Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-09


learned yielded this year, as it had douo last
year, three hundred bales of cotton weigh.
ing 500 pounds each. Over largo area
of tho same county the crops upon the up-
lands were as luxuriant as upon the fnost
alluvial soil. These uplands were Of the
character usual throughout the middle belt
of the State, which in their unimproved
condition, would require three or moro
acres to produce bale. Our farmers, too,
are diversifying thoir crops and paying moro
attention to live stock than formerly, The
results attained in the small grains--oats
particularly equally surprising. From
sevouty-fyo to ono hundred bushels to the
acre on upands arc credibly reported in
many instances; and the last fair of the
State Agricultural Society exhibited the
largest and tho best display of live stock I
have witnessed 10 the State since the war.
The development on the sea islands in special
instances, by means of tile drainage and
fertilization, in tho production of tho pecul-
iarly valuable cotton there grown, is equally
worthy of note. It has cqualled four and
fivo timos the rcsults formerly attaind.
Near Charleston four aud half tons por
acre of Bermuda hay havo been grown this
year upon light, sandy lands, specially fortil-
lied; and in another part Of the State, upon
alluvial lands not fcrtilizcd, meadow has
yield for three years past an ayoage Of two
and half tons to the eorcof the Same valuable
hay, equal, if not superior, in feeding quail
ity to the best Timothy, and selling in tho
adjacent markets at from twenty to twenty.
five dollars to the ton.
This improved condition of our chief
industrial interest is indeed gratifying, and
illustrates tho capabilities of our favored soil
and climate. But our abounding resources
still sadly need development. Our mineral
wealth, our water powers, the products of
our forcets, our agriculture itself, have
scarcly been touched. "The harvest is
plcntcous, but tho laborers are few" Ono
of the most pressing needs of the State
industraly is tho advent of an intelligent
and thrifty immigration. I commend this
subject to you, and l commcnd to your care
the recently established Department of Agri-
culture, which, wisely conducted, I am
persuaded, will be most valuable agcut in
State.
CONCLUSION.
These happy rosults-this restoration Of
tho State to the methods of good govern
mcnt this hopeful industry Of all classes
of our people aud rapid advance in pros
pcrity, are duo, under tho providence of
God, to the resumption of tho chief control
of our local affairs by that portion of our
citizens in whom tho capacity of sclf-gov-
crnmont is an inheritance derived from
thousand years Of a free ancestry. 1t stands
in striking contrast to tho wretchcd period
of riotous misrulo which preceded it under
tho domination of tho lately enfrauohised
freedmen. South Carolina caunot aud will
not ngain become PROSTATE State. The
God-givcn right of self-preservation in
heres 10 communities as we'll as in individ-
uals. 1t is higher than law and older than
constitutions; but the problem with US to-
day is preserve tho life of tho State within
the conditions that surround us. It is true
that never before in all their history have
FREQ institutions been subjected to such
strain as the Reconstruction Acts of tho
National Government placed upon them
here; but tho political equality Of all mon
in South Carolina is now as fixed feature
in her policy as is the Blue Ridge in her
geography. It can neither be suppressed
nor evadcd. The solution of the problem
requires the wisest thought, the gravost
counsel. 1t seems to mo that see it in
firmuess, moderation, justice. Let those
characterize every act Of legislation.
1t is my duty as Governor to stake care
that the laws arc faithfully executed in
mercy" repeat the pledge made before
my oloction-that in tho discharge Of this
high trust shall know neithor white man
nor oolorcd man, but only citizens Of South
Carolina, aIikoamenable to her laws and on
titled to their protection.