The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-02-28
The Trnc Rond 20 Reconstruction

Igies. of an enlightened. and proud
spirited people. Educated in sthe
highest school of civilization, the in
lheritors Of the sterling virtues and
lheroism of a noble ancestry, in the.
hour of adversely, the people of the
South still possess the courageous
spirit which will lift them from the
slough and gloom o.. passing events,
into the clear sky of bright future.
It is a cheering conclusion which Q
philosophic historian has drawn from
q careful study Of the career OF ma
tions-their vicissitudes of good and
of evil fortune-that speriods of adj
versity are seldom lost in the end to
nations any more than to individuals.
No misfortunes are irremediable so
long as the spirit of the people is un-
broken, no calamities are irreparable
but those which undermine virtue"
In the spirit which has been dis
played by the people of the Southern
States since the loss of the stake for
which they so heroically fought and
so bravely fell, there is no cause to
despair of their ultimate deliverance
from the misfortunes by which their
virtues are now severely tried. His
tory does not afford an example of
fortitude in adversely and courageous
efforts to repair losses and overcome
calamities, similar to that which has
been presented by these people. With
their industrial interests overthrown,
their social system shaken to its
foundations, their liberties at the mer-
cy of that worst of tyrants-the tyran-
NY of multitude of tyrants--without
pausing to indulge unavailing regrets
over the past, they have adapted them
selves to the circumstances in which
the fortunes of war have placed them
and summoned all their energies for
the task to the performance of which
they are called. $
The proper direction of these ener-
gies should be. the chief aim Of every
patriot The destruction of our Ia
Dor system suggests the necessity OF
the speedy construction of another
upon secure and lasting basis. To
this end, every avenue to the intro
duction of population and capital into
the country should be opened. The
South does not possess one-third OF
the effective and reliable labor which
she controlled before the war. Her
richest fields which in times past were
the scene of thriving industry, are
rapidly returning to the wild state
from which they had been reclaimed !;
and while agriculture, which is the
basis of all wealth, languishes, it is
vain to hope for the restoration of
prosperity. Ts .s-.sss1
Pre-eminently blest by soil and CHI
mate, and every other natural re-
source, if our advantages were prop
erly presented to the mind Of the la
boring millions of Europe. whose hard
toll enables them to exc out but mis-
cradle existence, they would soon sup
ply with their brawny arms and pow
er Of endurance the loss Of labor
which we have sustained. II .1ea
To effect this object, no effort should
be spared. From the example of
States where compulsory labor did
not exist, useful lessons may be learned
by ourselves. The steamers which
navigate our waters and the trains
which sweep over our plains are
freighted with the products of the
labors of these States obtained
by means of wise and prudent legisla-
ton. Through the agency of chartered
immigration companies and of immi-
grafton boards, the Western States
have been supplied with the elements
which have made them rich and pros
porous. - 9 =
Heretofore our system of compulso-
ry labor has been an obstacle in the
way of the introduction of freelabor
from abroad. This impeachment no
longer existing, there is no reason why.
the same results should not attend our
efforts that have rewarded the enter.
prises Of others. The spring whence
the stream flows is inexhaustible. We
have but to open the channel and give
it direction by such agencies as we
have alluded to. It will be the occus
patton Of these boards and associations
to invite immigration by giving
information to those who would
willingly seek better homes. of our
unsurpassed resources Of soil, and
solubrity of climate. Ear better
would it have been # the steps Of pos
litical pilgrims to Washington in
search Of ssrepresentation' had been
tnrnsd to the sources of labor and