Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-24
u. ..
For the AdyaEtiser.
Letter from the; Mountains.
Oct. 18th, 1872.

For the Advertiser.
Letter from the Mountains.
wAIHA1IA, s5Es Oct. s, 1872.
Mr.. EDITOR: PoliicS parties in this
State have gone into akipd of hotch-
potch, and so thoroughly has the medley
been mixed and shakeI'together that it
would certainly require Something more
than the skill of Philadelphia lawyer
to define and point out its component
parts, or to adjust the eclaims of the re-
spective parties to public confidence and
support upon anything like basis OF
principle and honesty:
While in commonaN4tth all good citi-
zens I take an interesain in our public af-
fairs, and would like 10 see good gov
ernment and honestsand capable men in
office once more, must say that if there
is any thing that I heAtily dospisc 1t is
modern politics and politicians L do
not hate anything .thot Gcd has made;
but God never made sthe base and dis
honest wretches thatnow hold many OF
our highest and mostresponsible public
offices, or the major part of the misera-
BILE and greedy set of:aspirants that are
seeking to fill theirphces. Such vile
creatures-men who,ste,l, and rob- and
plumber an oppressed apd impoverished
people in the name of government and
law, and all those who would follow in
their polluted footsteps, are emanations
from no other sourcs;.than the veritable
Devil himself, andaS4pcrlatively mean
Devil at that ttss.s..ess..-
Even here in Oconeo County, which
ought 70 be right side up with care and
Democratic to tho core, havingheretofore
had pretty fair and clean political re-
cord, believe things are SO badly mixed
I'D in the matter of the election, that it is
now hard to tell whether We shall get
decent representation III the next Lcgis-
lature. Radical spouters Of different
types and shadows, and OF different hucs
and colors also, have been here holding
forth, coming and going at intervals. L
have honorcd none Of them with my
presence, having heard enough OF their
whang-doodlo and shibboleth nearer
headquarters.
All have to say on this point, and all
1 shall say about the politics of the State
at this time, is, if radicalisni with its
polluting breath can so far contaminate
the pure air of this region, and disturb
the equilibrium of the staunch old de-
mocracy of this mountain country, as to
render it doubtful whether decent and
honest men will go to the next Lcgisla-
ture, what, o what is to be the result in
the rest of the State! But if tho present
wretched and rotten condition Of our
nublic affairs is to continue, whether
honest old Horace Greeley or Gen. Grant
is elected next President, the General
Government will have to so back cf this
thing and reconstructagain,-lop of this.
hideous mushroom growth of modern
republicanism, take charge of the grace
less scamps that have despoiled our State
and disgraced the nation, and put theme
rroes ON kind of political probation
until they can do better in the business
of suffrage and politics.
But promised in my previous letter
from this place to say something more
about the resources and prospects of this
beautiful section of South Carolina i'll
material point of view. Some persons,
down your way, were no doubt disposed
to indulge in an incZedulous smilo when
7 first mentioned these matters; but they
NAV have occasion to find before am
done that 1 am no visionary dreamer,
and know what am talking about.
Within the last fey years the produc-
ton of cotton has largely increased in
the vicinity of walhaIla and the upper
portion of oconee County. The original
settlers here barely raised enough of the
wealth-bearing staple for home consulnp-
ton until recently. 1t was thought that
the season in this mountain country was
too short for this crop to mature and
make remunerative yield. Now that
error is fully exploded. You cannot find
a farm of any considerable size that is
not dotted with one or more fields OF
cotton. The bottoms as well as The up
lands of this section, produce it, ard with
the use of fertilizers, the yield is often a
handsome one. saw the other day on
the Northwest side of Walhalla, and not
more than half mile from the limits OF
the town, two pieces of cotton of several
ncres each thatwill make nearly bale
to the acre.
The Air Line Railroad, which runs
through this beautiful region, and crosses
the Blue Ridge Road about seven or eight
miles below Walhalla, will soon be COM
pleted. 1t is estimated by those best in
formed on the subject that it will be run
ming through from Atlanta 20 Charlotte
in less than twelve months. When
this splendid enterprise is completed
it will be great thoroughfare between
the South West and North East, anu is
destined to make this section OF soutn
Carolina in no great space of time the
garden spot of the State. From the 1u-
galoo to tho historic accllvities of King
Mountain, the upper tier of Counties
oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartan
burg, and a portion of York, will not De
greatly unlike the famous hanging gar.
dens "of the kings of ancient Babylon"
in productiveness, prosperity, and beau
ty. But must close for this time. Al
. r4t rfnT TEE