The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-17
Northern Prosperity Dependent upon
Southern Restoration.

oOAthcAh AsSotoAeHoAt'
We lind the following communication IN the New
York Journal Of Commerce:
While the political cauldron is soothing and
foaming, and trade and commerce iangulsnlng
to an unprecedented degree, permit private
citizen from the South to offer few remarks upon
the condition of affairs there, and with all due
Difference suggest remedy, remarklng IN advance
that it is only through the kindly feelings Of some
Northern journal that our voice may be occasionally
heard.
lam citizen of the State of Georgia; am en-
gagged in tho land agency. There are plantations
placed in my hands for sale, amounting IN value
to over two millions OF dollars nom!nally, ana
priced in every instance at less than one-half,
somo at onc-third, and some even at one-hfth
what they would have sold for before tho war.
havo exerlcd myself faithfully here at the
North for two years to effect sales, have agcn-
cies estabishcdin in nearly all the Northern cities,
and to show that there has been 70 effort spared
to give them publicity, there have been thirty
Thousand circulars giving the description and
price of portion OF this property, distributed
throughout the Northern States from Maine to
Michigan, and if there has been one single sale
effected, am yet to be advised OF it.
I am assured by Northern men-by my agents
and by other sources-that there arc thousands
of poud industrious farmers IN every Northern
State that most earnestly desire 10 move noutn,
purchase our fertile lands, and settle there. In
the Summer of 1866, Governor Andrew assured me
that there were thousands OF farmers III Massa-
chusetts that desire to settle in tho Southern
States, and that there we're millions OF money III
Boston that would seek Investment there, but
were deferred by the political excitement OF the
doy. The same season gentleman from Elmlra
said to me: "AIr. B., like the description OF the
property; am satisfied with the price; want TO
move South, and several OF my neighbors want to
go with me, but am afraid to move there for lear
that somebody will hurt mo-
Just before the election in 1866 certain journals
here were teemlng with the most exaggerated ac--
counts and most Infamous lies OF bad treatment
that Northern men experienced at the hands OF our
Southern people, These accounts were reiterated
by the country papers, and repeated by violent
noiticans. No wonder then that the people 'wcre
afraid to move South for fear somebody would
hurt them" Now, at this same time, our people
in Georgia we're very mnch mtelested IN tne SUD
in the cities and counties, and at the Plant
ers' Convention the subject was urged, mylt-
ing immigration let 1T come from what sec
ton it might. Our legislature took up tho
subject, and would have passed some acts
fayoring it, but it was opposed by some on the
Ground that many of our people we're there in
State OF starvation, and thai If any movements
were made towards the Introduction OF lmmI-
Grants that it would have the effect OF making
provisions still moro scarce and high. AS tor the
social condition OF our people, Will venture the
assertion that moro orderly and law-abldlng
peope could not be found on the continent and
| that there We're fewer crimes committed III the
wear the Northern people were afraid to m0vo
South "for lear OF the white folks" This year
they are afraid to move there for fear OF the ng-
GER" and thus tho matter stands, While there are
hundreds of plantations lying ldlo, untouched by,
| the eplougi-fencing and houses rotting down-and
the once fertile cotton fields growing in weeds and
| bushes.
Our laboring elcmcnt-thc negro--is getting
| fewer in NUMBERS every year; more insolent, and
| more and more indoent, thrlftless and shftlcSs.
i l,,nf1 f1ro1 COTTON
against 600 600 in 1860 attest tho truth Of this
sertion. This year, 1867 although the seasons have
been far more propitious for the Gotten crop than
they were the year BEFORE yet our crop will hardly
exceed that OF last year. Next year we may look
for still further reduction Of at least oncfourth,
for many OF our planters, tired and dsgustcd with
| the trcedmcn's labor, are going to give up the
culture of cotton altogether and SOW portion OF
| their fields IN Sran and convert the remainder
| INTO pastllres for the raising OF stock. With our
production of cotton getting less yearly, and the
| home consumption of the raw material somewhat
on the increase, it is net at all improbable that our
| commercial and financial men will soon wake up 10
the reality that cotton has ceased to be an article
| of export.
| have stated lthat The voice of the South can
only be heard occasionally through some kindly
disposed iournal-iu this am mistaken. The Bl-
reau at Washington published to the world, short
" before the elections, that We were going tt
make This year three and half million bales o
What is the remedy? 1t lies in the halls o
Congress in part only.
The Chamber of Commerce OF this city lately
took action in relation to the repeal OF the cottor
tax. This WIS good movo and i'll the right di
rection; and the tax bids far to be repealed The!
have now before them the subJect oil the return tC
specie payments, and which Is so ardemtly desired
by all.
But With our cotton crop (Which is relied upo,
in some measure to retain the precious metals il
tho country getting less and less every wear i
would seem that return to specie payment
would be attended with great difficulty and sacri
fees.
tant work for the Chamber to inau;urate, an,
which should be bacAcd up ,6 By IT. the Commercial
the cottoa States, instead of trailing it y oil
yond the Mississippi RIVER whittier Il" II no% a9'a.
new. more Industrious and more :ei!ab!c elcmeu
OF labor than they now have, in order to brIn
them back 10 their former prosperity. Do this