The Van Buren press., 1874-02-17
NO. AZ
Southern Agriculture.

Mr.. G. c. Laugdon, Of Alabama, 10 .
recent address on the agricultural pros
poets Of the South, submitted some prac-
teal truths, of which the following are
interesting extracts:
From every quarter comes up the
wall of complaint. Agriculture is lar.
gushing, labor demoraized, the cultiva-
tors of the soil are in debt, their lands
and crops mortgaged; they are borne
down with taxes. and arc growing poorer
with every revolving year. And the cor
dition Of The State is equally discourag
ing Her treasury is bankrupt; her cred.
1t gone; her institutions of learning sus.
pended aud the government itself with
out the means to defray its ordinary ex-
penses. This is, indeed, a sad picture
for both State and people. And is it
truc9 If so, there Is certainly something
wrong, radically and fearfully wrong,
somewhere and somebody is greivous,y
at fault. wish could console myself
with the belief that the picture was over.
drawn. But cannot close my eyes TO
the evidences OF its fidelity that are ex.
hlbited all around me. | am therefore
forced TO the conclusion that the situa.
lion is mainly as represented. aud shall
SO assume And on this assumption the
remarks that | may submit TO- day will
be based
Instead Of accepting the situation
says he. land taking the new departure
which the occasion demanded after the
war. the planters have been racking their
brains. taxing their energies, and spend.
ing Their money, In vain attempts to per.
petuate, in some new form, the practical
realities Of the defunct old system, to-
wit: large plant aticns, slave labor con.
trolled by overseers, and all cotton. And
the effort to perpetua,e the system, 50
far as relates to large plantations aud all
cotton, is still continued In the employ
ment Of negroes to work on shares. The
result Of it all is what we are called on
to day to bemoan. Here, my friends. 10
the great, the principal, il not the sole
cause, OF The present unhappy condition
of the country. The truth may be un
palatablc, but it is truth, nevertheless.
and it must be told aud brought home 10
the hearts Of Southern planters, for with
them alone is the remedy"
Mr.. Langdon then proposes, as a rem.
edy for the existing condition OF things.
/. To cease renting land to negroes,
on shares, and pay only stipulated wages
for labor.
2 In hiring laborers, to give the pref.
crence to our own Southern negroes, ef
good character, and avoid all forced or
bribed importation from abroad.
3, Change our system, so AZ TO In.
crease, at least four fold, the productive
capacity OF the soil without additional
labor, and to cultivate no more land than
we can make Thus productive.
4 Diversity the products Of the farm,
and. as far rs practicable, raise every.
thing we need to eat. drink, wear and
use; and then make all the cote We can
as surplus cash crop.
b. Sell off our surplus lands, on easy
terms, FIRST 10 our own poor but respect.
able citizens. who have no land and are
willing to work; or, second. to sabstan.
tial voluntary immigrants, who will Set
Ito upon and cultivate them.
9. Encourage the introduction Of for
eign capital and skillfu labor, to engage
in mining and manufacturing.
Z. Compel the Legislature to declare
null and void all fraudulent bonds issued
by the authority Of a corrupt aud cor,
rupted Legislature.
8. More reading, more circumspection
at the ballot box. less devotion to party,
and more regard for tho honor, good
name and material interests Of our coun.
try
. Get out of debt and keep out--and
TO- Work ourselves and educate our
sons and daughters to work.