Year: 1869

Mess,s. Editors: If you will allow
ne room, desire to make few sugges-
tions for the rehecti,n of our crushed
and -trodden peoplc-but these
are so antagonis'ic to the general tone
of the Southern Press am Of the Con-
yeutions of the wise and able heads,
that I fear will be looked upon as an
idle, crazy man. History. from time
iumemorial, as well as our own short
lived experience teaches us the rapidIty
with which population increases. Let
our minds for a moment traverse our
cities, our towns and villages, our neigh
borhoods, country churches and school
rooms and behold the rising generation
coming up ttat will of necessity be OBJ
liged to take our places! Remember,
too, that each one t the heads Of fumi-
lies of this very day have got this great
mass of young folks in our different
houses and families with US. Remem-
Der that these young people, just MS we
have done, will take to themselves hus
bands and wives. Then much the lar
gest number of them wan. homes with
land to cultivate. 1t has been the saying
md the opinion Of our people, in past
days. that our young folks should mar
~ and 60 to new country aud settle
down and 60 to work. But the Press
of Georgia now say that for its climate,
health, soil, production, water power,
mineral wealth, educational advantages
and Society, Georgia is the garden spot
of the world. 1t docs my heart good to
say that l honestly believe this. Now,
then, this blessed Georgia is almos, ell
tircly owned by its native aud few
adopted citizens. When the war closed
very many of us were eft without dol
lar or a horse, COW, sheep, hog, an eur
of core. panel of fence or house to
shelter our families. As general thing
we have gone to work, built up, aud
fenced up, are now comparatively grow
ing in wealth again. A great many
say, however, have too much land; |
cant manage it to an advantage; [
must sell half or two thirds of it.
These don't think that they have host
Of children. Such man will soon want
more than all, be don't think of Offer
ing to sell his spare or surplus to his
native born hardworking neighbors on
time, or lease it to them or let them
work it on shares. Many of them arc in
Huenced by two different motives to a
course that I must and do honestly
think will prove injurious to US and
our pos.erity; and which will NOT be
seen until it is felt. Some may now
think that I am getting on their toes
or infringing upon their rights or that
I am an old fogy. But all I ask is, if
my views are worth anything, think of
them if not, attribute them to igno-
rance. The two differ,.,t influences Mt
work arc as follows: One is the Press.
which is always inviting capitalists of
the North to come and invest in the
sunny, salubrious climate of the South
the other is the land agencies. These
are giving the same invitations with
inducements. I look upon this ifi
prevails as general policy-as bidding
fair TO be of serious injury if it does not
ruin tho people Of the South-for sew
eral reasons. While freely admit that
there are many capitalists Mt the North
who, believe, are truly our friends
and would, even by their means and
talent, help US out Of the trouble and
bondage that we are in, yet it is II fact
perfectly dcmonstrable that we all know
and feel aud now realize that it has
been the prepondcrance of capital that
has been used ut the North AZ lever to
place the yoke of infamy and opprcs
sion upon our necks. 1t is still! being
used to hold it there. OF this last class
I will ever be afraid of their honest
feeling and principles, for they can put
on as many faces as Leopard has of
spots. Last as We part with our lands
our water power and privileges and our
mineral wealth for a comparatively tri-
fling amount, while, if3kept iu our own
hands and with proper management, it
would b made Of Immense value, not
only to cur children, but to our whole
country. We have, in almost every
middle and upper country more or less