The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-08-08

fifth that of the United States, supports
a larger population, and so of England
Scotland, Belgium &c., with inferior
soils, worn by ages Of cultivation, while
our soils arc new. The ungratctul
soils of New England furnish similar
results. These facts and figures are
Obtained from official, government sour
ces, and may be relied on
1t being apparent then, that climate
aud soil give lis the great requisite OF
variety of agricultural products, with
the advantage ola somewhat monopo-
ly of .hc cotton plant, I propose to de-
monstrate, first, that We have all tho
means of supporting a dense popula-
ton, and second that we can and will
command that population.
We have seen that, under the loose,
careless and easy system Of slave cul-
ture, the products Of seventy thousand
aces of land, not only supported and
enriched a population Of $4,000, leav-
ing unemployed, four fifths Of our lands,
thousands upon thousands of acres OF
our best lands yet lying in their origsi-
nal forests, but annually paid very
heavy tribute towards building up,
peopling and cnriching new States.
1t is no longer colJcctural theory.
Agricultural science and advancement
have established as an accomplished
fact, that by improved and intelligent
labor, and tho application of manures,
the product of a given area, can easily
be more than doubled; thus over seven
ty thousand acres Of improved lands
could easily he made to sustain popu-
lation of 10000, at the least. Then
the opening Of new lands, reclaimlnS
swamps &c, to the extent Of seventy
thousand acres more would double the
capacity of the district, maintain a pop
ulation of 60,0G0, and still leave more
than two hundred thousand acres Of
land in original forest for waste land,
pastorage, timber, fuel, turpentine &c.
Is it not most reasonable to affirm that
two and one half acres Of our best lands
to each one of our population, thorough
ly improved and cultivated, would
abundautly reward and enrich that
population, more than four acres to
each one of population did under
the old system.
Suppose then, population Of sixty
thousand industrious, thriving people
deriving their support from agriculture
within our district occupying the un-
rivalled lands Of tile Wateree, reclaim
ed by canals and dykes from the de-
vouring water god, the fertile lands of
our creek bottoms, and the valuable,
easily cultivated, and easily improved
uplands, who can estimate the wealth
that would be thus produced and to be
spent among ourselves, to our own
merchants, mechanics, &c. a.? for as in
all countries of small farmers, to Which
system We necessarily and inevitably
tend, the surplus profits are spent at
home, instead of abroad as with large
proprietors. The result would he that
as this population grew, agreat town
would grow on the site of Camden; thus
and thus only can our loved old town
grow and pr spor. The country must
first be built up, for It is the foundation
on which town rests, oil efforts other
wise directed to bssild up town were
futile; Even now, with the great, gap
ing wounds, made Ivy Sherman's track
and torch, unhealcd, we have much
taore of town here than we need. Cn-
occupied and decaying houses prove
this but too well, and [ only remark by
way Of illustration, that if upon the site
of Camden, there now stood a town H.
yalling Columbia, ere the breath OF the
Sirocco Sherman, blasted it, it would
fall into ruin and decay before any sup
port would be given it, from the pres
ent population, condition and resources
of the people Of the District; few
merchants would now suffice for all
the commerce which now seeks this an
cient mart; the present is dark, but
hope is ours and brightens the future,
which, God willing, we will make ours
too.
Give this town the trade, based upon
forty thousand bales Of cotton produced