The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-28
CHI A r L ES TON l..
SATURDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 2s, 1868.
The South and Southern Cities
Charleston.

It is fact which stands out with striking
prominence in the history of the South, tina
at but few points within her boundaries die
cities and towns exhibit, under the slave
system, that steady growth in population ant
wealth which is the sign of healthy develop
ment and substantial prosperity. Although
only settled by the white race for abou
two centuries, there are many places in th'
South which have the hoary and antiquat
ed look of dilapidated European towns
and there is but rarely seen the fresh ap
pearance and the evidences of neatness an(
thrift which are so common and so general
in the States of the North aud West. There
population moves onward with ever aug
menting power The people grow rich
mining and manufacturing are fostered and
encouraged, and the country shows rapid
ity of development which is almost without
a par aIlel in the history of civilization
While, however, the prosperity Of many
parts CT the Northwest may be largely due
to the influx of immigrants from Europe,
the prosperity of New England has been
almost entirely brought about by the hard
work, ingenuity and economy of the resi-
dent population.
This marked difference between the con-
dition of the Northern and Southern Sec
tions of the United States was the one great
effect Of various causes, the most prominent
of which were 'the peculiar institution"
and the action of climate. But slavery is
at an end, and in time the colored people
may be made diligent and faithful laborers,
and the debilitating effect Of climate should
only be felt on or near the seacoast-in the
bottom lands and the delta of the Mississippi
With these exceptions, the Southern coun-
try is fitted to be the home of the Cauca-
sian in his most perfect form. Before the
abolition of slavery the South was cut of
from all the benefits of European immigra-
ton; but now she is competitor in the
general market for such white labor as she
may need. In few years, with peace pre-
served, the change of circumstances will
have marked effect in such parts of this
Southern land as are adapted to occupation
and cultivation by the white race, and the
same condition of things will exist in this
section which has worked out such aston
ishing results in the North.
That like. causes acting in the same man
ner will produce like results there can be
but little doubt, and strong and lasting
stream of prosperity may be expected to set
in at an early period, which will carry our
Southern seaboard cities forward to high
position of commercial and industrial suc-
cess. With the speedy development of this
prosperity the interests Of three cities situ-
ated on the Atlantic seaboard are more
closely connected than those of any
other points. These places are Norfolk,
Charleston and Savannah, which are 80 sit
uated, naturally, that they will in all prob
ability become, for all time, the ports
through which the whole South, and part
of the West, will transact their most i'm
portart trade. The measure of this South
ern and Western trade will be the measure
of the greatness of the cities which we have
named. They are conscious Of the advan-
tages which will be obtained by the city
which first occupies the broad commercial
field, and each is making every effort to
push forward railroads into all quarters of
the country lying to the West which promise
to give them profitable business connections;
and while tie most vigilant and seeing
will secure the greatest prize, there will be
basis of prosperity and benefit for all.
Charleston has many advantages which,
if judiciously and actively applied, will make
her formidable competitor with Norfolk and
Savannah for the largest share of the great
trade which will be transacted with the
country lying south of the Ohio River and
Virginia, east of the Mississippi, and south
to the capes of Florida body of land four
hundred thousand miles in area, situated in
the best position of the temperate zone, and
extending nearly to the torrid zone, and
which, with population as dense as that Of
Great Britain, would have about one hundred
millions of inhabitants, oil living in comfort
and security. This area of country he's q
greater subsisting capacity than any Eure-
pean kingdom, and is only equalled BY
China and the Anglo Indian empire. It's
trade will support centres among the
largest in the world, and whose popula.
tions in the future will be counted by mil
lions. Charleston must be one of these,
and can be the first. The things which
have retarded her onward progress arc
gradually passing away, and it now needs
but to hammer steadily and stoutly upon
the one theme of Western connections, and
industry and enterprise at home, to insure
Charleston becoming q maritime city, rival.
ling New York in power and exceeding
Baltimore in influence and wealth.