Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-01

persist in sacrificing their best interests 10
the growth of cotton, when they recognize
and admit che fact that the growing Of that
staple is sure death to the best lands
"a the State. What provisions are
cotton growers making for their
children? Do they expect to leave them.
red fields grinning with ghostlyigullies as an
! inheritance, or fine farms growing year
by year richer and better and more produc-
tive? Are they not working on the suppo-
sition that next year may take care of Itself,
and that the next generation may do the
same? Have they the moral right to ex-
haust the fertility Of the soil for the gatih-
cation of an insane passion for the growing
Of plant that has made the world rich and
the grower poor? Says Col. Sykes:
Whilst I am very anxious for immigrants
to settle in the South, | am not so hopeful
as many others seem to be. 1t is true, we
have aclimate and soil superior to those of
other portions Of the United States. We
can here produce everything which is pro-
duced in the Northern States, and in adii-
tobacco. We have as healthful a country,
and as delightful and beautiful scenery as
can be found on the continent. Our lands
are very cheap in proportion to their real
value, and we are anxious to encourage
immigration, and to that end viii treat with
kindness and courtesy ali who wish to make
their homes in our midst. Why, then, do
we not have more immigrants? 1t seems to
ma ha fc olnF nd 1a h
stacles are partly caused by our own peo-
pie. The people who live in the
North and in Europe, and who
would make the best settlers in our
country, are accustomed to grain growing
and stock raising. This is the business they
understand, aud it is that which suits them
best. If they were persuaded that the !
South was as suitable for grain growing,
hay producing and stock raising as the |
Northern States, thousands of them would |
settle here that are now seeking homes in |
the West. When, however, they come here |
and find our lands going to waste, our fences |
falling down, our farm-hOuses sometimes in /
a state of dilapidation, our fields presenting
barren and desOlate appearance, no
focks of sheep nor herds Of cattle feeding |
upon rich pastures, they become discour-
aged aud seek homes in other regions.
If we would invite immigration, we must
make our country attractive and agreeable;
we must beautify as well as render produc-
tive our farms; We must have orchards and !
vineyards, pastures of clover and Bermuda
grass in the summer, and Of rye, wheat,
barley and blue grass in the winter. We
must raise our own horses, mules, cattle
and hogs. Let it be understood throughout
the North that grain can be grown as sue
cessfully, and stock raised more prOfitably
in the Southern than in the Northern
States, and we will then be in no want of
Let them know that we can
have pastures during the whole year for
our horses and cattle, and that it requires
much less provender to raise them in the |
South than in the North, and we will do
more to invite immigration than can
ever be done by speaking Of the high
price of cotton. But small portion of our
and can ever be planted in cotton profta- |
bly,, for experience has shown, and will con-
inue to show, that whenever and wherever
4 large quantity of land is planted in cotton,
here will always be a failure. Those who
have planted small crops on highly manur-
ed land, and cultivated them well, are the /
only ones that made much money. Since
only small portion of the lands of the E
South can be cultivated in corn and cotton,
t becomes a very important inquiry what
an and ought to be done with the remain
Ter Of the land. If the now waste lands of
he South were put into orchards, vine +
7ards, pastures and grain fields, which ?
would require comparatively little manual
abOr, immigration would begin to flow into 1
he country, manufactures to increase, and O
tide of wealth and prosperity to come upon S
Is to which we are now strangers.
The system of cotton planting which
White men can engage N, that is on small z
arms, is the only one that ever will be pro- !
table in the South. But viii that system \
yer be adopted whilst the present notion Of
,anting all land they possibly can in cot !
on, prevails among planters and farmers?
When men have large quantities of land
tainted in cotton, they have no time to
make any improvement in their lands, their S
took or their houses. Everything is de- b
Oted to this one crop, which requires the {
Whole year, and everything else is neglect C
d and goes to ruin. The country presents t
desOlate and worn out appearance not :
t all inviting to immigrants who do not
NOW that it is not the fault Of the county,
,ut of a mserably defective system. \
Pulling fodder and picking cotton are done :
!
ear. Exposure to the hot suns and morn
NC deWs tend to increase malaTious disease,
uCh as chills and fever, bilious and con-
FESTIVE fever; not only so, but this sickness
very much with the gathering of
,otton. The corn, grain and hay crops '
nav be sown and harvested before the j
ickly season commences, and if small crops
If cotton were planted, they might be gath .
red with but little exposure. In this way
he health of the country would be materi-
lily improved.
Let us wisely use the labor we now have
n euriching our soil, in diyersifyiDg our pro-
AUCTIONS, in supplying our immediate wants,
n making ourselves Independent and self )
and then we viii be prosperous,
wen without immigration, and We will also
pc much more likely 10 invite it than as
Kings are now. Our remedy is greatly in [
our own hands. Have We the wisdom and
to foregO.immediate gain, or what
we think immediate gain, for the sake of
future good?
One million of bales of cotton raised and
in the South, would do more
to increase its wealth and power, than four
millions of bales made and sent abroad to I
be manufactured in other countries.
The experience of Rufin, Of Virginia; of
Cockrill, of Tennessee, and Connally, of
has demonstrated the fact that
sheep enough can be grown in the South to
supply the whole country with wool, and :
owing to the cheapness of our lands and
The mildness of our climate, they can be
raised more cheaply and proftably here
than in any other portion of the United
States. Southern countries have always
been the best cattle and sheep counties.
In conclusion permit me to say that, SO
long as the South is mere cotton planta-
ton for the benefit of other sections, so
long she viii never prosper, and will occupy
the same position towards the North that
India does to Notwithstanding her
self to enrich another section.
HOW GRANT MAKES IT PAY.