The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-08
Plain Talk.

to the people OF Eastern Virginia,
and the South generally
1.-The people of Eastern Virginia.
are like the remainder of the South,
the poorest population in the civilized
world; yet, though it sounds para
dox, there is no part of the country
in which intelligent labor will more
certainly insure subsistence We
Will not enlarge upon the causes
which have, brought our people to
this condition-everybody knows
what they are. We made gallant
fight, and the sons of the Old Do
minion displayed, on many u hardly
contested field, and through many
privations, the noblest qualities Of
manhood
"When her army surrendered, the
Southern people lost in greater part
the accumulations of all past labor,
We, in Virginia especially, were
brought down to the Bedrock 1aet
us look fate in the face. Does not
every considcrate mind recognise the
Fact, naked as we state it ?
&c 1t is idle to rely upon help from
outside; capital will not come here
for the purpose solely of lifting us
out of the mud; if it comes at ali, it
will come with the object to profit
from our misery-to buy our lands
at Il nominal price, or with the cx-
pectation of gains not within the
reach of poverty such as ours.
GA sterner courage and a higher
intelligence are now demanded from
us than ut any time III the past; nor
will anything but resolutc will, self
denial and patient labor, rescue us
from irretrievable wretchedness and
paupcrism. Neither is there any
disgrace in the general strait to which
we are reduced; and it would be but
common sense to confess or i'm
to ourselves.
"Then bt it not be said that we
are in the condition OF the most mise
rable creature in the world-a broken
down gentleman, who, without
profession, and without means of
support, resorts to every contempti-
bic expedient to crafty tastes and
habits that belonged to his former
prosperity. What is appropriate to
the one condition is not honestly
suited to a narrow estate; and there
is hardly Il man among us who can
neglect the retrenchment now neces-
sary. There are some individuals
who may have come out Of the war
unscatLed; and certain number who
We're enriched thereby. But the first
class have claims upon them which
they cannot ignore towards helping
the less fortunate; and the second
class, for shame, if not for hnmani-
tvs sake, should refrain from the dis
play of their ill-gotten wealth.
elf patriotism required self-denial
during the war, self-interest demands
1t now: and every man who lives be-
yond his means is committing So
cial crime. The working capital of
the community is pitifnlly small, and
every cent beyond the supply of bare
necessarics is requisite to secure an
other start. Never was the adage so
true, that "a penny saved is q penny
made. 1t would be the very mad
ness Of the hour to sacrifice present
independence and the future comfort
Of our families, in the vain attempt to
keep up appearances. There is de-
SrAdatlon lneXpresslble i'll the folly of
initiating the extravaganza and luxu-
~ of our conquerors
''These arc homely lessons, bnt we
are bound to take them to heart.
Every man and woman among us
who realizes the real condition Of our
state will then have taken the sure
step towards raising us from the
slough, and may indulge the Just
hope of honorable independence.
"Means are at hand, too. The
extent Of our lands is far more than
adequate to our population, as now
constituted, and circumstances per-
nit selection as to location and natr-
raj fertility. Forest and stream fur
nish great deal of food spontane-
ously; the labor at onr command is
IN some sense cheaper than formerly,
and, for time at least, will be quite
rs effective. Neither are landowners
embarrassed, as before, by the sup
port of numerous on-producers. We
have railroads and other avenues to
commerce, which are valuable relics
OF the past prosperity; easy access
still 10 numerous markets, where we
can sell everything we can raise.
"Onr lands are still our chief re-
source. nor should we lose the sub
StnDcn in oroSpipry ot tbo Sl,,1,,,