Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-03
The Eorth---Its Future.


As 50 many elaborate essays have been written
on the "south and its Future" we hope to be par.
doned fer INDUCING little harmless speculation on
the future Of the North, in connection with the
South. We think It will not be denied that the
soil, climate, water power, and mineral wealth OF
the South authorizes the assumption that its people
can produce, in superabundsnce, everything they
need. This point being conceded, we may go far
ther, and say that that they will, In the future,
give their first care to the production of all the
necessaries of life; and as population and wealth
accumulate, their views will be extended until the
South shall have become richer than any other
portion of the habitable globe. The development
Of its mineral wealth will give employment to
thousands of artisans manufactures will keep
pace with the production Of cotton and wool; the
export Of surplus products will build up merchant
marine for coastng and foreign trade, and
the whole system Of demand and supply be
so complete within ourselves tha. ice viii be the
only article of Northern growth that will be in
demand in Southern markets.
This may be laughed at as fancy picture and
perhaps Il Is, vet we know that il may become
substantial reality IL the people Of the South will
labor for their own interests as energeticay as our
northern neighbors have done for theirs. We have
been forced to give up our slaves, and il they will
not work, as freemen they must give place to
white men who will The large plantations will
be subdivided and sold TO industrious settlers and
the capital thus disengaged, will be reinvested in
mines, manufactures, railroads, and other enter
prises tending to the wealth and power Of the
South. The basis of the wealth and power is here,
and 1t is at the option of the people to erect upon
ii the splendid superstructure of which we have
given vague outline. r
But suppose we have appropriated the truth
what then of the North The States, of the
Northwest, can produce breadstufs enough to sup
ply all Europe but where will they find market 2
The South will he self-sustaining and the small
deficiency in the foreign production of the staff Of
life could be supplied by Illinois alone. wha.
then will be done with the surplus Of that vast
grain growing region The Middle States are
selfsustaining and will not only continue so, but
will have a surplus Of the ssme uusaleable material.
And what of New England2 Obi her manufac-
tories will keep her aAoat upon the tide of pros
perity. But where is the cotton to come from :
The South, can, if II will, manufacture every
surplus would not keep up the manufactures Of
New England, because the Southern market will
be lost to them and the South itself, be success
full competitor with them in every other market
England, with its cotton from Egypt and India,
would be the only formidable rival of the South in
the manufacture of cotton, and New England,
thrown back upon its Summer crop of granite,
and it, winter crop of ice" will reap the reward
of its fanacal interference with the institution of
the South.
We have loosely thrown out these hints to the
people of the South, but dare not hope they will
be acted upon to any great extent There is not a
man among as, Of ordinary perception, who can
not see around him the material out of which the
South can fashion for itself future of unriyalled
prosperity; but will he lend helping baud to the
work. So strong is the habit of Southern de-
pendence upon Northern supply, that the question
may well be asked, and we would not hesitate to
give 1t negative answer, but for the hope that
the lessons we are now learning and the radical
change violently wrought in our social and labor
systems may make US ambitious to emerge from the
ruins Of our fortunes aud institutions and to press
forward to the brilliant destiny within our reach.
Nothing is wanting but well directed energy and
unfaltering perseverance to work out this DESTINY
and many Northern people will soon be seeking to
identify themselves with future promising so
much wealth in the aggregate, and so much indi-
vidual prosperity.