The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, May 19, 1870, Image 1
An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence
TtOTT & CO., Proprietors.
ANDERSON C. H., S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 19, 1870.
volume 5?isrb. 47.
BQHGBATION CONTENTION.
REPORT OF OOMMITTBS8.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE .ON IM?
MIGRATION.
' The Committee to whom was referred the
subject of Immigration, with the accompanying
?papers, feel the responsibility which devolves
Upon them. The'Committee have addressed
themselves to the work of placing before this
'Convention a programme of action at once
simple in details, practical in character, and
?effective in operation; and they hope that the
?eherne which they have adopted will be found
to embrace these elements of success. As to
the paramount importance of immigration to
South Carolina and the South in general, the
Committee deem it useless to waste the time in
Words. We ace, we know, we feel this great
need. - Material development is the great work
t>f the day. It is the source of wealth, and
Wealth brings in its train power, happiness, and
?11 the concomitants, moral, mental and physi?
cal, of a solid civilization. As one ot the
means to this great end of thorough develop?
ment of all o?r varied resources, the introduc?
tion into this State and the South of a hardy
?and thrifty population is a consummation of
prime importance. What immigration has ac?
complished for the North and Northwest, we
Want done for the South and Southwest.
The Committee are not unmindful of the
?great value to this State, and the South in gen?
eral, of its present and resident laboring class.
The labor of this class is of decided advantage.
They desire to recognize its importance, and
?unite in the general sentiment that it should
fco fostered, and in every way utilized for the
.eeseral good. But it is insufficient. It should
be supplemented. We desire to place South
Carolina in the line of progress. We desire to
place the prosperity of the Commonwealth
upon a solid basis. ' But to do this we need ac?
cessions to our population, to the end that we
mry Btaotmd the -State with the Enduring mu?
niments of wealth and numbers. God in his
providence has blessed us with a genial climate
and a teeming soil, and with abundant water
. tfower, and with varied resources. Immigra?
tion is one of the means whereby these advan?
tages are to be utilized for the good of the citi?
zen and the weal of the State. With these
general propositions, thus briefly Bet forth, the
Committee address themselves* to a specific
scheme, and have the honor to report that the
various papers and resolutions referred to them
have been carefully considered, and that after
-as full an-inquiry into the whole matter of im?
migration as the limited time given them
would permit, they. respectfully propose the
following as practical measures, viz : "
. 1. The establishment of direct steam com?
munication-with Europe,
The ports of Trieste, Havre', Liverpool and
Antwerp, have been suggested, but your com?
mittee are of opinion that the choice of a Eu?
ropean port will depend upon commercial con?
siderations presenting themselves whenever the
enterprise is About to be begun, and that the
Convention seed not how enter upon that ques?
tion.
2. The establishment of rates of railway
transportation for immigrants from Charleston
to the extreme Northwest.
This measure will, it is represented, show
this to-be the cheapest route for immigrants
' destined to the Northwest?it is certainly the
pleasantest route in winter; hence if suitable
arrangements are made it is reasonable to sup?
pose that a portion of the great tide of immi?
gration flowing in upon the continent may be
led into this channel, providing at once profi?
table employment for steamers coming direct
from Europe, and opening the way to such im?
migrants as may desire to stop in this or other
States.
3. The formation in this city, and at the
principal points along this proposed route of
unmigration travel, of societies on the plan of
the German Society of South Carolina, now in
?existence here.
These societies would be simply benevolent
associations, designed to give to the newly ar?
rived immigrant all necessary information and
assistance) to help his difficulties by honest
end kindly advice, and to protect him from im?
position and wrong.
4. The formation in all the healthy counties
of this and other Southern States, of "County
Land and Immigration' Societies," having for
their, object the settlement of immigrants upon
free farms, embodying the joint stock principle
of Dk EvB. Turnipseed.
It is essential to offer immigrants as good
terms as they are offered in the West; besides,
the better the terms, the better the class of
people we will get. A plan for a complete or
. ganizatior of this kind for the State of South
Carolina, has been laid before the Committee,
and is appended hereto, it has been carefully
considered, by the Committee, and is believed
to embody the true principles of practical suc?
cess. -
5 5. The establishment in Charleston Upon the
broadest and most liberal basis, of a Board of
Immigration, provided with sufficient means to
enable them to disseminate abroad true and
Useful information as to the soil, climate and
resources of the South, and with authority to
provide fo? the comfort, health and decent ac?
commodation of immigrants on the voyage"
hither and after their arrival. Such au organ-1
isation is ascertained by experience to' be es?
sential at all ports of immigrant, debarkation,
and your Committee are firmly persuaded that
it will be more efficient, and less costly, if con?
ducted as a private enterprise than if left to be
managed by the Government of State or city.
6. The encouragement of publications and
of the widest discussions upon immigrants and
immigration, to the end that our people, of all
classes and occupations, may be fully informed
aa to the immense gain to the whole country and
to all private interests of a large, increasing,
industrious and respectable population.
