The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-22
The Future of the South.

The Future of the South.
MIR. EDITOR: The present utter pros
tration of the South, the result of the
great revolution through which she
has Just passed, and the radical
change in her affairs, especially in the
matter of labor, cause most persons
to look to the future with gloomy fore
bodings. They can see, as the result
OF emancipation, nothing but ruin
and dcsolation. Such will, doubtless,
regard as the vagary of enthusiasm
the declaration that emancipation is
the greatest boon tlrot could be con
fcried upon the South; vet we venture
to predict it will prove to be so.
Cotton was our king Under his iron
rule, the South was beconing tho
roughly impoverished, In the culti-
vatlon of cotton, her soil was beinr
rapidly exhausted. Her fairest Dor
tlons We're destined to become ulti-
mately {. barren waste. Slavery was
the power tll,t upheld king cotton.
With the fall of slavery. cotton
tumbles from his throne. 1t will cease
to be raised rs an article of exporta-
ton: Cotton cannot and will not he
produced to much extent by Ai1ctl
labor. Cutfee will nos furnish the
severe and Protracted labor. through
the heat OF IL Southern Sumner, ne
cessary for its proper cultivation,
except upon compulsion The white
man cannot. The sooner we reolizc
this fact, the better. The vholn svs-
tenn OF Southern agriculture must and
Will undergo Z radical change. At
tcntlon will be turned almost cxclu-
sivesy to the production of the cereal
crol.s and the raising of stock. Undcr
tins new system OF hushan,lry, on,
lands Will be resuscitated and restored
to more than their ancient fertility.
Foe nearly century, VIC have been
stralnmg every nerve to produce those
great staples, cotton and tobacco.
Untold millions of money have been
made, with no substantial benefit to
us. Nothing has been added to our
wealth. South Carolina is absolutely
poorer to-day than she was half
century ago. So with all the older
cotton States, notwithstanding the
millions made. Their gains ha,s. gone
to swell the capital of the North.
Scarcely dollar, comparatively. has
been appropriated to cnriching the
sod. Under the new system of agri.
culture which must supriscdc the old,
there will be q progressive improve.
ment of the soil. In this, and i'm the
new systems of industry which will
be inaugurated under the new ,.cainc
the South will find her regeneration
AS capital is produced, it will be ap
piled to the Development of the notll
raj resources of the South, in turning
to account her nnrivallcd water power
and eXhuming from the bowels of the
earth the rich treasures of gold, iron
coal and other valuable mineral.
which lie imbcdded in the mountai,
region. Great manufacturing cite.
will spring up, furnishing Il rich mar
ket to the thrifty and thriving farmer
Now that king cotton and SLAVERY
have fallen forever, the future open.
mp brilliant destiny to the South
Cotton and slavery were her evil genii
After brief and despotic reign the,
have left her poor indeed, almost il
the last extremity of exhaustion, T. mt
ing for very life. But now, disen
thralled by the overthrow ofs thes
cruel tyrants, she will rise to magni
ticcncc of wealth and prosperity, I'm
dreamed Of before. In IL few year