Year: 1866

RESOTBCtS OF TIE SOUTH.


Frsm the Memphis Aprcal.l


Going upon the wel-grounded assumption
that the tax of five cents upon cotton i.
proposed in Congress in a spirit Of revenge.
ful punishment, and hat its imposition and
continuance will practically drive thousand.
of our people from its cultivation-will, in
short lead, beyond doubt, 10 the abandon
meut by this country Of its pre-eminence as
the great cotton prod1cer OF the world-it
is not Improbable even at this early day, TO
look around and see into what channels
Southern Industry and Enterprise can be
directed with a reasonable prospect of achiev-
ing redemption from present impoverish-
ment. Certainly, the growth and production
of cotton offered the saTest and speedICst
means Of reaching this end and possessed,
besides, the attribute of double blessing in
that while it should lift up the South from
the depressing effects Of the late civil
war, il would at the same time inf'lse
fresh and rich life-blOod into all the arte-
Ties Of trade and industry at the North ,
East and West. Statesmen and patriots
would have seen that this was an interest
that, for the benefit Of the whole Republic,
should be fOstercd. cherished, encouraged,
stimulated by all legitimate means. States
men and patriots would have seen that by
thus nerving the courage and perseverance
Of the white southron they were restoring
% the Union the strength and cement Of a
m lnly peoples love, and infusing new vigor
Of ability 10 the whole nation TO early reach
the proud distinction Of a democratic gov
crnmcnt setting the unparalleled example Of
making and paying a debt, within the life
time Of a generation, that would, from it,
magnitude, weigh down monarchial dynas-
tie- for ages The true and enlightened
philanthrOpist would have seen that in en-
rouraging this culture, he was providing the
very best means possible for the Freedman
to work out a destiny that would leave him
no cause TO regret his maskcd for and en-
forced emancipation.


But, since il appears 10 be the will Of God
that the legislative branch Of the Govern
Incnt shall not, for the present at least, be
controlled bv either Statesmen, Patriots, or
enlightened Philanthropsts, but by n cabal
of cmbittcred, revengeful destructive par
izans Of the Oae Idea of puritanic sectional
denomination, it behooveS us as faithful and
loyal keepers Of our pledged faith. TO see
what is the next best thing we can do. If
this Rump Congress wH cat open the goods,
in the silly hope of getting all the golden
eggs at Once-if in its insenSte fury against
the "rcbels' (so-caled) of the South, it is
bent upon gratifying ianatical revenge at
the expense OF a aItioRdL interest 50 great as
10 have been for long years the security for
all Europe's keeping the peace with us
why, 80 be it, We are pOwerless and help
less 10 prevent their thus damaging the ma
tional strength and resources. We are
powerless and helpless to prevent their thus
scaling the doom of the great mass of the
poor liberated black men, thus turned out
in the world 10 compete with more skilled
and intelligent labor in pursuits with which
he is entirely unfamiliar. We can but obey
the instincts of sclfpreservation, and look
10 the means Of promoting the welfare Of
our own race and section.


Fortunately rs if the All-Good had pre-
destined the South TO these trials and en-
duranccs, and in llimitible benevolence had
provided the way of escape ont of them,
these means are in most prodgal abundance
within our borders. Our soil and climate
tccm with rewards to the industry of intclli
gent man, directed to other products than
cotton. The civil war, for engaging in
which this astute Congress would now pun
ish us by burthening the cotton culture, has
revealed to the Southern people vcry many





that they are under no kind Of necessity TO
be independent on Northern regions for
-four, or meal, or meat. The songs of the
whcat-reapcrs may, If we SO choose TO be in
dependent, minglc with the murmur Of the
salt waves that lash our Southern boundary.
our slopes and hillsides over vast belts of
country, of hundreds Of miles of breadth,
may successfully and most prohtably be,
under the skilled care of the experienced
Vine-drcsser matted with vineyards that will
prove greater sources Of wealth than was
ever the most prolific of cotton fields. Our
worn-out and sun-baked fields may be car
pcted with our tropical grasses, ond convert
ed into most nutritious pastures for Innu-
mcrable llocks and herds.


No where in the world can the orchard be
made 10 bring forth such increase of deli
ciOus fruits, and all that may be made there
from, as under the skiev in1uencies' of
our southern land. urforests, with thermil-
lions upon millions Of unavaied-oi-wealth,
are almost untouched, Our wonderful min
cral resources are virgin and unplucked,
save only so far rs 10 leave discovered the
rich cIuborancc that awaits the ravshment
of hardy enterprise. Our fisheries are no
mean rivals of those Of the North, if we but
choose 10 spread our nets for our own treas
ures Of the sea, instead Of depending upon
neighbors with whom we would be brothers
if they would only let Us be so.


Nor is the enterprise and the hardy in
dustry lacking TO develop these resources,
should the course of the Federal legislation
compel an abandonment of cotton culture
ns the principal reliance Of the South. The
war was a good school in WHICH the South
cm people became Injured 10 undertakings
for which n was alwavs before supposed
they had no adaptability. The monuments
of their ingenuity, skill and industry still
exist, nor have they lost the cunning Of
hand cnd brain which still stand them in
good stead whenever il becomes necessary TO
abandon culture Of cotton, and turn their at
tention To the development of other re-
sources.