The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-03-03
The 5alarlttta sunrmal.
Marietta. Georgia. March 8, 1871.
WEALTH OF A STATE.

anu INC duNdllCSulOuI VI 10 POOPtS
in prosperity and happiness. Mon
ey may procure much from other
States; with such dependence, no
Nation can be independent and self
reliant but be always subject to
the huctuating circumstances and
caprice of theirs, for its protection,
support and prosperity. No less so,
is the State whose dependence is on
any class of products designed to be
sent abroad, to exchange for other
products needed for its protection
support and happiness-such pro-
ducts assume the same position as
money, and can only serve the State
in tho same manner, and leave it
equally dependent upon others.
The extensive cultivation of cot
ton in our State, to the exclusion Of
other products more needed, places
the State in the same dependent con
dition, and subjec is it to the fuctu-
ating circumstances and caprice of
othOrs, af'ording no permanently nor
stability in its prosperity-an evil
SO seriously experienced by it at
present; repetition of the evils of
many previous years, and a whole
some lesson for the future. With its
cotton crop sent abroad yielding
$50, 100000 the past year, it has
expended E larger sum for the
means to produce it and to provide
for the wants of It's population ;
leaving the State poorer and more
dependent at its close than at its
commencement, and bring financial
Iy worse than a last year to it,
The principles Of political econo-
my condemn such policy as distruc-
tive to the wcll-being Of a Nation
by such application of its labor, it
increases the wealth and energy Of
other States, and riyets the chains of
dependence more firmly upon itself.
The real wealth of a Nation consists
in the value of It's natural resources,
the intelligence and energy of its
population to efficiently developo
them, and its moral strength to Sc
cure the peace and rights Of its peo-
pie. These possessions, rightly i'm
proved and applied, secure within
itself that independence and pros
perity, which neither money nor cot
ton can safely promise from abroad.
The natural resources of our
States in its soil, minerals, water
powers and climate, place it equal,
if not superior, to any other country
to attain the highest position as a
self-supporting and independent
community but few of the comforts
of life are needed from abroad
Yet with these natural advantages,
SO far surprising those of other
States, to secure for it independence
and prosperity; by an unwiSe mis-
application of its labor, this State, in
common with the other cotton pro-
ducing States, places itself in the
most dependent condition-upon
others, it depends chiefly for its sup
ply of clothing, food, agricultural
implements and appliance; exceed
ing in cost the whole value of its re-
ports; making cotton to enrich less
favored, but more entcrprising
States, at a cost of producing ex-
ceeding its saleablo value-and still
its people cannot understand the
causes Of "hard times"-cannot SO
palpablc truth be comprebended
By diversifying the product of the
State; the State can be made self
supporting by producing its own
supplies; and leaving the value Of
its exports as profits. By thus
Withdrawing labor and capital from
the production of cotton, (if adopted
by the other cotton growing States)
the cotton crop would be diminish
ed about one half, and the ratio Of
advance in its market value, would
be in the same proportion; cotton
crop Of 1000, 700 bales would yield
about as much money to the South
ern States, as is now realized from a
crop of 100000 baleS-a fact
which has often been experienced at
the South when from casualties,