The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-12-29
From the NetO York Herald.

with the other States In this respect, as
they were anterior to the Rebellion,
their varied and abundant resources must
attract capital and labor from both the
North aud Europe. 1t used to be said
by sectional agiators-such as the aboli-
tion press. pulpit, and stump orators, and
book-makers for the Northern mark ret
that the South was poor country, that
it could not feed its own people, and that
these people would starve without sup
plies from the North. This was said gen.
orally from prejudice, though sometimes
from ignorance, and for the purpose of ex.
citing and pandering to sectional jealousy
or hostility.
Up to the time of the war, and even af,
ter it commenced, such statements were
reiterated by those who knew or ought to
have known better. The consequence
was that the mass of the people of the
North were deceived and remained igno.
rant Of the Southern portion of the coun-
try. Intelligent and unprecedented travel
lers, as well as tie people Of the South,
were surprised at the Misrepresentation,
and wondered how their fellow citizens
could be so blinded. Such false or dis
torted views were impressed to great ex.
tent upon Europe also. The obnoxious
institution of slavery proved bar at the
same time both to investigation and en-
terprise. 1t was like Chinese wall, hay
ing the effect of shutting out immigration
and enterprise. The prejudiccs in favor
of slavery on one side, and against it on
the other, made the South almost as ex-
cluded and unknown to the rest of the
world as China is. The North lost sight
of facts as the vast and valuable produce
tions of that section, of its immense terri.
tory, rich and teeming soil, extraordinary
variety Of products and its attractive eli
mate, and the people of the South smiled
in indolent contentment with their coun-
try aud themselves at this real or feigned
ignorance,
But the war just concluded is prodnc-
ing great revolution in mems ideas as
well as in our public affairs and domestic
life. General Grant, speaking of the
Southern people in the concluding words
of lis admirable report on the last year
of the war, says their "manhood drew
forth herculean deeds of valor." lie
might have said, too, that the war drew
forth from their country extraordinary and
unexpected resources. Few on this side
belivod that a people who had appeared
to be dependent upon Northern and for
eign supplies could carry on the war two
years when cut of from them. We were
all astonished at the resources they devel
oped. They succumbed not froul the
want of natural capabilities in the coun-
try, but from the destruc ion of these by
an overwhelming antagonist, by the colos,
sal power of the North, by the terrible
drain upon limited population TO supply
the armies, and by acknowledgement OF
their finances and the conduct of the war.
The war undcceivcd the world in Il mca
sure as to the resources of the South. -
Still they are not yet well understood the
Southern people themselves have not fully
comprehcnded them,
We can do no more within the limits
of this article than advert to or take
glance at this magnificent region of our
country. From the fortieth degree of
latitude to the tropics, and from the At
lantic to Mexico, embracing an area long
er than France, Germany, Great Britain,
Spain and TIA y combined, and with every
variety of soil, climate and productions, it
is capable of sustaining a population of
one hundred and fifty millions. 1t is, be-
yond all doubt, the best portion of the
American continent. The hardy grains
grow in all the States on the northern Dor.
der and through the highlands of the Al
leghenies to the border of Alabama
Aud where is there better wheat or flour
than Virginia and some other parts of the
South produce? The -four is noted for
its fine quality in the markets of the
world. In one part all the fruits and We
getables of the temperate zone grow abun-
dainty, and in an, Their flourish the orange,
banana, pineapple and other fruits of the
semi,tropical or tropical zone
Nature has given to The South mo
nopoly of the most valuable productions
that enter into the commerce of the world
Nowhere can such tobacco be produced,
there is no rice superior if equal to that
of South Carolina, and as to cctton-that
wonderful product which clothes mar
kind; employs millions of human beings
in its manufacture builds great cities !;
creates untold wealth and spreads the
sails Of commerce over every ocean-that
is a monopoly of the South. True, cotton
is grown in India, Egypt, and some other
countries, but not our long staple American
cotton, which is the cotton of commerce,
and which is an article of prime necessity
in manufactures, The Gulf stream which
sweeps along our Southern coast raises
the waters of the Gulf and Atlantic in
clouds, and spreads them over the favored
South, dropping rain in just such showers
as the cotton plant needs.
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