Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-26

period, il is deemed strange that tn
saleable value Of real estate hasnot beef
materially lessened. Cotton command
less money than ever before, becaus'
Radicalism has made the production o
the staple more costly than in British
and French provinces. 1t is true, iol
} these reasons, that planters Of the South
gathering the little wealth that is,lef
them, abandon localities overcrowded
with black Loyal Leagues and seek
homes in the city and suburbs. IL they
must be " farmers" and "planters nc
, more, very properly they prefer gardens
in the suburbs and stock farms not far
yom a city. Blacks are relatively fewest
in the vicinity of cities, and however
strong as voters in Memphis, where the
great mass Of whites are disfranchised,
there is little personal danger arising
from the organization of armed revolu-
tionary bodies of black people. There
are probably twenty thousand negroes in
and around Memphis, but not less than
fifty thousand whites. Therefore, white
people, from all the Southern States,
would have homes in or near the city.
The transformation of systems of indus
trial life must first be effected in the
vicinity of cities, and here the products
of new modes of agriculture viii be most
saleable. Security of person and prop
erty, uniformity of habits and opinions,
a soil and climate to which Southerners
are accustomed are the leading facts
which prevent, in Memphis, any marked
depreciation of real property. Within the
next twelve months, if no change occur in
the government of the Gulf States, count
less thousands will abandon negro-gov-
erned satrapies and gather here where
one race of people distributes public Off
ces, another holds them, and third
class and race, by the sheer force of NOR
al power, governs the country. In Mem
phis no Southerner feels that he is ruled
by Smiths, Lewlses, Richards and Eatons
These people fill public positions, make
laws and plumber the public treasury.
They govern in no true sense Of the term.
To remedy this palpable want Of potency
.hey have established newspapers which
utterly fail to furnish that real power by
which States and communities are con-
trolled. Day by day the tenure by which
Radicalism maintains its nominal facii-
tious ascendency in this city is weakened
Each day Conservatism gathers force.
These are facts which impel many
Southern people to seek homes in Mem
phis To these considerations must be
ascrbed that mistaken confidence felt
by the people in the steady and sure
of this city. Its rapid growth
in wealth may be temporarily suspended;
but there will be no retrogression. Ia
the last ten years Memphis growth has
been unrivaled by that of any American
city. For reasons stated this aggrega' .
ton of numbers will be progressive. The
Of railway lines will pro
mote this result, and we can discover no
cause for dependency on the part of
hose owning real estate. While North
srn wealth and industry will first expend +,
is forces on this city, attracted by the
,heapness of neighboring lands, it is not
ess true that the very misfortunes and
poverty of the South will promote the
growth of Memphis.
The greater sense Of security is likely to !,
make thousands flock here this winter
Who have already been heeced by sur
negroes to an extent as great :
IS they can bear. And if the process of :
Generalization and outrage, which has ;,
lready been inaugurated in the country, 2
ontinues much longer, tens of thousands !
lill come here where supplies and pro- ;,
ection can both be had. We wish them
10 evil fortune for the sake Of our city,
ut if it should come upon them, as we :
ear, we shall welcome them here as
-iends, and do them what good is in
ur power. That all these causes will
uild up the city to a very large extent Il
re have not a shadow of doubt, and the n
possession of suburban lot in Memphis t
to have secure home in the worst P
vent. And there is no investment so v
and certain to appreciate in i
alue, while at the same time it involves d
o little risk Of loss. b