Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-25

GENTLEMEN Being unable to attend the
meeting of the people Of Laurens, al Gross
Hill, on the l4th inst, on account OF pre-
vious engagement to address the citizens OF
Abbeville and Edgefeld, at Woodville, on
the same day, have vertured to substitute
this letter, as containing, perhaps, clearer
expression of my views, than could be pre-
presented in speech.
What we are striving for now, are practical
measures of relief it matters not how Sug-
gested. We are too much i'll earnest to be
moved either by the accomplishments Of
manner, or the graces Of oratory. 1t is the
eloauence of action that our case demands.
We are beset with the most appalling diff
culties that ever oppressed the energies of any
race. The horrors of our late struggle were
mercies compared with the sufferings Of this
inglorious peace. From the gigantic efforts
put forth by the State, for the achievement
of our independence, from the great sacrifice
of property in sustaining the cause, from the
loss of all our ready money and our earnings
for many years by the depreciation Of Con-
federate Treasury Notes and Bonds, from the
emancipation Of our slaves, Who constituted
three-fourths Of the wealth of the country
and the basis of nearly all its credit, from the
reduction of our labor, for OF least five years,
By the absence of the whole able-bodad white
population in the field, from the devastasions
of the enemy, the destruction of oul planta-
tions and homes, the pillage of ous cities,
and ravage Of our coasts and Sea Islands.
the slaughter of our young mon in battle,
and the accqmulations of interest all the
while, and the decline of real estate We are
the most exhausted people on the face Of the
globe. There is scarcely wealth eaough in
the State to furnish its inhabitants decent
burial. There is certainly not enough to pay
twenty-five cents on the dollar of its indebt
eduess, or even ten cents on the dollar, witt
costs of suit.
The money :aust yet be made then, by the
industry of our men and women, aid to rem
der that industry available and effectual
those who are honest and wellinclined mus
have time allowed them for the payment o
| their debts. With new system OF labor tt
organize, a2d with the scarcity of the mate
| rial for farming, that prevails from the noun
| ,ains to the sea, it will be utterly impossible
| for the Debtor, after having fed his famil.
and paid his taxes from the present crop, t
spare single dollar to the demands OF hi
Creditor. But he must be protected, or b
will be sued, his property sold for a triae, thj
1 home for which he braved the battle ant
the breezen deserted by unfriendly intru
| ders, his wife and children thrust out to per
ish of hunger, and {" the pcltings of the pit
tiless storm" and thus driven to despair, h
may be impelled by the same spirit, tina
hurled him upon the pbalanxes of the enemy
to wreak vengeance inconsistent with hl
fair escutcheon, and revolving to societ
|
itself. e
Something must be done Iy the thought
. full and the true to save this man, and tn
wife and offspring he loves more than HI
own soul,-and something must be done t
save the State from absolute ruin and degra
dation. It's true that there are those amonI
us honored for their reputed wisdom VIII
are so:callous to our suferings, or are so ig
norant of our real condition, as to persuad
themselves that the evils by which we ar
J encpwpassed will 1ecti5 tbewse'yea, and al