Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-27
NO. Al
The southern climate. .

communication on TINS very important
question, which will give some new ideas
on it to the public;
We venture TO predict that Che resula
OF this war, besides removing many 9TH
er popular delusions, will give the death.
blow TO an error widely extended and no
less pernicious in its moral effects. A
general impression prevails in this coun-
try, as well as in Europe, that summer in
the Southern or Gulf States cannot be
endured by Northern or Western soldiers,
or even by natives of the Border States.
The supposed terrific heat of that season
is depended on TO flight the conquering
battles of the rebellion with the fearful
arms of disease. Our army is expected
to be decimated every week. and the
poor remnant, wasted with fever. must
infallibly surrender themselves as an ig-
noble prey TO the climate. It is really
curious to trace this idea running through
the wise lucubrations Of the European
newspapers, and tinging with mistrust
even the observations of periodicals de-
voted to our interest Our own papers,
who should certainly know better. offer
scarcely more resistance to the control Of
this delusiOn, an error sedulouslv FOSTER
ed by Southern leaders for the last thirty
years. Somewhat similar to the above
was the universal belief, or rather i'm
preston, which some years ago swayed
even men of great intelligence and infor-
nation, that the Southern States were
agricultural, par excellence, and the re-
mainder of the Union manufacturing
and commercial alone. SO that while one
section produced the luxuries and con-
veniences of life, the other raised neces-
saries. AS the human race can live with
out the first, but absolutely require the
last, the inference in every mans mind
deluded by such false statements was
naturally that the North and West were
dependent on the South for their daily
bread Just exactly such result as the
originators Of this fallacy desired, and
now they would discourage our exertions
by another lie!
But this early deception has been tri-
umphantiy unveiled, and the people know
better now, so much so that, perhaps.
they may forget their ignorance of verv
few years ago. They are at present fullV
aware that while the South produced
one only, the rest Of the Union produced
| both and her manufactures in such excess
that the superiority of even her agricul-
ture was hidden behind the grandeur of its
mighty associate.
Now, we intend TO speak from the re-
| ports of the most INTELLIGENT travellers
! from the census statistics compiled under
a Southern administration, but seldom
truthiully condensed for the people; and
lastly from personal experience as a Ma
! rylanderin the hottest and most Southern
portions of the United States, as well as
in other parts.
we have seen men, taken only one weels
before from New York, work all day with
perfect ease, where negroes were exhaust
ed by 2 p. NJ, Nor did the first show the
least inferiority 90 native-b born citizens.
II is singular how little, and that colOred
by er payte statements, is really known Of
the Southern climate.
A belt of low land surrounds the Gulf
States, not more than sixty or seventy
miles wide, and about the half of that
distance from the coast, which is really
unhealthy. But il is almost as deadly 20
the negro and native as 10 the stranger.
Few villages even exist in this region.
after all, only one hlndfcdh part of the
area Of the Gulf States.
The inland country is pierced through
out by nayigable rivers, accessible TO our
gunboats. Hardly town is secure from
these assailants-sior tie advantages of soa-
Ter communication haze IN most cases deter
mined their very location.
The interior of Georgia strikingIv re-
sembles Maryland and Southwestern
Virginia in its general characteristics.
Alabama and Mississippi are equally
healthful over more than nine e-tenths OF
their surface This is where tho greater
portion Of the people live-where they
must live, and where food supplies are
procured.
Our ideas Of a temperate climate are
drawn, more than people seem TO be
aware from England and English books.
We do not fully seem to appreciate tho
fact that the people of the Border States
live IN a'tropical climate--using the
term, not in its literal sense but as en-
ployed in most works on geography and
comparison ofclimates.
But "the evening crowns the day" and
experience will prove 10 others, as IL has
10 Ourself, what we have just stated.
After this summer we shall hear no
more that temperate citizens Of tho
United States cannot live in any portion
Of its wide domain. And people will
wonder az their former error here, just
as they now do at some delusiOns equally
prevalent once, but long since exploded.
+. w. A.