The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-01-14
And We have / grand total of $500, ooo..

II
600 which sum win be fully sustained by
full examination Of the subject.
Yes sir, we may put downaenr material
loss. at not less than $500, ooo,o oo' But
by what rule will yon arrive at the loss to
the State Of tie thousands Of the flowers Of
| her youth, and the prime Of her manhood
who fell in battle, or fingered out their
lives in prisons, ard hospitals; aud bywhat
rule win you estimate the public loss TO the
State. arising from the annual emigration
Of large numbers Of our most public spirit
ed energetic md valuable citizens. re-.
luctantly leaving their native State with all
its strong ties and memories, behind them,
to fight the great battle Of life in strange
4 lands, because from our ruined condition.
they have no sufficient trust and confidence
in the belief that North Carolina can again
regain her former prosperity.
1 But we must add TO this dark and terri
BILE enumeration Of losses and calamilies,
one other. greater than Ill the rest. Our
State Government was taken away from US,
and another strange and unsuitable Govern
meut was imposed upon Us by arbitrary
power. under which Carpet Baggers, Of
fccrs in the service Of the United States.
and other plunderers came in. who seemed
to think that what was left to Us was their
own appropriate spoil TO be divided among
themselves.
OUR PRESENT CONDITION PRESENT
TAXATION.
Sir, from this imperfect catalogue Of our
losses let us turn for moment to view
Of our present condition and the ability Of
the people to bear the taxation already inn
posed upon them; and let US draw our IN
formation from the most reliable sources Ut
our command.
/ begin By referring to the United States
Census Of 1850 BY which the population Of
North Carolina is put down at 992 ,622
and again BY the census Of 1870. our po-
pulation is put at l.O7l.S6l. Tha: is to
7 say; in 20 years We gain in population on
ly IS, 739. If increase Of population !,
evidence Of increase Of wealth we are max.
ing slow progress indeed-many single q.
. ties probably have OutstriPped Us. But
perhaps We had much richer population
] Let us see. by the samec ensus for 1860
the number Of acres il farms was 20.9sC..
!: 9s3 again BY The census of1S9O the nun
: Der ofacres in farms was only l9.S35.ii0
Showing positive decrease " the numbe
: Of acres in farms for that period Of ten year
to be l.161.G7S. But perhaps the LAM
|, retained in farms made up fur the loss B
: quantity. b. being greatly improved am
: thereby presenting larger general value
No such consolation. All will admit Cha
owing to our system Of agriculture, our Ian,
is gradually wearing out; and the area 0
waste and sterile land IS annually increas
! ing, and the decrease Of fertility 10 III
= lands actually retained in cultivation is q
:, greater in proportion, than the loss in th
= number Of acres.
. Popular education Is the only remsi
y for this deplOrable evil, and al person
will also admit. tnat owing to the rrcsen
condition d our labor system--or raihe
want Of systematic average lands Of Mort
Carolina cannot be cultivated with hire
labor at al. The cost Of production. bein
!. more than the value Of the crop produced
and attempts 70 work ordinary lands b
tenants have proved 70 be more ruinou
. still. What sirs Is 70 become a. rcopI
:. who are physically unable to DO their on
. works
But We will proceed. Sir. We are alto
!. stock raising people. That Is materii
branch Of our business. And IL any Sen,
!, tor thinks the lesnnes and poverty Of u
!, State has not been sufficiently shown.
:. excuse her Tor not being able to meet ii
enormous demands Of our public creditor
LEI him prepare table from the Auditor
report. exhibiting the number Of hor,c
); mules. cattle, hogs and sheep in each CON
". as compared with tho inhabitants Of 4
:, county. and while be Is 80 engaged. vi
ask another friend. to prepare another eth
!. BIT, showing what Millions u dollars !. coz
\ this agricultural and stock raising popul
s ton Of North Carolina annually TO obta
:. from abroad. wvrk animals. cOmmUcf
!, panures. mem. graia. mOiasses &c. {
!. the payment Of which. farms. crops. Al
;, all plantation property. are now und
!. mortgage to frightful extent.
:, I will myself only add further il Il
= connection. that the currency alloeel u,