The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-07-29
From DeBow's Review n
Diversity Pursuits.

Dl'olollJ ulSu1to'
While the political equilibrium be.
tween the different sections Of the Union
remained undisturbed conoila.
ton and good will prevailed in the gen
eral government and IL the intercourse
between all the Slalcs-iL was well
for each region to pursue those avoca.
lions for which it was best adapted by
soil, climate. situation, social organza
'ton and hereditary aptitude. The
West might raise broad and meat fol
the Cotton States; tho South might
produce cotton, and tobacco, and rice
Tor Northern expectation; the North
might appropriate tho manufactures, tho
commerce and the general trade Of the
whole country. When all prospcrcd
and all were satisfied, there was no need
of ant.cunous calculation Tor the sake
of discovering what avocatlon brought
the largest profits, what section derived
the amplest returns from the diversified
operations of the country. But when
Jealousy and heart burning, and political
rivalry, took the place Of good feeling
and provoked sectional discord, such an
inquiry was inevitable. And now the
results OF war have ovcrthrown the social
system OF tho South, chrushcd its liber.
lies, destroyed the political influence
necessary for its defence, reduced It's
inhabitants to dcstituLion, incapacltaLei
it for the pursuit of its former industry
and deprived it OF its peculiar products
other considerations than those of poitl
cal economy compel it to change it*
policy with the change of its require
1nents, and Of its institutions. Its es
pecial want, now, is an enlarged popu
lation, which can be invited and main,
taincd only by tho diversi6cat,on of en-.
ploymcnts. 1t must assimlatc it's inter.
ests to those Of other sections, in order
to.sccure support and favor. This can be
done only by tho assimilation of it's pur
suits to theirs. 1t must enlarge the
means ofsubsistencc and the forms oI
employment. 1t must practice small
economies, which were previously uE.
thought OF, because unnecessary. II
must create anew its capitals mus,
vary their form and must extend their
amount, in consequence Of the compeLi.
ton of vast capitals elsewhere accumu
dated, and mainly augmented by the
very incidents and consequences OF thai
war by which it has been crippled and
impoverished. All of these considcra.
lions (,nd they might be indefinitely
multiplicity furnish so many arguments
.or an entire change Of procedure. and
for The adoption of many arrangements
which wore previously undesirable
The South is compelled to change alike
its modes OF life and It's line Of action in
the face Of manifold difficulties, fearful
competition and undisguised hostility.
1t has on its side only brave hearts a
bright sun, a fertile soil and vast de-
posts OF mineral wealth. Its chief as
surance OF future prosperity must rest
upon tho knowledge that its ample re-
sources are wholly undevelopcd, and are
almost untouched. The past is sad
and sacred mcmory-tbc future is all
before it. The prospective fortunes Of a
country depend less upon its present
accumulations than upon the extent OF
its inoxhaustible capabilities. In the
latter respect, tho Southern States are
more highly favored than almost any
other region under the sun. But to
profit by such augurics, wc must in
crease our population, enlarge our in.
dustrlcs, vary our pursuits, economic
our processes, and retain our profits as
much as possible at homo. With in.
crease Of population will como increase
of political security; with augmentation
0: means will come increase of power
and increasing celority Of advancement.
With returaing prosperity will return
peace, happiness, contentmcnt, and tho
other blessings which arc denied TO us
in our present condition.
There are great obstacles to overcome
and III many parts of th;s country
they can bo conquered only gradually
and very slowly--in some districts they
may prove insurmountablc. The rice
lands may be relegated TO their former
rink wildness, and again become pesti-
lentiai swamps. The sugar plantations
ofthe Lower Mississippi may require
more than generation to be reclaimed.
But the greater part Of tho Southern
country may be rapidly restored as soon
as order and tranquility have been es.
tablished. Weare disposed, perhaps
by our sanguine hopes, to participate in
Mr.. Carey's belief that 'the day is at
hand when emigration to the South and
ConfL m, oet ,,,,,nt toI,o Il,o 49, -