Much has to be learned, too, by our people,
before we can attract immigrants to us or re?
tain those who may come.
1. -What will attract the best class of immi?
grants? -
2. What will best satisfy the needs and de?
sires of those who come?
8. What, occupations will be the most remu?
nerative for the immigrant?
4.- Whkrf. new industries should bo establish?
ed or what, modifications should bo made in our
present industrial establishments, in order to
fully utibjo the advantages of a larger and a
different p>pulation.
These questions must be answered, and it
would be a. great stride in the direction of hav?
ing immigration, if every man in the State was
to-day prepared to answer them from his own
.information.
In connection with this whole subject, your
Committee beg respectfully to direct attention
to a communication appended hereto, presented
to the Committee by Mr. F. Von Santen,
Chairman of tho delegation from the German
Society of South Carolina, and to recommend
that it be published.
7. The encouragement of emigration from
Northern States to this State. They recom?
mend that the Convention extend to settlers
from the North a cordial welcome, and that
efforts be requested on the part of the Central
Bureau of Immigration, as provided for, to se?
cure special rates of transportation for parties
emigrating to the South. ?
plan.
?1. That in each county there should be form?
ed a "County Land Immigration Society.," to j
be organized in comformity with the provisions
of the Act of the Legislature, approved De?
cember 10,1869, and entitled "An Act to reg-1
ulate the formation of Corporations."
2. That books of subscription should be
opened at all the convenient points in the coun?
ty, and that each subscriber be required to state
the amount of his subscription in dollars, with
the stipulation that the amount subscribed may
be made up }n whole or in part by a convey?
ance of lands; provided always, that the lands
be taken at their valuation for State taxation
at the time the conveyance is made.
3. That each county society adopt a consti?
tution substantially the same as that appended
hereto:
4. That the lands received in payment of
subscriptions or otherwise acquired by each
County Society, be laid off in farms of conven?
ient size and location with reference to drain?
age, fencing and communication by roads?and
that alternate farms be set apart to be granted
to immigrants in fee, contingent only upon the
continuous occupation and use of the land
granted for the space of ten years from the date
of the grant. Should any farm so granted be
abandoned within the ten years, it is to revert
to the Society?if not abandoned the proprietor?
ship to rest absolutely in the grantee or parties
holding of him, at the expiration of that pe?
riod.
5. That the lands retained by the Society be
held to represent the shares issued to subscri?
bers, that they be farm leased, or sold by the
Society as may seem best for the common in?
terest, that the Society reserve the right to con?
vert the said lands by sale or exchange into
money or other valuable property as buildings,
railroads, turnpikes, bridges, ferries, or shares
in such enterprises, provided always that divi?
dends may be paid out of surplus income, and
that at any time after the lands set apart for
immigrants are all disposed of, the Society may
be wound up and the money realized from the
sale of its lands and other property divided
among its shareholders in redemption of the
shares. ?
6. That each County Society endeavor to ob?
tain the good will and zealous co-operation of
all the inhabitants of the County, both sub?
scribers and non-subscribers, to the end that
new settlers under the auspices of the. Society
may be kindly received, and may obtain from
all their neighbors good and honest advice and
guidance. All interests in the State are so
manifestly united in the success of judicious
efforts to- increase its population that it will
need only intelligent explanation to unite all
persons and opinions in the endeavor to make
that success secure.
7. That all the County Societies combine in
the establishment of a common agency in the
City of Charleston, upon the principle of a
representative organ, each County Society ap?
pointing an agent to sit at the Central Board as
vts special representative, each representative to
be entitled to as many votes as there are paid
up shares in the Society he represents. The
Central Board when thus constituted to be in?
vested with all necessary power and authority!
for establishing foreign agencies, making spe?
cial arrangements for the ocean and inland
transportation of immigrants, and their recep-.
tion, shelter and protection on arrival.
The Central Board shall further be charged
with the duty of procuring and disseminating
correct and useful information as to the special
advantages offered to immigrants in each local?
ity, and that of taking care that all immigrants
be fully and honestly informed as to all their
rights, privileges and immunities, and in case
of neea advised and assisted in protecting them?
selves from imposition.
J. P. Thomas, Chm'n.
COTTON MANUFACTURE.
"The report of tho Commmittee on Cotton
Manufacture being called for, was read by Col.
J. B. Palmer, as follows:
The Committee on the Manufacture of Cot?
ton beg leave to report:
That it has been* contended for years, by our
most sagacious statesmen, tint it was not the
policy of the South to export its cotton in the
lint.
Benjamin Franklin, writing from London,
said: "Here in England it is well known ana
understood, that whenever a manufacture is
established, employing a number of hands, it
raises the value of lands all about." Andrew
i Jackson, in 1824, advocated, in a private let
j ter, the taking "from our, agriculture 600,000
j men, women and children, to be employed in
manufactures." Lord Goodrich) in the House
j of Lords, speaking of France, said: "If it were
freely to ?admit our manufactures it would
speedily be reduced to an agricultural, and,
I therefore, a poor nationt as all must be that de
! pend exclusively on agriculture." Washing
! ton entertained similar views.
