Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-14
RECONSTRUCTION OF SOUTHERN
MINISTRY

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INDUSTRY.
With the disruption Of the labor sys-
tenn Of the South, and the destruction Of
all political certainties for the future by
the Jacobins at Washington, the people
of this section were left in deplorable
condition indeed. Bravely they under
took to recuperate their wasted fortunes
and restore themselves individually to
something of comfort and independence.
But the evil genius of Radicalism in the
various guises Of an oppressive cotton
tax, Freedmen's Bureau, military desY
pOtism, negro supremacy reconstruction,
etc, etc, attended their exertions, palsied
their efforts and defeated their calcula-
tions. The South is now poorer in all
respects than at the close Of the war,
desolating ard destructive as that is
known to have been. From very bad to
much worse the private concerns Of the
people have gone from year to year, until
it is now plain that theirpartial safety or
utter ruin depends upon an effort to re-
construct the domestic policy and econo-
my by different application of the
limited capital, the impaired energies
and crippled labor now at their COM
mand.
This work must begin primarily with
the owners of the lands 1t is known
that the tendencies of Southern industry,
under the system Of slave, labor was to
enlarge the area of plantations and TO
crowd out small farmers. The most pro
ductiye soils of the South were bought
up and held by the owners of large nuns
bers of slaves, and the poor whites were
driven TO the hills and narrow valleys, in
regions remote from commerce and the
great fields of production, for homesteads.
The change in the labor system required
az instant change in this policy of aggre-
eating large landed estates in the hands
interest of the South required then
the application of disintegration where
Indignation had Prevailed reduc-
ton of the number of planters
and an addition to the number of
farmers" 1t was not done. The planters
chung to their broad acres; and either
themselves, or by lease to others imbued
with the same ideas, undertook to apply
the demoralized free negro labor to the
exact system pursued under slave labor.
To this fact we think much Of misfortune
may be fairly traced.
Having discovered a great error, the
wisest course is to correct it at once
Disinte crate the rich landed estates. In
vite the thrifty white from his poor lands
to a division and cultivation of the
richer soils. Let dozen or fifty planters,
owning from twenty to an hundred thou
sand acres of the most fertile lands in
the South, combine in uniform sub-divi- |
sion of their lands, and invite settlers
from near and remote points-the immi-
grant to take his choice of settlements
and sell, or lease with the privilege of |
purchase, on favorable terms, and there
would be little delay in bringing an
earnest, intelligent and industrious popu-
lation The tracts thus laid out might |
be sold alternately, greatly to the adj
vantage Oft the owner and first purchasers.
If this system were generally adopted
by the greater landowners in the South,
it would reverse the tide of misfortune
which threatens to deluge that fair land,
and in a few years present us with a pic
ture of comfort and independence which
would surprise and delight the behoIder.
The foundation would then be laid,
broad and deep, for the adoption of the
mechanic industries, and make the South
truly independent in all respects of any
other portion of the world, for necessary
supplies, either for comfort or luxury.
To effect such a reconstruction of
Southern industry, would, of course re-
quire community Of action on the part of
landowners, and vigorous exertions
Why should the work be delayed