Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-20
All COTTON.

from II ne roper, OemoCfhtiC Sue0s
published in Pittsburgh, Pa, now that tha
season for pitching" at the new crop 10
approaching: aa@
ga sufficient number Of years have
elapsed since the CO. elusion OF hostiIities
between the States of the North and South
to permit of a calm survey OF the causes
which contributed to the result. The con-
querors were not made so by reason of
their superior bravery. nor, as would first
appear, from their numerical superiority,
although the latter aided them very me.
ierially, but because the North was a Sec
ton of mechanics and its adversary merely
an agricultural region.
cit was not a contest of muscle against
muscle, but of brains and inventive genius
in opposition to personal courage. The
South found few staples so productive of
wealth that it confined itself to the cult
vaticn of these. and allowed every other
interest To languish. It's cities became
only great warehouses for the storage of
cotton, sugar and tobacco. and the pride
Of the people swelled into undue proper
tons as they beheld the shipping of the
world at their crowded wharves eager to
carry off, even TO the nttermost ends of
the earth, the fruits of their fertile fields.
From this was begotten the fallacous idea
| that cotton was king, and that has scepter
not only swayed the destinies of America,
but that it was not without force on the
other side OF the Atlantic. This was very
fattering to the vanity of a growing people,
still young in the family of States, and
was sufficient to dazzle their eyes with q
splendor altogether meretricious. The
domination of cotton should have been a
source of pride to every American. That
rem otely approached ilolatry. The fact
that it did become so, no person will deny,
and to this VIC assign the subsequent over
throw Of its worshippers.
"When the war broke out it found the
States of the South rich in cotton, in
sugar, III men and in money, with an en-
thusiasm amounting almost to insanity,
and determination 10 achieve victory by
the proves of their arms. The North
went into the conflict with an earnestness
as terrible, but with everything the South
lacked. We had diversified industry to
back us ; we had iron and coal and steel
:or the manufacture Of arms and NUM-
tions we had corn and oats for the cav
airy, wheat and rye for the soldiers, and
mills for the manufacture of cotton and
wooden fabrics with which to furnish
raiment to our men in the field. The
South had none of these. IT'S true, there
were iron works i'll Virginia and in Missis-
sippi, but these wero crippled early in the
war by reason of the blockade and me-
chanical poverty of the South. History
furnishes no instance where eight millions
of people, equally united and determined,
have been subjugated. Had the South
pursued a wiser policy in the past had it
encouraged q healthy immigration and
fostered manufactures, it would have been
a more formidable antagonist, and doubt
| ess would have protracted the struggle in
definitely, even if we admit that, under
circumstances, victory was in its reach.
The lesson we deduce from the failure of
the South, then, is that, without o blend
ing of industries, no State or country can
ever attain true greatness. When a
country can live within ITSELF it is indie
pendent, and not until then. The people
of the South are rapidly realizing this,
and from all parts we hear of new manu-
featuring enterprises. Georgia seems to
have the lead as yet, but Tennessee. with
her rich mineral deposits, is putting on
the armor of Vulcan, and striding rapidly |
to the front, while Louisiana seems 10 |
have made up its mind to send US its cot |
ton in webs, instead of bales. as formerly. |
The mechanic is invited to 60 South and |
cooperate with the planter. This invita- |
ton is being needed, too. and unison of
interests is being formed that will eYentp- |
ally give bifth to great social changes |
there, and which cannot fail to be produc-
tive of much good to the whole country" |
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AT |
the meeting of the Board of County Com
missioners, held on Wednesday night, the |
proc ceilings were had:
Rescued, That the Board of County Commits |
zion rs OF New Hanover county tlsapproves OF |
the Ievying and Collecting Of any tax by the |
Board of Trustees OF Wilmington Township, re- |
garding the same as illegal, the sama hsvIng been
done without the speciaI approval and without |
the supervision of the Board first had and OBJ |
tanned as required ~ Art. VII. Sec 5, of the |
Constitution of the State of North Carolina - |
Further Ordered, That copy of this resolution |
be issued to the Ohsjrrnan of the Board OF rrus-
tees.
Justices E. 81. McQuigg and w. M.
Harris were present and protested against |
the action of the Board ~ regard to the |
above matter.
Ordered, That the superintendent OF the |
County Work House be required 10 make the |
following report to the Board Of Commissioners. |
on the first Monday Of each and every month, |
viz:
LIST. The number of male Convicts on hand.
I'd. So &" female 80 -
Sd. g :" County prisoners IS
4th. " IS "City
9Th. I" g. "kiek and disease all1iced. /
9th. 6 - Admitted during the month.
7th. e. g. Discharged 6
9Th. 6 " Escaping " I"
9Th. So 80 Died. and of what disease.
10th. How and where Convicts have been en-
ployed.
18th. How many Incorporate.
And that said Superintendent be furnished |
with the blank forms for making such reports.