The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-03-27
Hope for the South.

1t should afford some consolation to oul
oppressed fellow citizens, that the malig
nifty of politicians cannot intercept the
bounty of Providence If the Radicals cx
tend their bigoted sway over the South
they have no power to extent over that
favored region their black climate and mig
gardly soil. The sunny ATTITUDES Of the
South exempt its people from much of the
toll imposed upon the North by its long.
cold winters, Our hay crop for example,
takes upa larger area fland, and in some
States amounts to greater sum-total OF
value, than any other crop. But this is all
consumed to subsist through the winter the
domestic animals, which in many parts Of
the South require comparatively little
feeding. The expense Of fuel for warming
our dwellings, and the more costly mode Of
building required for defence against the
cold, are heavy burdens which our climate
imposes upon us, and from which theirs
exempts them. They have another great
advantage over us in the nature Of their
productions. Their cotton crop is light in
proportion to its value, in universal de-
mand, and not dependent for market on
the fuctuating harvests of foreign coun-
tries. The lightness Of this commodity
and the steady demand for it abroad give
Southern agriculture great advantage
over that of the West, rich as the West is
in soil and productions. Every other sec
ton Of the Union, as compared with the
South, is like a handicapped horse in
race. IF the South is now little behind
in industry few good seasons will bring
her abreast, and, if the negro experiment
works, will put her ahead.
Even the abolition Of slavery is by no
means the drawback it might at first sight
seem. IF we simply reckon up the esti-
mated money value Of the slaves enamel
pated, and regard it as so much property
destroyed, the amount indeed seems enor-
nous. But this mode Of viewing it is very
fallacious. Plantation hands were selling,
previous to the war, for $1,000. The inter-
terest on this sum is $40, which, with the
slaves board and clothing, and the risk
ESTIMATED by insurance rates) ofhis death,
was an annual expensethat may be regard
ed in the light Of wages. When we con
slider that this Negroes children had to be
supported during the childhood, and him
self in sickness and old age, and assign an
averge share Of this expense to the annu-
al account, we shall make up pretty
formidable rate Of annual wages under the
old system. Now the loss by emancipation
is simply the difference between this sum
and wages actually paid at present. In
stead Of wiping out four billions of proper
ty cat one fell swoop," (Which, if we look
only at the transferable value, is perhaps
true, } the only real loss to the planter who
works his estate, is merely the annual diff
ference between what he now pays as wa
ges, and the average annual cost of his
slaves previous to emancipation. The loss
is more than counterbalanced for the pres
ent, (and probably will be for many years
to come, } by the enhanced price Of cotton;
the planter getting as much for one bale as
be used to receive for two or three It is
probable that cotton will never sink back
to the old rates. The increase in wages
will make permanent addition to the
price, and in that case emancipation will
entail on the planters Gas collective COM
munity) no loss whatever, but only On
the consumers Of cotton.
Passing to more transient considerations,
we still discover reasons why the South
ought not to be respondent under political
oppression. The two sad, heavy years
which have passed since the close Of the
war, are not types Of the years that are to
follow. The war was not ended till near
the close Of the spring months, when it was
too late to begin agricultural operations
for the season with reference to the change,
and everything was in such state of I'M
hingement and prostration that little could
have been done that year any way. Last
year was also unfortunate; although the
negroes had learned that freedom was not
exactly synonymous with idleness, and had
become partially cured of their freaks of
vagrancy. Drowning rains early in the
season and whitening drought afterwards,
destroyed the hopes Of the husbandman in
large portions Of several of the States.
Much Of the cotton seed, which had been
kept for years, did not terminate; worn
out implements, which the planters had no
means to replace, were an impeachment to
cultivation and the immense consump-
ton Of cattle and horses by the war left a
deficiency in draught animals, which had
not been supplied There is good reason
to hope that all these evils will be escaped
this year. Such drowning in spring and
dronghts in summer are unusual, and not
| likely to occur again until after long in
terval. The two years which have elapsed
since the war, have matured every two
years-old colt into a horse, every growing
steer and heifer into an OK or COW, so that
the lack of animals will be measurablJ
supplied. There is plenty Of fresh cotton
seed oflast years growth, and the proceeds
Of last years crop will enable the planters
to procure needed tools and implements
The negroes have had an additional yea1
of training in their new condition, and il
is to be hoped, have made some progress
towards habits of self-imposed industry
We think, therefore, that the South viii
thrive this year, as a business community
as they have not before since the begin
ming Of the war, and that every future
year will bring additional prosperity.
The fruits Of the New Hampshire cleo
ton are fairly divided between the two
parties the Radicals getting the materia
and the Democrats the moral advantage
We have not yet received the complet,
returns, but the Democrats have made