Year: 1865

| very unsettled and entirely nominal


The Resources and Future or the
south.


Az soon as the Southern States shall be re


stored TO the enjoyment Of all their politica


privilege and be put on an equality with the


other States in this respect, as they were ante


rior to the rebellion, their varied and abundant


resources must attract capital and labor from


both the North and Europe. II used to be said
| by sectional agitat0rs-such as the abolition
press, pulpit and stump orators, and book,


makers for the Northern market-that the South


was poor country, that it could not feed its


own people, and that these people would starve
without supplies from the North. This was
said generally from prejudice, though some
times from ignorance, and for the purpose OF


exciting and pandering to sectional jealousy
or hostility. Up to the time Of the war, ana
even after IL commenced, such statements were
reiterated by those who knew or ought TO have


known better. The consequence was that tho


mass Of the people Of the North wers deceived
and remained ignorant Of the Southern portion
Of our country. Intelligent and unprejudiced
travellers, as we'll as the people of the South;
wero surprised at these misrepresentation,


and wondered how their fellow citizens could
) be so blinded. Such false or distorted views
were impressed to great extent upon Europe
also. The obnoxious institution of slavery
proved bar at the same time both to nvessi-
cation and enterprise. Ii was like Chinese
wall, having the effect Of shutting out immigra-
ton and enterprise. The prcjudices in favor
Of slavery ON one side and against it on the
other made the South almost as excluded and
unknown TO the rest Of the world as China is.
The North lost sight Of facts as to the vast and
valuable productions Of that section, Of its
immense territory, rich and teeming soil, ex-
traordinary variety of its products and its
attractive climate, and the people Of the South
smiled in indolent contentment with their coun-
try and themselves All this real or feigned igno-
rance.


But the war just concluded Is producing
great revolution in mems ideas as well as in
our public affairs and domestic life. General
Grant, speaking Of the Southern people in the
the last year Of the war, says their "manhood
drew forth herculean deeds Oh valor." He
might have said, too, that the war drew forth
from their country extraordinary and unex-
pected resources. Few on this side believed
that people who had appeared TO be depend
ent upon Northern, and foreign supplies could
carry on the war two years when cut of from
them. We were all astonished at the re-
sources they developed. They saccumbed not
from the want Of natural capabilities in the
country, but from the destruction Of these by
an overwhelming antagonist by the colossal
power Of the North, by the terrible drain upon
a limited population to supply the armies
and by acknowledgements Of their finances
and the conduct Of the war. Tho war unde
ceived the world in measWre as to the re-
sources Of The South. Still they are not yet
well understood; the Southern people them
selves have not fully comprehended them. -


We can do no more within the limits Of this
article than advert to or take glance at this
magnificent region Of our country. From the
fortieth degree Of latitude to the tropics, and
from the Atlantic to. Mexico, embracing
an area larger than France, Germany,
Great Britain, Spain and Italy combined,
and with every variety of soil, climate
and productions, it is capable Of sustain
ing a population OF hundred and fifty
millions. Il is, beyond all doubt, the best por-
ton or The american continent. The hardy
grains grow in all the States on the northern
border and through the high lands Of the Allie
ghanies to the border OF Alabama. And where
is there better wheat or foar than Virginia
and some other parts OF the South produce!
The -four is noted for It's fine quality in the
markets Of the world. In one part all the fruits
and vegetables Of the temperate zone grow
abundantly, and in another flourish the orange,
banana, pine apple and other fruits OF the
sem-tropieal or tropical zone. Nature has
given the South monopoly Of the most vnlu-
able productions that enter into The commerce
Of the world. Nowhere can such tobacco be
produced; there is no rice superior if equal to
that Of South Carolina, and AZ to c0tton--that
wonderful product which clothes mankind, en-
ploys millions Of human beings in its manufac-
ture, builds great Cities creates untold wealth
and spreads the sails Of commerce over every
ocean--that is monopoly OF the South. True.
cotton is grown in India, Egypt and some other
countries, but not our long staple American
cotton, which is The cotton Of commerce. and
which is an article Of prime necessity in manu-
features. The Gulf stream which sweeps along
our Southern coast raises the waters OF the
Gulf and Atlantic in clouds and spreads them
over the favored South, dropping rain in just
such showers as the cotton plant needs. Too
much rain, as in the rainy season of most trop-
cal countries, would not do. nor too long con-
tinued drouth, for this delicate annual plant.
Nature has given 1t here in the alternate
showers and hot sunshine just the right
climate. As the same conditions Of soil and
climate are not found elsewhere TO produce
this fine long staple cotton, 1t is clear the