The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-25
No. s.--The County and Town of Ss1yberFtly.
To CrrIzENs Who HAVE CAPITAL: In dayss

matter otcourse, the people Of this County,
OF the value of manufacturing establish
ments. The most ardent defender could
not secure hearing, dispassionnte con-
sideration which the Importance of the sub
ject demanded. Cotton and negroes were
on the brain. They were firm believers in
the everlasting perpetuity of the institution
Of slavery, and were satisfied with the in
vestmapt Of their, r,profts in slave property.
They would not yield to any suggestions or
arBumefts III flavor of appropriating any
portion OF their capital to the business OF
converting cotton into fabrics The conse-
quence was the entire wealth, with but few
exceptions, was devoted exclusively to a
singlel pursuit. 1t lis true, that pursuit was
eminently successful. The returns from,
cotton received by planters was sufficient to
crafty their every wish
Between the years 1853 and 1860, New
berry County alone produced, one year with
another, 10000 bales of cotton. This cot
ton, at moderate calculation at the then
market rates, was worth $1,OOO,OOO. The
State itself produced in and about $50, 900
bales, which, valued at the same, was worth
SIG, 25O, 900. With such a profit from G.
single pursuit, one cannot be surprised that
those engaged should hesitate and refuse to
engage in schemes and enterprises which
looked to diversity of capital and labor
Our people. though slumbering on o vol
cano, were seemingly satisfied with the per-
manent basis of the institutions; and
people, confident, contented people, are
never guilty of innovations.
Men of thought and progress argued that
it was unwise to concentrate rs much capital
on single object. 1t is fact which po-
litical economists will sustain us in: That
capital usefully employed in manufactures
by all agricultural people increase in value
tho soil ten fold. Experience and statistics
everywhere prove this, that not only the
value of land, but the value of everything is
amazingly improved by manufacturing in
dustry. We could readily sustain this if we
had time and space. 1t can now, however,
be seen that the policy pursued by our CAPT
talists was lamentably erroneous in neglect
ing those vast and varied resources which
the State possessed, and which, if they had
been properly developed, could have built
us up rs people to proportion of sub
stantial greatness, and insured permanent
prosperity. In the present condition of
affairs, a diversity of pursuits is q matter of
prime necessity with us. radical change
has been wrought in our labor system. That
system of plantation labor under which the
County was enabled to produce 10000
bales, and the State of South Carolina
325, 600, is entirely broken up. The ne
groes, opce slaves, arc doing as well as from
the nature of circumstances any reasonable
man could expect. We must remember
they have been placed in a new condition.
They are no longer chattel property, sub
ject to master, and hence it would be un-
reasonable to presume for q moment that
this labor would be US available as in former
days. True, he is no longer under an
owners control, yet it is to the Southern
mans interest to encourage him in every
proper way to devote himself industriously
to the cultivatio nof the lands. For this, sny
what others may, he is more peculiarly
fitted than any other class of laborers in the
world. Land owners are dependent upon
him, and will be for long course of years,
for the labor necessary to produce cotton;
and it is easy to be seen, ard the negro will
eventually see it, that he has but to avail
himself of the advantages which he possesses
to make for himself an independent living
and become useful to the community: while
we have no hesitation in saying that those
who raised them and cared for them, when
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passion and prejudice has subsidized and rea-
son assumes her sway, will continue their
friends and do justice to them
A great deal has been said and written