The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-11-06
Fer the Southern Enterprise.

Aessrs. Editors--our former system Of Ia
Dor admitted of tho exclusive cultivation of
cotton, rice and sugar, as staples paramount to
all else. These congcnial products were tho
great agencies by which tho most of American
commercial and financial reciprocitieJ were
conducted. But In less than .erer years, q
period invariably productive Of many changes
wo hud competitors on all parts of tho globe,
for tho immunitics doriyable from those stan-
dard sources OF national wealth. 49,
England in India, (Asia,) Franco on tho.
African Coast from Mount Atlas to the Medi-
tcrrancan Sea, and Egypt that prolific valley
famod for its wheat, ,(corn,) all combine
against us, rather for themselves, in q sue
ccssfui cultivation Of those indispensable arfi-
cles. Nor arc those provinces south Of inc
United States on the American continent and
islands, behind Europe In the development Of
climate and soil for the same purposes and
the time is not far distant when other regions,
such as Now Holland, may be engaged In tho
profitable culture Of overy thing conducive to
sectional demands. That wo find in India a
successful rival to tho United States in the cul-
tuto of cotton; should not excite any surprise
Gems tlnkeven so far back as seventy years,
oil our superior musilns, humhams, (shirting
cloths,) including Nankm (nan. koen,) aud
othcr cotton fabrics, were tho products OF Asst
attic cotton, Even It's manipulation In those
days was performed by these Asiatics. For
seventy yOars has England been 6sing every
effort to supplant Amorican commerce-Ameri-
can cotton stood in her way, America afforded
cheaper labor than India consequently, Eng
land, and Europe generally, had to fall back
from Eastern TO western plantations for H.
Many Of our planters are not yet aware that
/ whilst England was casting cannon, and. ..ndahS
ufacturing Enfield rides, and engaged in build
ing Iron -clads and war steamers, to enable an
infurated national mob Of Northern and
! Southern Americans to destroy themselves and
their country, she, at tho ssmo timo was lend
ing the greater share Of her energies and in
telligepce to tho rccuperotion Of Indian cot
ton-helds. From the year 1860 TO 1895 10 Is
said that she opened all her navigabie streams,
so ss to admit successful navigator with
light metallic steamers almost 10 their sources
aud, at tho samo timo, ran over 500 miles, Of
railroads throughout her oriental cotton csilti-
Il NhthH IcSiOusI ~ thO suiuO tithoJ
all such machinery wonli reduce their pro-
ducts 10 tho most marketatle shape, so ms to
admit Of ready and cheap transportation from
the eountry to tho coast. India Is denseIy
populated, and affords labor (ths partie,
boarding themseives) ut from three 10 sever
pence per day, q TO u cents.) Now, instead
of a lapse OF seven years, only, ono Of Ave
years timo has enabled Europe, and particu
larry Engiand, to adjust her chess men and fol
the present timo, and for years to como, the,
have won the grand commercial game. Adam
/, Smith truly said labor 10 wealth. but h
limited Its exertions to practical subjects
whero wages were in proportion 10 actua
gains, aud whore every fraction OF time wa
: cconomisod, such labor, wages, and econom.
OF time, arc all necessary considerations In th
produce of either farms or factories. Ye
$ there arc minds 80 contracted, ard so muc
4 biased by ignorant prejudieos, that they citho
cannot or will not look into causes, nor eaicu
late therefrom future consequeneosj Of suel