Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-07

in growth and prosperity since that time b
her sister States? Why is it? Because sh
fallen behind them in energy, enterprise
public spirit and improvement. She canuo
maintain her relative position in the confeder
acy and stand still while all the other State
are progressive. Like one placed in treat
mill, she must keep moving and struggling
or she will sink to the bottom. We mus
avail ourselves of the improvements of the
age, and one of the greatest is rail roads
What would you think Of man who should
now start to Charleston on horseback or il
his carriage2 The same will be thought d
South Carolina, if she does not attempt to ex
tend her rail roads so as to form connection
with all the other States?
State pride alone, if actuated by no other
consideration, should prompt her to carry on
and complete this great enterprise, in which
she has embarked and spent 80 much. If she
abandons the work now, she will justly be an
object of ridicule and derision to her sister
States. 1t will be said she is constant and
persevering in nothing. Already we have
been laughed at by the world for our political
schemes, commenced with great enthusiasm
and spirit, but always abandoned, never car.
ried out. Many years ago we commenced a
system of internal improvements in South
Carolina, and spent hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars in digging canals, making locks in
our rivers and improving their navigation,
and all have been abandoned. Twenty-Five
or six years since We commenced the Charles.
ton and Louisville and Cincinnati Rail Road
with great energy and public spirit, but were
soon disheartened and let the enterprise fall
through. Three or four years only have
passed over since the foundation of magnf.
cent State House was laid, and already it is
seriously proposed to stop the work, after
spending one or two millions OK dollars on it.
Such Gckleness, such want OF frmness and
perseverance, must result in ruin and disgrace
to any people. 1t was said of the Enpress
Catharne the Second of Russia, tha! she laid
more corner stones of churches than any other
sovereign in the world, but never completed
any of them. May it not be said of South
Carolina that, although she does not CON.
mence as many public improvements as her
sister States, she always fails to complete the
few she does begin?
But we are told that this Blue Ridge Rail
Road is not State enterprise, and that it
was commenced by an incorporated company.
The State was, however, the principal stock.
holder, and looked to, at the beginning, for
the completion of the work. She inv ~ d, ut
the outset, two millions Of her capital and
credit in the enterprise, and the work never
would have been commenced but for her aid
and influence. 1t has always been regarded
as q great State enterprise, and that the State
would see it finished. The Bank of the State
is private corporation, but the whole capi
tai stock is owned By the State. Is it less the
duty of South Carolina to watch over the
Bank, and see that it is properly managed,
because it is an incorporated company? Sure.
ly not. And so is it with the Blue Ridge R4il
Road. The State is bound in honor, as we'll
as by her own pecuniary interest, to cary on
and complete this great work in which She
has embarked as the principal stockholder.
Whatever may be our faults as people,
South Carolinians have never been charac
terized at home or abroad by o narrow-ninded
and contracted spirit of economy, which rs
alike destructive of public and private virtue
There are men so contracted in their views
about everything, and so selfish in their pur
poses, that they are lost to all improvement
and all progress. They are afraid to risk a
dollar on any enterprise, for fear of losing it.
They are so short sighted and selfish that they
actually lose sight OF their own true interest,
and permit all improvement to escape them.
They begrudge their taxes 10 the State which
protects them in their liberty, person and
property. Such mer would do without rail
roads rather than be taxed 10 build them.
They would prefer trudging through the mud
and hauling their crops to market, wearing
out their horses and wagons, and esteem
themselves great economists by saving their
rail road freight, rather than be taxed to build
rail road, or make any other improvement
for facilitating their going to market. Such
men will prefer living in an old house although
comfortless, to spending money on building q
new one. But this is not the character Of
South Carolinians, aud God forbid that it ever
should be.
This is the age Of progress aud improve.
ment in every thing. The poor man in the
upper country now lives better and has more
Of the comforts and elegancies of life around
him, than his rich neishbor enjoyed fifty
years ago. What has brought this about? |
may well reply, intescourse with the world.
Improvement begets improvement. By going
abroad and seeing how other people live, you
learn to live yourself. Years ago it was q
serious journey for a man living in Pickens
Dist:ict to undertake to 60 to Charleston.
Now he can 60 there in twentyfour hours
What has produced this change? Rail roads.
They may well be termed the great civilzers
of the world, and they should be encouraged
BY oil who love civilization and improvement.
In former years there might be famine in
one section of the State and plenty in another.
This state of things can no longer ever exist,
Thanks to rail roads, we have the means OF
aending corn and other provisiona wherever
they are needed, or will command q remun'
Grating price. II corn is very high in Green
vile, It is brought to US on the rail road. On
the other hand, if very cheap, We send it of,
where it will command better price. So
with everything else.
I we'll remember, fellow.citizens, for you
know am a native of your District, when
your luur and your corn could command no
market ut all. Every man had az much as
be wanted, and none could be sent off. Far.
mers had no inducement to work, except q
very small portion of their time. Labor was
in no demand. Very often have seen poor
men wishing to hire themselves 10 work at
twenty-five cents day. But seldom any one
wished to hire. What was the consequence
of this chcapness of labor and provisions
Idleness, and a coarse, uncomfortable way oi
living. The farmer could not exchange his
corn md -four for the luxuries and a!egancies
of life, and he had to do without them. There
was no use in over working ones self when
you could get nothing for your surplus pro.
duce. The consequence was idleness and
dissipation. These times have passed away
now labor commands good price at Pick
ems District, and corn, and flour and bacon q
ready market. We see the comforts, and
luxuries, and elegancies of life amongst you
You are no longer shut out from the world