The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-05-29
Letter from Senator Robertson.


The following letter, addressed by
Senator I. j. Robertson to the Agricul-
tural Convention lately in session in this
city, was inadvertently passed over -
Columbia Phanir.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
Washington, April 20, 1869
To the Delegates Of The State Ayriculiu-
rat Contention to Je hcld at Columbia,
s. e., on the 2SM inst.
GENTLEMEN : Observing a notice or
call for convention of our State, the
object Of which is announced to be the
promotion of its agricultural interests,
l hasten to tender to the Convention my
hearty approval of the movement.
deem it of more significant Importance
than any other usse'nblagc that could be
made
The material interests of our State
i'll other words, the increase Of our means
whereby the people Of the commonwealth
may be able to add to their substance
is now, and is to be, the best plan for
healthy reconstruct on of the Southern
States that can possibly be desired Had
the power 10 shape the political miud
of South Carolina, the platform would
be material or Industrial policy. i
should consnlt the ways and means
whereby the largest result might be OBJ
tanned i'll housing. feeding and clothing
the population, educating the children,
and acquiring the whercwithal to set
them up in life when grown to manhood
and womanhood. This, if carried out,
would be most certain to result in the
largest degree of social and political
content 1t would be u Platform upon
which every sensible citizen, OF what
ever race, c"lYr or previous condition,
could sympathize with every other citi.
zen. have often thought that, in case
our population, instead Of indulging in
past theories, or mepins over the
changes of our industrial arrangements,
could bs persdadsd to ssiilgn : .aat@rial
4 policy, aud make tus increase of prod,is.
tion aud the more vigorous develop
mcnts cf our resources the absorbing p,-
liticAi idea, we would not only increase
the wealth Of the State in manifold lie
gree, but supersede almost Immediately
the accrb;ty of temper that springs out
| Of that snecies "f ,,iar;y: ism that aims a.
msrc r:2fty:nent 20 Office Thtrc i.
nothing so muc., desire is common
platform OH which the population in the
State can stand together, with full and
certain knowledge tha, MI are laburing
for the mutual and common benefit
Two OF three years stree, it WIS asserted
in one Of the most influential journals of
New England, that the leading states
men of America would hereafter come
from the South" Pardon in Inc the am
bition that this prophecy should be full
filed. That it Will be, | have little
doubt.
Our condition is such that it will com.
pei us to ii course Of public and private
economy. which is the starting point of
healthy thrift. At the North, there has
been seeming plethora of wealth, but
attended with such co,.tr;vances for dis
parity i'll its distribution, as to create
w'dc-sp spread discomfort among the pro-
ducinS classes. In the South, we are
less subject to the processes that in the
North arc bleeding the producing indus
tries for the benefit Of non-producins
capital. In t.c South, after the war,
We started poor, but have been growing
richer. In the North, the people started
seemingly rich, but, with the exception
of a favored class, the common people
are having their substance eaten out un
der system of false public economy,
and arc growing poorer. 1t will be-
hoove the South to avoid imitation of
the vicious arrangements in the business
relations that are now depicting the in
dustries of the North. On one subject.
deem it my duty to speak frankly; it
should be made the settled practical poll
cy Of every Southern State to invite, by
the most significant libcrality, the pro
ducers of the North. Let it be
known and demonstrated that this class
VII be welcomed, iol!owshippcd and re-
| enoo+oa nd yo shall l. ,yn rho ;,J,,.,.; |