The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-11-11
a' Ntom the Southern cultivatOr.
Mr. Dickson on Immigration Again.
SPARTA, GA, Oct. Z, 1859.

x
SPARTA, GA, Oct. Z, 1869.
Editors Southern Cultivatof II could
not finish what had to say on immlgra-
4ion in NV FIRST article-will close, how
ever, in this. I will not reply to any
criticism on my views hereafter, as L have
no interest to serve that is not common
to every planter, to-wit: the prosperity
of the South ] have never held any OF
fee, and do not wish to do SO. [ speak
and write simply what 1 believe is the
the true interest of the cotton planter,
without regard to pleasing or displeas'ng;;
I will use round numbers-these VIII
be near enough for all purposes. 1t has
been sbont ninety years since the close OF
tho Revolutionary War. The population
then. was estimated at about three mil
lions to this original number few have
been added since, by purchase OF territory
and annexation, but not enough to alter
the results materially. During about
ninety years we have been engaged in
wars (including the Indian wars) as much
as one.sixth of the time, and what is the
result2 The population of the United
States has increased thirteen fold, reach
ing now, probably, thirty-nine millions.
Taking the ninety years together, there
has been increase of population equal to
the original number, once in about every
seven years, including the limited immi-
grafton. Who can want greater in
crease of population than that? And as
long as there is sufficient room TO pro-
duce all the necessaries of life, the in
crease will keep up to these figures. Is
there any one that wishes to encourage a
system that would stint the food OF their
own children so as to stop the natural in.
crease OF we'll provided population !?
Taking thirty-nine million as the number
of persons in the United States at pre-
sent. let us see what they will be in nine
ty years more, or in 1859, (and some who
are children now will be alive then,) IL
times 80 100000 makes FIVE hundred and
seven millions of persons.
Messrs. Editors, we will try the figures
in the case of Georgia, and what is true
of Georgia is true of the Cotton States.
The population of Georgia is now about
l.200,0 ,00O-thirteen times that amount is
fifteen million six hundred thousand
Now, is there anything that will prevent
the ratio of increase for the next ninety
tears being equal to the past ninety
Years, but q scarcity of food and clothing
and room? 1t is often said that the
South is the garden spot of the world.
Heretofore we had permanentand limited
labor, ard the cotton plant, together with
an extensive forest before us. All is
changed now-the best of the forest is
gone, and it requires greater number OF
acres in the South to support its people
than in regions farther north. 1t is
much more difficult to retain the soil and
improve it. Here the land is not frozen
and covered with snow six months in the
wear the summers are much hotter and
longer; heat hastens exhaustion when
Under the plow and the heavy rains
damage the land the year round; there
fore, we need more land, that we may ro-
tate the crops and give the soil rest. La.
Dor is chiefly valuable, not on account of
the aggregate of what it produces, but
the money value, after paying for labor
and all expenses. The amount of labor
that will produce the greatest nett profit,
Is what / want 1 contend we now have
it in the cotton States. The laborer and
his family has to be first fed and clothed.
no matter what the price agreed on for
labor, before capital gets anything
It is said we want more labor. Can we
get more laborers without at the same
time getting more consumers; or is 1T
meant we want more persons without
capital? IF so, 1 am opposed to that
plan. I had rather have less labor, and
have a majority of the people interested
in property, morals, true religion, and
everything that is desirable. A large
population has tendency to develope q
central government and standing army.
I will leave it to some divine to say what
effect the introduction of Cinnamon would
have on religion and morals, &c.
Had it not been for the clause prohibi-
ting slavery, which Virginia put in the
articles ceding the North West territory,
and the immigration OF Europeans, we
would not have had the late war and its
results and even if the war had come,
there would have been no 6" lost cause"
Immigration is the chief cause of the
changed character eff the Government of
the United States, and a continuance Of
the torpner will hasten the overthrow of
the latter, with all its attendant conse-
Ac Cotton p!antersl the whole capital OF
Europe, including money and machinery
togs,ber with that of the North, is strl,
wing to increase the quantity q co.'on,
and to reduce the price. You have NO
concert of action-a panic increases yoaf
snxiety-this feeds the panic still more.
Your only remedy is to mako only what
is wanted, at paying prices-keep out OF
debt-be the creditors make the most OF
your supplies at home; then, and only
then, will you have power.