Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-23
How 70 BuIld ND Tennessee.

The population of the Middle States, including
Delaware, Maryland and Ohio, Is about seventy in
habitants to the square mile OF the central South
States say Virginia, North Carolina Tennessee,
Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas the ratio of pop
ulation is twenty-one persons to the square mile
This difference may heretofore have been caused in
part by slavery for it has been historical fact of
invariabe character that the slave States increased
in population slower than the free States, and rela
lively bore smaller population. Butlnow that
slavery is abolished and Tennessee is as free as New
York or Pennsylvania, there is no such reason why
our population should not be as great to the square
mile as the average of the Middle States. Our soil
is certainly as capable of sustaining as heavy pop
ulation theirs; climate is salubrious; the
scenery is as grand and as beautiful; our seasons
are less rigorous our machinery-propelling power
is far greater mineral resources are greatly be-
yond theirs. In all these respects we are the equal
and in most of them we are the superiors, of the
Middle States. Yet, in point of population, we are
far behind them. This should not be- This must
not be. If the people of Tennessee are awake to
their interests and the proper means, this win
continue to be the fact. What then, should be
done to bring to Tennessee that amount of popu-
lation and thst degree of material prosperity to
which she is entitled We will simply indicate
without dwelling upon, some things which will ia
cilitate the desired end
First. We must desist from sectional prescription,
whether commercial, social or political The fool
sh TRADE against earpetbaggers is not only absurd
it is insane
Second, We must sus tain our free school system
and render it efficient. It should be well UNDER
stood that Tennessee will not go back upon herself
in this respect that her school system is perma-
nent as her Judiciary or executive departments.
Third. We must actively promote immigration,
by State provision and by corporate and individual
action.
Fourth. We must build up our internal improve
ments. The railroads completed in the State must
be worked up to their maximum capacity, at the
lowest practicable expense. The railroads com
menced must Be completed At whatever cost sheir
completion may require, they should be finished !
for they are the great Ife-Grteries of tie State. We
will suppose their completion to require three mil
lions of dollars, and TO procure which would strain
the State credit almost to the line of bankruptcy
yet on principles of economy alone it would be
wise for the State to expend the money! even if the
uoDk WeIo uoNOA ioPaAA DcCouoo COu-
pletion would, almost directly, multiply the reve-
nues of the State by many hundred fold. Never
was their greater folly Stupidity as question of
public economy, than in a hesitancy or failure TO
push these unfinished railroads to completion. In
this view the failure Of the Legislature to pass the
Omnibus Bill, it is called has inflicted an meal
culsble injury upon Tennessee.
Fifth. The lansholders of the State should divide
up their large tracts into farms of fifty and hun
bred acres, and sell them in such tracts.
Sixth. The mineral and manufacturing resources
OF the country should be developed by liberal legis
lation concerning them.
Seventh. Foreign capital 81 b0 drawn 20 the
c.. l. - 4. -HOuio 10 ufS"ii ~ ~
''''e " oHei'"f .auucements and by furnishing
.ys for its protection.
SENIOR EDITOR.