Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-20


| then the State, in due time, arrives at the
highest point of prosperity aud ciyiliza
ton; because by this combination the most
| is made of the material in the hands of the
| people. Indeed, there cannot well be any
| higher style of life than where the people
make the utmost of their territory: because
as result OF great products, they put
themselves III possession of means of fur
ther advancement, which means constantly
accumulate, aiding all the mechanical and
other arts, all learning and philosophy and
all the great virtues which pertain to men.
Ii the most productive region on the face
of the earth were occupied by the most in
dustrious, and earnest aud correct people
on earth, and they should maintain their
character as such, then we should see the
highest possible modes of life, and the
highest of prosperity as society.
But this advantage of productive ter
ritory is often in the possession of an indo-
lent people; while en- the other hand. a
sterile region may be in the possession of
a vigorous people, and so it has come about
that the Scandinavian, who forces his sus-
tenance from reluctant SOIL attains high
eriprosperity than the Italian, under the pur-
pie light of his mild skies; and so it is that
Massachusetts: with an unfavorable climate
and q sterile soil, produces more per- capita
|
advantages of soil and climate and i'm
measuarably surpasses her in all that per
tains to greatness as d body polite
North Carolina has, to a remarkable ex-
tent, both the acquisitions for great So
ciety. 1t is shown beyond contradiction,
that in climate, soil, production and re-
sources, she has no superior; and her pOpu-
lation as whole, have always maintained
an honorable position for industry, tenn
perance, and the honesty of her people.
Let me utter so as not to be misunderstood,
this great palpable fact at the outset, 80, OOC
square miles OF territory. various i'll climate
and productions, inhabited by 1000, O0C
people, hardy, honest, vigorous and intcH
llgent. Given these two conditions, what
are we to say Of her capacity Z? Is she i'm
beetle Is she unable to confront the
present or the future ? Nay, is she not
able to confront and .grapple with both ?
Is she impoverished Rather is she not
opulent in the wealth of her hardy popula-
ton, and in her magnificent territory?
! Let lis descend to the details of figures
and facts, so that we may see with more
| dlstlnctness the extent of our wealth and
the prospect OF Il future prosperity. The
value OF the property of the State, as taken
from the census returns of 1860, was $491,
900, 00O We all know that in such a return
property is never given in at Il full value. 1t
is probable that at that very time the real
value OF the property Of the State was not
below 5000, 0O0 600. It is true that in this
property was included slaves who were
the property of individuals. They are no
longer SO, but they are property Of the
State, us are also the white population
that is, they are to be reckoned in rating
the actual productive capacity of the State,
| co h9t 10 IN hoy n 1l11CT IN
add the value OF each white person to the
above estimate. ct is to he considered
also that the tax paid on this property tC
the State was merely a capitation tax, Us
it is now, so that the State does not neces
sarily lose in its revenue by their enamel
patton.
Now, this State yielded in the year 1860
| products to the amount OF SlSl ,2JJ, 600
according to the census returns. / will MOI
undertake to estimate what the actual value
of the products may have been, but it was
probably not far from double that amount
! Reckoning, however, the products as given
in the census returns, and the population
| at 1000, 900, there was to each person,
man, woman and child, an income of $751;
L repeat, that II every article OF product
which came from the earth or from the
hands of men wete accounted, no doubt the
Let us now consider the question of loss
IN products ia consequence OF emanclpa
ton. Waving the question Of the com
parativc products OF free and a slave
society, IL is enough to assume that the
former contains more of the clements Of
healthy growth than the latter--that it's in
crease is greater-that its activity IS more
stimulated-that intelligence, which IS the
soul OF industry and progress, are its more
natural accOmpanlmentS-in short, that
freedom is, in itself, the superior of servi
tude. So we have seen the State of Ohio,
which was the hunting ground for savages
when North Carolina cut her Great Seal OF
State and numbered her 100000 inhabi-
tants, with less number OF square miles,
and territory not on the whole superior,
more than double North Carolina in pOpu-
lation, and more than quadruple her in
wealth. AS certainly as this prosperity has
come to these free States, it will come tC
US, provided North Carolina can apprehend
her position, and show by her laws, refresh
ed from the pregnant spirit of these times
that she solicits ald accepts this destiny.
1t is undoubtedly true that the present pro
ducts Of the State, Notwithstanding the
change in the form of labor will not show
a large decrease on former years, in cOnse-
quence of that fact. 1t has been assumed
that the State lost $50, 600, 600 Of he prOdu-
cling capacity in consequence of the war.
But it must not be overlooked that other
productive capacities which have been dor
mant have been called into activity under
the exigencies Of the times. No statistics
relating to the product OF the present year
are at hand excepting those of the commit
tee of agriculture at Washington, sand these
are imperfect. These show falling off in
the production of corn since 1860, while in
the production of cotton shows an increase
of 5000 bales. At any rate, enough is
learned from the experience of voluntary
labor for the last two years to satisfy any
candid mind that there need be, under that
system no disaster, but that the State may
proceed upon the assumption that products
will increase from year to year in quality as
we'll as variety. This seems the more rea-
sonable, when considered in view Of the
facts presented above as to the superior ac-
tivity of q free society. How rapidly
North Carolina will attract to itself capt
tai and enterprise, remains yet to be
seen but the ultimate result cannot be
doubtful [, therefore, assert this incOntro-
vertible fact, that no State with our popu-
lation and territory ought to be other than
prosperous. [ assert that we have all the