The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-12-09
.ApnREssoF GEN. HAMPTON AT THE
GEORGIA STATE FAIR. . "a

Georgia, State Fair, held in Macon, on the
nth oe November last, but the lack OF
variety. ID our columns for the past few
weeks admonishes US not to present our
readers with too many long articles. And
yet the entire address of this gallant
ohieftain and noble gentleman is worthy
acarefal perusal by every man, woman
and child in this broad land. We have
selected, however, some choice extracts
from this speech, and fervently trust that
ailawifl give close heed to these manly,
enlarged viewsso Of s practical man, whose
deyotion. to country none. dare to ques-
ton, and whose name Is even greater in
peace than in the stormy annals OF war
II have dwelt, perhaps, too long: on the
Importance of bringing here foreign labor
and capital, but this object seems to me so
essential, SO vital to the prosperity OF the
country, that it cannot be urged too
strongly. Let me now invite your atten-
tion to other modes of opening the re-
sources of the South. ~
Among them, one OF paramount import
ance is to give greater diversity to our in-
dustrial pursuits. l am aware that the
quick and large profits held out by the
cultivation of cotton tempts our people to
devote themselves exclusively to the pro.
duction of this great staple, but is it wise
to continue under the new systemof labor
policy which was injudicious even under
the old? That it was mistake for us to
employ, as we did formerly, not only all
our available labor but all our capital in
the cotton growing States in the produc-
ton of cotton, admits, j think, of not q
doubt !; for we did so at the sacrifice of all
our other rindustria, interests. Wedid not
even grow grain enough to support our
lahorers and work animals, while for all
supplies of food aud clothing we were de-
pendent on others. If this system was
mistake, when we owned the labor by
which we cultivated our fields, it will
prove doubly so now when that labor is
hired !; for the only profits which can now
be made by planting come from the pro,
duct of the soil and none from the owner
ship of the labor. TO make this labor
more profitable, we must give it greater
diversity than hitherto. This,is necessary,
not only to prevent the unhealthy expan-
sion of one branch of industry at the ex-
pense of all others, but in order to open
every source of wealth to the country.
It Is doubtless desirable that the world
should have an ample supply of cotton to
keep it's pills at work, but it surely is not
the interest of the planter to furnish an
unlimited quantity of the raw material
and thus bring down the price of his pro-
duct. His object should be to make cot
ton enough to drive all competition out OF
the field, while he keeps the price at re-
munerative rates. The policy that would
induce us to throw all our labor into the
production of cotton would be suicidal,
for while we should be doubling our ex
penses in doubling the crop, We should be
reducing the price in an inverse ratio
The present crop of cotton offers stri
King illustration of this, for while it will
not exceed two and a half millions of
bales, it will be worth more to the South
than the largest crop ever grown-that OF
1859. In that year 5,335,s54 bales were
made. which at the prices then ruling,
would have been worth about two hun
dred million of dollars, while the present
crop will command at least two hundred.
and fifty millions. When the South is
able, as trust she may be at no distant
day. toymanufacture all, or nearly all the
cotton she produces, it will be time enough
to stimulate to its highest capacity her
production of cotton; put until then let
us be content for the world to pay the
wages OF that labor by which we now
grow our great staple, as well as dead
rent r. on those wide and fertile acres which
are now lying waste. In the meantime,
let us diversity, to the utmost extent pos
sible, the industry of our people; thus
opening to honest labor every avenue of
lucrative employment. To do this sue
ecessfully, we must encourage our young
men, the future hope of the country, to
seek other avocations than those offered
by the learned professions. Teach them
shat honest toll is honorable; that so far
from being inconsistent with it, it adds to
manly dignity and crue greatness. Elisha
was taken from the plow to declare the
inspired word of God, Cincinnatusto save
his country. Are not the names of Fnl-
ton, Whitney, Albright, Watt and Ste
phenson, worthy to be enrolled, not only
among the benefactors ot: mankind. but
among the great of tie earth? When
Ferguson, who, while tending his herds
on the bleak hills of Scotland, learned to
read all the secrets of astronomy, and to
find in the course of the planets that none
but an Omnipotent hand could guide them
in their orbits and Miller, who, working
at his lowly trade, taught himself to trace,
in the wonders of Geology, the finger OF
did they not give evidence that the high
est intellectual endowments were not in
compatible with the bumblest occupations?
Examples such as these should be held up
-a..,,l- man tn taach them that