The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-03


from q private letter written by an
esteemed friend in one of the up
country Districts;
stThere is now more intellect de-
voted directly to farming and plant
ing in this State than there ever was
before Educated gentlemen, who,
before the war, counted their slaves
by the tlfties, are now reduced to the
necessity of directing their hired
labor, or, rs we more familiarly un-
-derstand it, have now become their
own overseers. These men must reads
They are all planters, but not all
politicians. To be busily employed
all day on the farm, and come in at
night to read and enjoy the papers, it
is but poor consolation to open up
half dozen or more papers and see
the brunt of the news in their CO.
inmns to be that Congress is becom-
ing daily more radical, the condition
of the South daily more lamentable;
that Maximilian is daily leaving
Mexico, and yet daily remains there;
that Napoleon is to-day failure, and
LOW ~ llldU lS
to-day imminentiylu danger Of being
drowned or submerged in the blood
of her own citizens, and tomorrow
is as tranquil as May morn. Now,
these are themes which readily IA
tigue and depress the mind of an
already fatigued body, and yet what
else do we see in the newspapers of
the day? Unless we glance across at
an advertising column, and there we
see it placarded, in big letters, that
Rhodes , is superior to all phos-
pilates, or that the Soluble is far
preferable to the Peruvian guano.
And who says so? The agents, of
course. Now, these latter are sub
jects of vital interest to the planter,
and he needs an agricultural journal,
where these facts may be established
or refuted by the publication of the
actual experience of planters. To
get such a paper, he must go out of
the State, which, L say, is a reflection
on the intelligence of the planting
interests"
We take the liberty Of making the
above extract, for the purpose of
making some remarks We believe
the fact stated, and are glad to know
it, that there is more intellect de-
voted to the farming and planting
interest in this State than ever was
before. We repeat that we are glad
to know it, for we are convinced that,
from this change in the pursuits OF
agriculture. not only this State, but
all the other planting States, will
reap immense benefit. A system of
improved till"gc will surely follow;
and gradually, as our farmers become
accustomed to the new order of
things, with our soil and climate,
and with the adoption of the best
fertilizing agents, we have no doubt
but the Southern farms Will vie in
excellence and protective capacity
with any others in the country.
AS to our friends hints, OF rather
structures, on the general manage
ment OF newspapers. at this time, we
would suggest that we are now in the
midst of political crisis, which
more affects all classes, even the
agriculturists, of the South, than any
they have yet gone through. 1t is
for this reason that not only the
Journals generally recognized more as
political and news journals published
In cities, but even those published in
the various rural districts, devote
much Of their. space and attention to
the momentous cvents-events threat
ening the destruction of the liberties
of our people, together with the
prostration of all their interests
now transpiring in Washington. Nor
can we think that even the farm
ers throughout the State, intelligent
as they are admitted to be, do not
feel an interest in legislation which,
if persisted in in accordance with its
projectors, Will iaclude all in its fell
swoop of destruction.
So much for the political manage
ment of the newspapers generally, al
the present time. AS to the publca-
tion of news-that of tomorrow con