The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-11-16

tonsf The answcr was, because wo cannot
produce the article for tho same price; we arc
compelled to hire the labor which you owa--
ours is unreliable, idle and costly, whilo yours
is under CONTROL steady and cheap. From
these reasons, you Will always be able to drive
us out Of the market. But what now is the
condition of the Southern plantor2 His labor
is much more costly than that of Algors or the
East, equally unsteady, aud, probably, less url-
der his control, and he finds himself now, after
an exhausting war, driven from the market by
prices which his former competitors can afford
TO sake. The present low price of cotton is
but the evidence Of the causes already stated.
And it may be that, in Il few years, VIC shall
be importing cotton and rice into the United
States. rilistend of exporting these great COM
moditics We are now eating, i'll the interior
of South Carolina rice imported from China,
and we have been crcdibly informed that East
Indian cotton has been imported into New
York. How soon the Statc-craft Of Great
Britain may find it cXpcdicnt to impose all
import duty upon American cottons. who can
tell But it may be asked. is there no rcmc-
dy for these calannitics to the Southern pco-
pley We answer, most probably no immediate
remedy. Time is the great master Of tic stu
alton. IF our people will give up the dclusivc
hope Of growing rich by the cultivation Of cot
ton thereby probably working their utter
run-it they will cultivate less cotton and
more hrcatStuif: rai'c for their own use and
for sale horses mules and stock of i'll kinds ;
cure their own hay, make their own butter,
and sell the surplus if they will labor to fill
the land with plenty they WILL in Il short time,
realize change for the better in their own
condition and the condition of the South; at
least they shall not have debts and lisappont-
mchts added to their other cala,nritics And
ii''raismg our o~n food and supplies at the
South we should als manufacture our own
cloths and implements, upon our own soil
There can be no more auspicous moment than
the present to lcgin, ut the South, the manu-
taeturc of goods from our own raw material.
This WAS done to :, rrcat extent during tic
work begin 10 be successful, we must bcgin
at the beginning. and work upward. as our
population and wealth increase We repeat
that we would not now rc-cstablish slavery at
the South. 1t is 800 late to correct the error Of
its sudden cxt'nciun. 1t is to orr interest to
make the most OF the circumstances by which
we are surrounded. We cannot recall the
past Let the dead past bury it dead" But
let us not be entirely hopeless OF the future.
Little more than half u century ago, the
great comm",lity. exported from this State was
indigo. 1T ceased to be profitable here, be-
cause it could be more chcaply cultivated else
where. Cotton WAS introduced in its stead,
and MAS cultivated with unparalleled success.
Tobacco and rice contributed to increase the
wealth of the South. If these staples cease to
be us rcmuncrativc in the future us they have
been i'll the past, we still have Il great country
left to us, and with something like guod gov
crnmcn'. our necessities will give rise to new
cxpcdcnts. TO conquer our difficulties, we
must meet them with patience, fortitu,lc and
courage But shall VIC have n good govern.
mcnt That is the great question presented
80 ~ 'NNN l'''' ''ie w ptui'oSC W
To admit rs Il fact rs has been assumed tn
be the result of the war. that the Government
ofthc 'nitcd States is supreme. and that the
states have no rights. or if they have rights,
that they are subordinate to the G vcrnnicn, of
the ln'f". States, or whic!, is IT,, ,amc thing
subordinate to inc will Of Il majority having.
control Of the Govc.nmcnt is to admit the
abrogation Of the Constitution. and to ignore
the facts Of history. In other words, it is to
acknowledge that VIC havca Government of
"bsoi"tc powers instead Of Government of
limited and delegated powers. 1t is admitted,
that any Government hcwcvcr limited, may
for time usurp all power. \ single man
may rise up and say 81 am the State" Any
assembly of men may, for a season, arrogatc,
to themselves all powcr-cxccutivc legislative
and judicial But tho question rccurs, is this
tar, ar is. this uSurpa,lon? Is this good gov
crnmcnt, or i it revolution !? Mere physical
force is not law 1t may compel obedience.
but it cannot give to its acts the sanction Of
law; unless it be iii those countries where the
will Of an absolute dcSpo is the recognized,
Iaw Of the land, To adni. that the war has