Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-12
N U NJ d Z R I.

MR EpIroR:--Hating read an article, in past
number Of the Chronicle on the encouragement Of
domestic manufactures IN the South, and, particu-
larly in Cafksville; also your recent ingenious
PLANTATION in endeavoring to explain disputed points
in the former; and having, ina practical way,
studied this subject closely, in all its bearings, for
generation past, beg leave to offer some sugges-
tons which may bring more light upon the subject,
as they are brought up from the under stratum Of
the basis ITSELF sl t..v
From the first settlement OF the Southern States,
to the present time, the great mass of the people
have been engaged in agriculture almost wholly
depending upon the North to supply them with
the necessities, consiencies and luxuries Of life
and for the last thirty years this policy has been
pursued with untring industry and stretched to
its utmost tension. It has pervaded the minds Of
the whole population and covered every inch Of
territory, MS the waters cover the great deep. A
Noah need not send out dove to find out
whether this food is abating, long as the irresis
tible torrent Of Northern trade continues to rush
South with an hundred fold increased velocity,
continuing to sweep before it the few and feeble
manufactures that attempt to impede its successful
progress.
The proof of this is every where to be seen.
Almost if not every implement on the farri is of
Northern manufacture, from an axe handle to a
wagon; our entire dwellings are furnished in the
same way; our children arc rocked in Yankee
cradles learn to walk id Yankee shoes, learn to
read in Yankee books-surely we ought TO learn
thep to whistle "yankee doodle" . We grow up
dressed from head to foot in Yankee fabrics; we
measure our mortal hoars by the face of Yankee
clocks, and finally, our graves dug with spades
and we are buried in cof,ins of the same manu-
facture. Hence, the Southern States have made
Themselves dependent upon and tributary TO the
North, whose mammoth manufactures, palatal
mansions, and busy cities have, in the MAN, been
bnilt by Southern money, aud princely fortunes
made by Southern industry and enterprise. And
why so?becsuse, "Thcse hands rere nsser made 10
pork.' Look at Clar,sville, not only now, but
even in the past you find few isolated manufac.
tories eking out feeble existence, from want OF
patronage and prompt pay. Some have been
crushed under the Nheels Of this mighty North.
ern Juggernauti others have become obso
letc, and some Of the few that remain are dragged
along by one-horse power impeded by the re-
sistance Of two horse load Of debt. Who Of the
rising generation knows whether hat is manu-
factured, or whether they grow on trees, for al
that they know Of them is: that thousands are al
ways ready for sale, and when sold thousands NOR,
step into vacant shelves Fifteen years ago thu
last hat manuiactory, in Clatksye, sang its ,eati
! songi the old Sign. cf a hat bowed submissiyely
to the stern mandate of public opinion-the low,
for Yankee hats. 1t came down-was consignet
to the tomb Of the capule!s, "and may, like Cesar
clay, be used to stop hole to keep the wine
away"
shall now enquire into The causes whicl
have produced such deporable results more par
tieularly within the last thirty years. First, tn,
increased facilities in transportation, frvm one enc
of the country to the other. The increasing
high prices of cotton, tobacco, sugar. &c, &c.
lured men to embark in extraordinary agriculture
pursuits, on such an extensive SCALE as the worl(
had never before witnessed, for, by authority OF
aud under the protection Of law one person has th,
right to own, not only farm but as many as ht
can pay fora whole county, acres ad ufnitup,--
and thus many became not only rich, but amassed
wealth which excited the astonishment of princes
They have ever had the power, and lawful right
after purchase, to dispossess the former owners Of
the yarious tracts of land, and thereby depopulatC
large sections (now subject to the undisputed con.
troll of one man). They had the lawful right tc
prosecute and punish any one who might set foot
upon their territory, without their approval. They
also had the right TO convert the fruitful fields
Of their vast domain into a howiing wilderness
and hunting park aud who dare gainsay Il? q And
as consequence such men BECAME proud, arrogant
and aristocactic; lordly in their bearing imagin-
ing they were living in feudal times; exercising
supreme contempt for manual labor either by
themselves or by others: for these hands Vere
tepsr made 10 wOrkp
Their pernicious influence was infused through
out all the ramifcations of society Il shall no,
use the common phrase "ciaSses," in its adoption
aud acceptatou, for there are only two among men,
| the virtuous and the vicious) men Of lesser
means caught the infection, and aped the former
even the poor followed in the wake, for fear Of
becoming the "mud sls' Of magnificent super
structure, built of gold the weight Of which
would crush them out of existence. Weak minded
and light headed women taught their babes ans
suckliugs'that they were the offspring Of noble
progenators; that they were horn OF gentlemen
and ladies, and therefore, "their delicate little
hands wee not mIde 10 cork Fathers recognized
the teaching by their outward department. and
thus it became a law in the household. How
truly does the poet sing
ct IL educat on forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent, the trees inclined
..1sr INl III OBSERVER.