The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-12-08

a lady of Selma, to her friend IN
this place:
SELMA, Nov. l3, 1870.
"Thc change from the quic: streets
of Camden, to the moro busy ones of
Selma I find very decided, and the sp'
pearanccs indicate prosperity very
desirable for your once prosperous town.
Are rou never to have revival ofyour
former prosperity, when you could
boast of trade by the millions? Although
the war and its events have left their
mark upon your town and its inhnbit-
ants, may not the stagnation bccharged
in measure to a want of energy on the
part of your citizens? have they not
folded their hands and been waiting,
Maccawber.likc, for something to turn
up, instead Of, putting their shoulders
to the wheel, ami bya long pull, and a
pull altogether, cudeavored to raise the
old town from her present depressed
condition ]? Why have the once con-
te,nplated Rail Roads been suffered to
die unnatural deaths F? Two yearsNsince
when in your town the subject was all
the talk, but in recent visit l found
the subject completely iaboocd. Surely
the salvation Of the people OF kershhaw
should prompt them to one combined
effort to regenerate their fallen fortunes,
for those who would be prospercd,
like those who would be free, must
strike the blow themselves.
1t is very true that your State in son.
eral, as we'll as your especial portion has
been, and unfutunately is again cursed
with foreign rule that is fast sappins her
prosperity, ycs South Carolina is not
alone in her misfurlunes; other States
arc equally afflicted, but they have not
been perhaps so supine.
After leaving Carolina you meet with
continued evidences Of prosperity, botl:
towns and cities are on the increase
From Augusta to Selma the effects OF
the war arc fast becoming extinct
Atlanta exhibits thrift not inferior to
that w!icl. fist brought her into being.
She is rising Phoenix like FROM her
ashes. Selma, although not so harshly
dealt with as some Of our Southern cities,
yet she was crippled in her commercial
afflirs to largo extent, but she Is fast
coming up to her former prosperous
condition. The contemplated net work
of Rail Roads is being pushed to con,
clu>iou that will give her enlarged ia,
cili,ics. The Memphis aud Selma
road under the charge Of Gen. Forrest
is furnishing evidence Of that gentle
mans energy, and i. will now be among
the links of communication between TIC
( North and remote SJuth.
Selma has recently passed through
an ordeal that might have been fraushl
with more serious consequences than
would have been desirable under tle
present political circumstances of The
State. Fortunately it eliminated be-
fore the election, and may have pre-
vented an overflow Of political bile OF
that day. The affair was brought te
peaceful termination by the influence o.
Gen. Pcttus, and other prominent
citizens, but not until the whites hao
assembled armed and fully determined
to maintain the laws even to the bitter
end. The Fifteenth Amendments were
brought to their senses, not until they
had so severely beaten white man by
the name of Baxtonthathc dicdthe nex'
day. His offence was the shooting o.
negro in selr.dcf nee, bel eve. The
affair might have ended in a genera
massacre, as negroes were in large mum
bcrs aud armed.
A MODEL VEHlRE.-Wc copy the
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