The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-13
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, April ID, 1867.
Southern AYrtculture-Our LaborLna
Glass.

Glass.
1t is generally estimated, and we
suppose the estimate is nearly cor
rect, that the cotton crop now coming
to market, will reach in the neigh
borhood of 100000 bales. The
New York Tribune. taking the esti-
mate as nearly true, in an article
under the head of Prospects of the
South" intimates TINT, although be-
low the extravagant estimate at the
beginning of the season, it shows the
falsity of all the charges of Incidence
and lassitude so freely lavished upon
the people of the South. But it
shows more-that the fear of any
permanent decentralization of the
laboring class, consequent upon the
sudden change in their social and po-
litical condition, was not we'll found
ed. And such are the facts, as, at
this time, they present themselves.
The novelty Of the change in the
condition and position of the late
slaves-having been almost instanta-
neously released from the discipline
and restraints which we're necessary
adjuncts to the system-it might
have been well expected that their
industry, for some time, would have
been unsteady, and their energies re-
laxed; but two years experience,
combined with their late elevation to
political equality with the whites,
will make our laboring population
stable and reliable. Besides, the
stimulus of necessity, in the present
impoverished condition of the South,
has been felt by them, rs we'll rs by
the whites, and both are fully con-
vinced that unless they work, they
must want; that the country's pros
perity depends op the untiring in
dustry of the producers.
In this view, the abolition of slave
ry has made, or must make, all
classes in the South producers in one
or other of the departments of in
dustry agriculture, manufactures,
mechanics, or in business pursuits.
There will, and must be, of necessity,
fewer drones on society, and fnuch
fewer who can live on the labor of
others without rendering fair equi-
valent. The production of 1000, 600
bales of cotton, under oil the unto
ward circumstances and severe trials
with which the agriculturist alone
had to contend with, is inoontestible
evidence that our people are learning
that lesson. Under more favorable
auspices-with good seasons and the
comparatively stable condition to
which our labor hos now arrived-the
agricultural production of the South
for the past season would have been
much larger. especially in the cotton
crop, which, with those advantages,
would undoubtedly have reached
nearly 100000 bales.
With these facts before us, and
with the evidences of increasing in
dustry and renewed energy all around
us, "the situation" warrants the hope
that, with ordinarily good seasons,
the planters and farmers of the South
ern States will do we'll the coming
season. Industry and economy, the
introduction of improved agricul-
tural implements, the application of
fertilizers, and the utilizing of the
labor they have, which they must
have learned from tho experience of
the past two years, will place them in
better condition, and leave them in
O better plight, than they have been
since the beginning of the late war.
And to this pleasant result, the ex-
clusion of political agitation, for
which we have no use, and which
must be rigidly ignored, will contri-
butte in no small degree.
The SOUTHERN PRESS. s.-The men,
bers of the city press of Atlanta held
n ,,,oot;Do, ~, tbo OIL, ,ncto,>t CO.. H. -