Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-08-21
Hercules, SO Esop Informs Us, Helps
Those who help Themselves.

Ii there is one thing, more than another, which
would prove cheering in the midst of our many
misfortunes and discouragements, it would be to
witness mighty rousing of the public mind of
South Carolina in behalf of those enterprises
which are necessary to the developement of her
latent riches; riches which are incalcuiable in
value. The encouragement of immigration, the
increase Of labor, the promotion of agriculture,
the building of railroads the erection Of manufac-
torios, the improvement of navigation, the ercc-
tion Of telegraph lines, the increase of schools
and educational facilities; to all these, and to
muny minor but important enterprises, the paople
of South Carolina should now fully alive. It
pains us to say, however that they aro not thus
alive.
And in this connect ID, We call special atten-
ton to tho admirable speech of Gen. JOHN A.
WAGNER, delivered lately before meeting OF
our pubiic.spirited fellow citizens of Newbcrry.
Gen. WAoENER, rs is we'll known, is, by appoint
mcnt of the Legislature, State Commissioner OF
tho Bureau of Immigration. He is ava:tly eS
ergetic, intelligent and practical citizen Of Char
lcston-n native German, or of immediate German
descent His cfforts towards inducing European
immigration to South Carolina are well organized,
wise, manly, persistent. But without the help,
strong and unanimous, of the people of the State,
he can do but little.
And why is it, that, when negro labor is 80 un-
certain, and when We pay such burdensome taxes
upon idle and unimproved lands, We yet sit silen
and idle? Arc.we listlessly hoping that some
thing will turn up7 Something is continually
turning up to the advantage of those who employ
appropriate means.
And how is it that we can best help Gen. WAC
ENER and the ull-important cause of immigration
Certainly through combinations of landholders
Combustion is to bo the great secret Of success
in developing the wealth of South Carolina
Sparse q, is our population compared with ou'
territory, and small a, is our monied capital COIN
pared with our resources, NC have numbers, power
and money enough in South Carolina this day to
accomplish every scheme of internal Improvement
| VIC need, if We only combine. Individually we
can do nothing Proper combinations will &C
Compllsn every tnluS' Soiopinosioao. Va So'sN
planters can erect cotton manufactores in eyery
cotton di,trict. Combinations of planters, mer-
chants, stock men, land.holdcrs, capitalists rail-
road men, and municipal corporations, can build
all needed railroads. And combinations Of land
holders can procure immigration and labor to an
;,defuite extent.
Our planters, a, general thing, arc not pleased
with free negro labor. And certainly, under e1
ixting circumstances, there is but little prospect
OF the negro becoming more industrious, aud more
respectful in his department Indeed so long Al
they are under Radical influence and leadership
We can expect from them but little good.
We propose therefore Landholdor's Conven'
tion Of tbe planters and farmers of Edgefeld
District for the purpose of inducing foreign i'm
migration. If a few prominent landholders you'd
move in this matter, all, whether their acres be
many or few, would fall in, and work with good
| accord.
But there is not moment 10 be lost Even
should VIC begin now, and work with all oul
might. We shall not moro than mako the proper
arrangcm ents by the fall of 1868. Though hun.
drcds of planters might supply themselves with
yolur Bile and available white labor by the coming
spring Let us begin in time, and thousands will
be added to our population, much strength to oui
labor, and millions to our wealth, within year
from this date.