New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-11
mission FIELD OF THE SOUTH"
BY THE REV. MOSES d. HoGE, d. d.

Is
Photography has illustrated the possibility of
printing volume large Homers Iiad on slip OF
paper no larger than the palm OF a mans hand but
science has discovered no method OF enabling speaker
to condense the limits Of few minutes the discus
OF theme requiring as many hours Tor It's proper
eucdaton. In attempting TO portray 1.-THE Mission
Field Of the South" only do the painter who Is
compelled 10 make hurried sketch OF wide landscape;
he can only present it in outline with few touches
which rather suggest it's salient points than depict them.
There time for filing in, for minute delileaton.
II he cannot produce completed picture, he must
tent himself with cartoon.
Speakers and writers vary In their enumeration Of the
States which constitute what familiarity call THE
South" shall adopt Commodore Maurys classification,
which includes Virginia North Carolua, South Carolina,
Georgia. Florida Alabama, Mississippi louisiana Texas,
Arkansas and Tennessee with the Indian Territory and
New Mexico which classed with the Southern states
because they lie east OF the Rocky Mountains, south OF
3Go 3O n latitude aud drained by the rivers which
empty into the GnH Of Mexico Some OF the states just
enumerated are the largest in the Unionone OF them.
TeTas being equal i'm extent 10 all the New England
States together and all the Middle States besides ana
perhaps portion Of one OF the Western states 10 ad
The eleven Southern States together occupy an area
100000 Such il the extent OF the missionary ned Oh
which am 10 speak But there IL moral interest
attached 10 mere territorial magnitude. The physical
character OF this great domain, however mas most
important connection with what does give IL peculiar
interest the regards of the phanthropst and chris
tian, for its natural advantages such as must ull
extent One Of the wonderful features OF the Atlantic
of the North American Continent is that the great
basin OF the St. Lawrence is the only one when runs
from east, while at right angles TO il Is the
greater basin OF the Mississippi, which, with all the
other principal rivers OF the Union now more OF ess
directly from north 10 south widening and deepening as
they run thus aordng increased facilities FOR nayga
ton they approach the ocean or the Gun OF meAc
through whose waters, LAYING our southern coast, IN
few years more almost all the commerce OF the wOfd
will pass Bat the commercial interests OF the country
demand artificial lines OF canal and railway uans-
10 the natural lines OF valleys and rivers que
OF these great avenues OF trade from the W to
coast traced by the foresight of washington
more than century ago. , when a 0Sser ohie
Rivers with the Mississippi was midway De,
tween the northern lakes and the the R cur wsr o,
midway between Florida and Maine he projected Tue
grand scheme Of connecting the James River wlt Tue
water between the Mississippi with ts vast tributaries
in the west with the Atlantic Ocean on tne sss1, s
construction of this great national work Is now one OF
the most interesting OF all the enterprises Whlch oe
cupy public attention and It's completion wall mark
new era in the commercial prosperity OF tue "hoie
country. r.,
water communication will be followed or perhaps pre-,
coded. by another aud greater by rail- For the natural
the CONSTRUCTION Of another Atlantic aud Pachc Rail
road south Of the seth parallel Of lattude-one when
open track through formida6e dffts~tho shortest
the cheapest and least DISTRACTED by fross aud storms
ways of only for North America but Tor
Europe and ASA, such Macaulay tells us hwa5s
like belt Of gold across any country over WHICH "
passes. -.
The Southern States. stretching down from the Poto-
mac aud Ohio Rivers early Tor already chilled py au
tumnal frosts TO the Florida Islands within one degree
of the torrd cone from the days OF their colonial history
have been the producers Of the great staples whose m
portance 20 the commerce Of the world rendered tem
especially invaluable 10 this country. because inc no
came, and was not long when they furnlsheu
fOurths Its entire domestic IL Is
system OF labor Which produced these results has oeen
changed but the climate and soil cannot be ClaDgcd Dy
revolution, and therefore the capacity for produeuon
undmiDished.
But in addition 10 the cotton sugar and other great
staples States surpass the Southern In the certnny
and abundance OF their cereal producers To nothing
OF the vast grain fields OF Virginia, North Carolina anu
Tennessee, the little sandy State of South Caronns E
long ago az the year 1850 produced 100000 bushels vi
than all the New-England states together
10000 bushels OF corn In excess OF all that was
In Hew-York. Pennsylvania NewJersey, Ohio, Maine
New Hampshire. Vermont, Massachusetts,, ConnocucuI
10 say nothing OF Rhode Island The Developments OF
the mineral OF the South has commenoeu
but rich and inexhausble they that they are now
attracting the attention OF capitalists from ever, 0"u
try represented 40 this Alliance. .
do not speak yauntngly OF these physical charaoel
istcs OF the Southern States, there merit anu
nothing TO be proud Of In the possession OF these &
advantages especially as we have not improved .ne.
as we ought; and only enumerate some Of them 10
show how vast population may be supported p SEE
ton OF country so favored BY nature. and how mpors
II (now that the overthrow Of Slavery has reovod
the greatest obstacle TO emgration TO make every
possible preparation for the spiritual good OF the
who 70 crowd our South land and rehoof I"
the most populous part Of the Union. -,
Coming now 10 moro important division OF my hup
leet remark that there some hindersnoe s 70
the progress OF the Gospel among cur people some Tne
OF which cannot be Immediately removed, IN, inc
pnIseneSs OF the population compared Southern
States. is q serious obstacle TO the establishments
either OF schools churches Living upon large pihhts
tons many Of their inhabitants do necessarily re-
peverishnont of unsuccessfn war Ia often Impossible
w. UNITE Ia sVfeent pupperf fVr Tho MAINTENANCE VI Nv