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

/
The following letter, addressed by
Senator L. j. Robertson to the Agrioul-
tural Convention lately in session in this
city, was inadvertently passed over -
Columbia Phent.r.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER.
Washington, April 20, 1869.
To the Delegates Of the State Agricufu-
rat Contention to be hcld at C0iumbia,
s. e., on thc 2SM inst.
GENTLEMEN Observing notice or
call for convention of our State, the
object of which is announced to be the
promotion of its agricultural interests,
hasten to tender to the Convention my
hearty approval of the movement. l
deem it of more significant Importance
Than any other usse'nblage 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 10 ADD 10 their substance
is now, and is to be, the best plan for d
healthy reconstruct on of the Southern
States that can possibly be desired Had
the power TO shape the political mind
of South Carolina, the platform would
be matcrial or industrial policy. ]
should consult the ways and means
whereby the largest result might be OBJ
tained i'll housing iecding 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 a platform upon
which every sensible citizen, of what
ever race, c'l,.r or previous condition,
could syinpathize with every other citi.
zen. l have often thought that, in case
our population, instead of indulging iu
past theories, or meping over the
changes of our industrial arrangements,
i.c6uld Ri; persda1sd to .aduun 4 rsats:rlal.
I policy, and make taa increase OF prodno-
tion aud the more vigorous develop.
mcnts ct our resources the absorbing p,-
litic.sl idea, we would not only increase
the wealth Of the State i'll manifold ,lc
gree, but superscde almost Immediately
the acerb:ty of temper that springs out
| Of that snecies "f ,,,,ar; Ism that aims a.
m:rc r..2fer:hent 20 Office, There j..
nothing so much desire is common
platform OH which the population in the
State can stand together. with full and
certain knowledge that all are laborins
for the mutual and common benefit
Two or three years Stree, it WAS 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
filled. That it will be, l have little
doubt.
Our condition is such that it will COM
pei us to course of public and private
economy, which is the starting point of
healthy thrift. At thc North, there has
been seeming plethora of wealth, but
attended with such co;trivanccs for dis
parity i'll its distribution, as to create
widespread discomfort among the pro-
ducing 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 producing
capital. In tlc 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 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
dustrles 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, fel!owshipped and re-