New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-07
NOT AN EMPIRE STATE.


Northern citcs increase in population, while those
in the cotton region grow but slowly, many "
them not growing at all. Thee general results
appear to be uniform, except when varied by The
actual deccuson of Southern towns a century
old. An examination Of the rate OF increase
throughout any cotton State shows results deserT-
inq 10 be- noted though not exactly identical.
Let us select one OF the most nourshing OF these
States for inquiry, that which has been called
the Empire State Of the South. Georgia has
been thus designated because OF her extensive
prosecution Of manufactures and railroads, ard
the busting. pushing, enterPrifing disposition OF
her business men. Within the last ten years sho
has built AS niles of railroads, most OF which
are profitable works. aud within tho same period
sbe has TO some extent increased bor mnnuiac.
turing establishments. Indeed, so vigorously lad
she started into manufacturing twenty years ego,
that strong hope was entertained by NoTlbeTn
tariff men that Georgia would eventually take
sides with them in asking for protection. lnths
industry she hss exceeded many Of the finest
Western States. In addition to these facts,
Georgia is a large cotton grower, containing
81, 900, 600 acres, great portion OF which Is
superior cotton land. The last ten years may
be called years Of prosperity for Georges, in
which she has encountered no hindranees but
such as have sprung from the pestilent efforts OF
her leading demagogues. During this period she
has enjoyed Free Trade with al the world She
has raised enormous cotton crops and sold them
at enormous prices. The far South must have
paid for the slaves they took from her. ut least
SOC. 600 900. While the West Was almost ruined
by succession of barren haryCsts, Georgia had
few such disasters 10 complain OF. Southern
prosperity became n proyert. Merchants turned
o cold shoulder to the poverty stricken West,
but to the generous, prosperous, moneymaking
and money-spending South merchandise aud pr.n-
o;,io. ,oo., I'D with perfect obsequicusness.
In this prosperous decade Gcorg,. '>'' - now =,
given evidence OF substantial advancement.
was one peculiarly favorable 60 make cotton
State grow rich if riches are ever 20 DO ac-
CURED by cotton growing. But when aided By an
extensive manufacturing interest the progress
ought to have been very decided.
But what, with ali these advantages, has
Georgia really accomplished When hcr pro-
gress is compared with that of younger States
the contrast is very significant. In 1850 shc
contained 906, 1855 inhabitants and Illinois s5l,-
40. In ten years Georgia has increased only
40, 900, while in Illinois the increase is $685. 00
The former increases II per cent, tic latter lD2
per cent. In the same ten years Illinois has built
2,72j miles Of railroad. Her increased popu!a-
ton has founded cities larger than the most
populous in Georgia, ard tho increase is oil Of
white men. Nearly al the increase in Georgia
is 10 slaves. The lower bolt OF counties gam
about 1900, and hero all tho great slave
holders dwell. in the central counties the gain
is trlH!ng, though they contain Atlanta, Augusta,
Macon, Millcdgcyilc, Columbus and Lagrange.
Here the population il about 100000, yet the
gain il only two per cent. The cities in che old
cotton counties have increased but eighty, while
the counties have decreased even more. IN
Illinois, cities and counties thrive together. AZ
one grows, go does tho other. But in Georgia,
where ore increases, tho other decreases. Not a
town in Georgia gains over 5000 inhabitants.
But Chicago has Increased nearly eoooo and
now ranks the ninth city in the union Illinois
has many couI'1oS hAoSo sIPsiuVo PoP'"S'VH'
exceed that in which Savannah is located. AL
this il 80 notwithstanding Georgia has millions
invested in manufacturing and Illinois compare.
lively nothing. But Freedom attracts whio
Slavery repels.
Now, the great Illinois demagogue Las labOred
during theso ten years with Toombs and Cobb,
to fasten on other regions the institution which
thus depressos what is facetioasly called the En-
pire State of tho South. Look at the contrast
developed in the two States within this decade.
Cotton is cOnfesscdly tho supreme good of tho
South. 1t had never before had ten years OF large
crops aud high prices such as tic last ter have