have attained
70 its proper standing. There is yet vast amount
of fine lund still in its primevo state, owned in
part by the original settler and the land specula-
tor, both of whom are anxious to sell.
Those who expect to visit this country for the
purpose Of purchasing lands, would advise to be
particularly their guard as there are land sell
lsrs horc, who it seems, scruple at nothing saro
honesty and fair dealing while at tho same time,
their honeyed words and positive protestations of
honesty, are and often do involve really good
men in ine1tricable difficulties, from which they
do not escape for years of harassiug lawsuits,
which, if gained, amount virtually to a defoat,
ftum the heavy charges Of the contest, wherein
ono witnesses subOrnatiun, perjury and ittlcneas
in the petfoygers engaged that 10 revolving 10 the
nsart of on honest mau. This i, subject upon
which those designing to purchase here, cannot
bcstow to- much attention, nor have impressed too
strongly on their memories.
The future of this country, rs now foreshado1ed,
is bright one. Although in so Southern Z lati-
tude it has SO far proven to be quite healthy, and
is fast settling by FROM all parts Of the coun-
try Of the right stamp. whose characteristics are
industry, frugulity ANA those moral and social
qualities, without which no country, is OF can be
truly great and happy. There is being reared,
ever and anon, school house, presided ovor by
competent teachers, whose salaries, Though not
large, are liberal; and the forest is fast fallen be-
fore the farmers axe; and luxurant corn and cot
ton are waving to the breeze, ladenel with their
rich harrcsts. We are generally blessed with
good water, which though not 80 cool Us your
village pump-watcr and many other wells that
might mention is no doubt through tins wise dis
pcnsntion Of a beuctccnt Providence cool enough
:nr this latitude Our Flint River, Creeks and
'unls or Lakes, abound in the finest Of isb-such
rs Brecm, Cat and the noble Trout, besides many
ithcr varieties. Only to-day near neishbor,
together with great many other fine ones, drew
from small luke Trout, weighing 81 lbs,
which, fixed up in real piscatory style would make
quite treat for you, several Of your friends and
your Devil to boot. But it is ungenerous thus to
tautulize You. The time inny be, when you will
be the recipient Of just such IN one as above,
fresh from our sunny strcam.. More, anon.
Yours, Respectfully,
MITCHELL
For the Advertiser.