The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-09-23
Friday, septembr 22, 1870.
Senator Sawyer and Southern Agi1
culture.

Senator Sawyer has contributed
long letter to the New York Le'l-
ger in which lie sets forth the su-
perior inducements which the
South now offers to the cntcrpris-
ing emigrant. lie cn!arges upon
its superior natural advantages
the long line of sca-cost, and many
excellent harbors inviting foreign
commcrco-thc numerous rivers
running from the mountains to the
coast and affording easy access to
the interior-the immense water
power now running to waste, which
might turn tho looms and spindles
of the world-the fertile soil capa.
bio Of producing almost every va
riety of crop that can be grown i'll
the Northern and Middle States
the balmy climate in which ripcn
as we'll the fruits of the temperate
zones rs of the tropics,-the peach
tho melon, the pear, the apple, the
orange, the fig, the apricot, the
grape. These form the subjects OF
the senator's graphic pen and evoke
his most unmeasurcd praise. This
is we'll. The natural advantages
of the South-its fertile soil-bal-
my sky-rolling strcama-tlcscrve
all that the Senator cain say in Tie
way Of culogy. But why is it nee
essary whilst cxtol!ing what God
has done for us, to dcpreciatc what
we have done for ourselves -
Whilst doing full justice to the
present and future Of the South:
why is it necessary to deny its past
history-its material progress, its
arts and its enterprise? This is
neither wise nor just, nor polite.
1t could only come from ignorance,
from prejudice, or from a disposi-
ton to pandcr to the ruling spiri:
Of the hour. Yet this is just what
the Senator has done. Hear Linn.
"For generations the culture Of
these lands have been in the hands of
slaves. The overseers, who directed
and scourgcd the slaves, were Tut too
often little superior in .acricultur-
al knowledge to the field hands, and
the field hands had only intellect
enough to use tho rudcst implements
in tho clumsiest possible way. The
top Of the ground was scratched not
;'loughcd-wliat the planter called q
plough was not a whit better than
that described by Virgil twcrty cen
iuries since"
Whilst admitting the infcrioritv
Of the South in many of tho de-
i'artments Of agriculture to the
North, yet as clearly shown, by the
Charleston Ne,os, we think it very
evident that in the cultivation of
the great staples of cotton, rice, su-
gar and tobacco, the South has not
only contributed as ch to the COM
nerce of the world and the bcne-
IT. Of mankind, but has exhibited
.'s much enterprise and intelligent
skill as any people under the sun.
Consider for nom ent the history
"f the cotton plant. Introduced
here in 172l, recognized and estab-
''shed as astaple export in 1894, it
:'sached in ten years after, All an
''nal production of 100000 bales.
lnl826-27, its production had in
creased TO $4,000 bales, and in
1850, just before the war, the crop
mounted to 100000 bales, being
equal in money value, to moro than
"':e half of. the aggregate exporta-
ion OF the entire country, including
her Southern products; rice, Sugar
md tobacco With the increase of
production has also kept pace the
Arrovemcnt of the quality |
II the staple. Under the |
.'p!ication of Intelligent. care and
1cntive observation, the inferiori
aides have distanced those Of all |
her countries in the race of COM
aion, and have expelled them
ON the markets of the,world.., ., All
nc same time new variety of. THE
liant has been produced, which. in !
srgth and fneness of staple, rivals |
no products Of tho silk. worm. |
;'!rely this speaks trum1pet-tonrIgpuedl
behalf the intelligent labor, opagI
ntskill and careful ,husb,aandryi i oil &
South. 1t remains to be seen
":'other all the,lights .of the. .NSsnew1 In
.,",Gand ''all the appliances GIofl
:orthern skill and enterprise will
able TO do more ir rfpI M The igsesastu fliq tssu
.ple in the future, thanEiiws fIayeI
';,e in the past-rsfsay sasi muoh!a' !
All that NO have said 9f 9f caftop,l