The New York herald., 1874-10-19
Gradual Recuperation of the
Palmetto State.
Planters and Traders Becoming
More Hopeful.
TRUTH VS.. FALSEHOOD
Rings and Dishonest Jobbers De-
serving Censure.

COLUMBIA, Oct. IL, 1874
Northern man is ogreeably disappointed in
this old Palmetto state, whatever hla repulsions
may be. 1t is not ruined nor yet chaotic State.
1t is not retrograding State. 1t makes more cot
ton and wheat to the acre. has more busy hands,
more ships in Its DOCKS more acres under cutiva-
tlon and more varieties OF products than ever be-
fore IL Is. to the citizen or the world q country
ahead OF its development under slavery. No
thanks to the bad politicians OF the State for this.
Tue schoolmaster was necessity. There never
was any community, except France at the Revolu-
tion OF 1880, winch underwent so radical and
rapid change. South Carolina was the prosely-
tiz,ng high priest of slavery. The greatest sugar
plantations OF Louisiana, the greatest rice plan.a-
tious of Carolina, the most delicate and exacting
quality OF cotton in the world were owned by
these hereditary planters, who are now the re-
publican subjects OF a vast negro majority OF their
former slaves. The colony was modelled for
slavery; Its constitution, by John Locke, pro-
vded Tor peonage; Its coonists first began the
deliberate business Of selling captive Indians to
slavery; they fought for the products OF slavery,
such, III the provisional organization for
British non-intercourse; when we acquired Louis
lana the Hamptons and others were the foremost
AngloSaxons TO proceed to that new territory
and herd their slaves upon the sugar lands there.
Slaves were brought to South Carolina but little
while before the rebellion, and the present inde-
pendent republican candidate for Governor told
me that his relative owned, and he had talked with,
native Africans, forcibiy imported upon the soil OF
the State.
JUMP FORWARD.
And vet am OF the deliberate opinion that the
political conditions OF this State ore better set
tied, better ordered, more durable and nearer
large and long prosperity than elsewhere In the
Union. / can give native testimony from the
wlsest and best habtuated white men to this state
of things and shah do II. In my judgment the
observations OF Mr.. James s. Pike, author OF new
publication. called 'Tne Prostrate State" were
spasmodic and derived from less than cosmopolI-
tan study The most radical slave-propaganding
State IN the South ts coming out ahead Of all the
rest in the experiment OF free labor and
free Suffrage. THIS It Will owe TO the hope
lessness OF political ambition among the whites,
whereby they are neglecting politics and attend
ing to industry. TO the more perfect climate
and soil they possess over any OF the slave States.
TO the discovery or vast deposits OF natural
mineral manures since the war. whereby one acre
is equal to fve, and the disorganized labor
equally available in the ratio OF its replacement by
chemistry. 10 the orthodoxy and homogeneity OF
the blacks, who are without the Creole restless
ness. To the chastened Intentions OF the whites,
who, having the most inevitably inevitable black
government, are treating their labor with most
justice. To q reflex wave OF Immigration, repelled
from Texas anu even from Georgia, by the barren
rearzation OF exaggerated hopes there. And to
the increased versatility OF products and enterprise
compelled by the situation. tasv f4
NOT BARREN scEPTRE.
Look at these facts The debt of south Carolina
is not $685. ooo Ooo has been alleged loosely. 1t
DI1y ha1,as
Ii fs at most s1S 0O0 900. BY the decision OF the
Legislature and courts, themselves partisan
republicans, 1t is only $4,000 ooo thus divided, ac
cording to Senator Dunn, who is not politically
interested to make it less than ne can illegally
authorized funded debt less than $4,000 oOo hoat-
ing debt, $500 00o Total s120 600. Add illegally
negotiated conversion bonds, $6,000,000 Total in
the worst emergency, s1s.ooO,ooo
The debt ol Charleston city ls III round numbers
$1,000 600, all ante oellun, except some funded In
terest. the debt OF Columbia city, which has
built new Court House and new City Hall, is
s7s5,00o, funded and floating. Improper and dis
honest things have been done in Columbia and in
the state Financial Board, but no good purpose il
subserved by exaggerating what is bad enough
and borrowing that old querulous and ignorant
assertion that nobody can find out what the debt
is." He who cannot find out what the debt is has
no business to be conspicuous in guessing at L.
TESTIMONY.
General Kershaw said to me-: ~ do not think
we need be laying up misery for ourselves In Q
supposititious expectation OF debt. | think the
State can stand It's debt. l regard the dis
covery Of our native phosphates and their
cheap and c. pious employment as an abundant
recompense ior the loss OF our slaves | am dis.
posed TO look out hopefully upon the future or
South Carolina"
Mr.. Miles very accomplished lawyer of Charles
n 81 In ri
Miles, said TO me as well, "rhere is one thing
must confess ana am agreeably surprised in. An
old and long nightmare Of social equality has
proved to have nothing IN It, There Is no ten
dency toward amaigamaton. We ridden by
unscrupulous ring or adventurers, but the
blacks, lett 10 themselves, would prove to be
well disposed and moderately progressive race"
Colone! harrington, VINO commanded company
"My hands work very we'll lind south Carolina
the only place where can make living. tried
Missouri and tailed there and came back mere TO
recover my fortune. Formerly owned 800 slaves.
think am no worse oil, except Tor ready money,
than before tne warp
Mr.. L. II. Clarke, OF Camden. Con nfederate
officer, said :--"Wnen | came home IRON tue war
found several hundred bales OF cotton which had
escaped che vigilance OF Snermans sodiery. It
brought iorty cents pound; but the money did
me no good. spent IL for immature speculation
and came down to hard pan. Now, look hope.
fully upon the future, attend 10 my own business
look after my Tree negro labor advance supplies
TO the laborers aud small planters, and guess 1
am as well or as young man ought to be.',
These statements could be multiplied. They
are all derived nom nsmDefs oi the Democratic
Conservative convention. Ine fact -, that the
South Caroinans, BY the very nature OF their
youth and physical viQ0r. are spared the intro
spectlve querulous philosophy OF the vlrglniana
Ihe latter reason upon idealsms and are lull Of
dismal prognosticatlons The former are afeld,
drinRinR OF the healthy air, familiar with manual
work and almost indifferent to national politics.
They nave discovered their value as a part oil the
Union. Before they were wont, under leaders of
diseased and provincial minds to consider them.
selves alone, as q state better or without neigh.
bors Oh national restraints.
PROGRESS.
The northern part oil this State has immensely
developed, pusnlng the cotton culture to the loot
ol the Blue Ridge, where wheat and cotton blos-
som consonantly and neither Is KING. That part Of
kets Dy the opening OF the air line railroad from
Atlanta to Charlotte, and the city OF Gfeenyie u
one OF the most progressive In the South Spartan
burg is also growing. The tendency oil all frelghts
Is through, HEREIN the Caronnlans see the folly