The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-20

Note: Originally prepared for the. Ala
bama Department of Archives and
History but not published
"OO little has been written to pre-
serve the facts of industrial attain
ment and social habits of the
southern people in that earlier period of
their isolation, in virtue and happiness,
from the nations Of the earth.
On the other hand, literature Astounding
In the military glory of the Southern
Confederacy, by land and by sea. has
proven sufficient to compel the govern
ment of the United States to receive the
image of General Lee, in Confederate
uniform as a recognized companion of
Washington in the federal Hall of fame
Lee was the effect of the cause.
The cotton plantation was of the south
and not otherwise. Single handed the
cotton plantation survived the Jealousies
of productive energies and challenged
successfully the organized Industries of
commerce. The plantation multiplied the
opportunities of trade wherever civfIiza-
tior had footing. 1t was the impelling
factor whereby the rich and the poor
were brought nearer together in new and
happier relations. The cotton plantation
Of the south was practical demonstra-
ton of American democracy and the CIV
les OF the world profited in the fact.
The effect of the plantation training
upon the African race was the wonder
of the world. 1t was training associated
with the most perfect industry, the most
perfect health of body and morals that a
laboring people ever enjoyed in the an
nails of time Revolution came from
without, but the negroes of the planta-
tions took no heed of it until the bayo-
net of the invader drove them from
home.
Nowhere else did statute laws protect
the negro from the oppression of the
superior race and secure to the negro
maintenance in old age and care in in
fancy, as in the cotton plantation states.
The leadership of Alabama. decisive in
various crucial tests of southern re-
sources has this to it's credit also, that
in Alabama the cotton plantation became
the perfected institution. The plantation
home was the seat of social ambition and
attainment. The master and his family,
perhaps, bore themselves as II the blood
of all the Towards was in their veins"
yet most of all, the black dependencies,
educated by precept and example, ad-
vanced themselves upward from nor
NAL race status of slavery to legal and
SOCIAL status of servltude.
test we forget, the simple story here
n told.
While the Roman conqueror led through
the streets of his capital manacled Jews
and trophies from Jerusalem, the daunt-
less rabbits left behind reopened the
school of Jabne. In fifty years the
"penmen" had so restored the native
spirit of patriotism that the defense of
Bethnar, the last struggle with the con-
fQnnrQr, stands immortal.
s AN 1Q69. the last decade of the cotton
4iifetIsn Of history. Alabama was COM
I4ed Of 81 counties. Eleven of these
E5 ~ distinctively plantation counties,
15p9; IN unbroken body, reaching from
~ Chattahoochee, on the eastern boun-
<; to the Mississippi line, Barbour.
Non Autauga, Montgomery, Wilcox,
X2s Noes, Dallas. Perry. Green, Maren-
~ and Sumter Dallas first, Marengo
next in order produced cotton
The II plantation counties. SO arbitra-
1rlly distinguished. paid, that year, taxes
v,ron lands assessed at more than $780,
90: the remaining 10 counties paid taxes
Mr., less than $2,0oo000.
MIN to 1859 there had been IL governors,
~ LOT these the cotton plantation region
Il 3,hed more than its proportionate
Y ~ as a section Bib. the first gov
W jh..gas from Autauga. and Moore,
IN wigovernor of the era, was from
u. 10Th c-.tcn planters. undoubt-