While these opinions have been stated by
many, most of our people have either consider?
ed it entirely impracticable for us to understand
the general manufacture of our leading staple,
or thinking it practicable, have considered the
period when it would be accomplished so far
in the future, as to demand no attention from
them.
Your committee will endeavor to establish
the proposition, that it not only can, but will be
i done at an early day.
First among the advantages possessed by the
South over the North for manufacturing cot?
ton, and one that it will never cease to hold, is
that it is the place of production of the raw.ma
j terial. It would be no more unnatural to trans
gort the crude ore of Pennsylvania to distant
tates for manufacture, than it is for us to con?
tinue to send abroad our lint cotton. The
Southern manufacturer saves the freight and
other charges on bagging, rope and other*wastc.
This waste, amounting to fully one-eighth of
each bale, can be manufactured into paper at
I the South more cheaply than at the North, and
is consequently more valuable, though it costs
far less here than there. Reclamation on false
Sacked or damaged cotton, is with us, easy and
irect, and we save the burdensome Northern
charges for Storage, insurance, brokerage, &c.,
and the loss from repeated sampling thefts.
More or less cotton can always be purchased
! in the lint, thus saving, to that extent, the loss
by bagging and rope. Freights on manufac?
tured goods are less than on bulky and hazard?
ous bales of raw cotton.
Another advantage is to bo found.in our cli*
mate. Fire for heating purposes is only re?
quired for from one to three months of the year,
according to localities. We have an abundance
of unoccupied water power in every Southern.
State. We have also inexhaustible coal
beds, easy of access. Wages are comparatively
low. The mildness of the climate, the abun?
dance of lumber, and the cheapness of land,
enables manufacturers to provide operatives
with inexpensive but comfortable houses and
large garden plats. The expense of living
must always be less here than at the North.
The winters being mild and open, we must ever
be able to produce our provisions more cheaply
than they can be produced in a country where
a great part of the six working months are ap
J>ropriated to raising supplies fur rann and beast
or the remaining portions of the year?
I Our operatives are admitted to be remarka4
bly frugal, industrious, easily taught and con?
trolled, and we have an unemployed class of
many thousands from which to draw in the fu?
ture. The North and Europe will contribute
largely in operatives whenever there is a de
I mand for them, and thus manufacturing will
advance immigration.
: The English, in manufacturing, mix India
and other inferior cottons with the American,
while we use the best staple the world produces.
The consequence is that where our goods have
been introauced abroad they are preferred to the
English. The foreign manufacturer has been
known to brand his goods?drills, for instance
?as American.
Your Committee hav? had before them care?
fully compiled statements, showing the cost of
manufacturing cotton North and South. They
are fully satisfied that yarns can be manufac?
tured here, transported to the North, pay a
commission of five per cent, for selling, be sold
at the cost of Northern production, and vet yield
a net profit of five cents $ ib. And that cer?
tain classes of colored goods can be produced
here'and in the North, at the cost of produc?
tion of similar goods there, and yet yield a
profit of over ten cents $ lb.
English manufacturers have admitted, after
inspecting the books of some of our Southern
factories," that we produced yarns more cheaply
than they did. To test this admission the Sa
luda Factory of this State, sent in April, 1869,
through the house of W. C. Courtney & Co., of
Charleston, some packages of their No. 20 yarn,
to Manchester, England. These yarns sold at
16d., which, at the then rate of gold and ex?
change, was equal to 431 cents currency here.
The total cost of the yarns, including freight,
insurance, commission on sales, &c, was S9?
cents, leaving a net profit of 4? cents ft.
In support of the positions assumed, your
Committee direct attention to the great success
of the Augusta, Graniteville and other factories
in manufacturing plain goods,' of the Columbus.
Aim a nee and other factories in making colored
goods, and the Saluda, Boswell and other fac?
tories in spinning and warping fine yarns with
profit at.a time when manufacturing at the
North and in Europe has been languishing and
unprofitable. In further confirmation the fol?
lowing extracts from a letter written by a promi?
nent manufacturer at the North is submitted :
"While I have only met expenses in the
North in running twenty frames?about 3,000
spindles?the returns I have from sixteen frames
of the same machinery in Georgia for the last
six months have been $10,000 clear profit.
Our company has determined to sell out their
machinery." * * * "The South enjoys the '
advantage of not less than twenty per cent over
the North in manufacturing."
The writer of this letter has since moved
South, and his cotton mill at the North is per?
manently closed.
A large number of Northern cotton mills
are idle. Many of those in operation have re?
cently reduced the wages of their hands, and
some are running on snort time; machinery is
being transferred to the South, and skilled la?
bor and capital is beginning to follow. Eng?
land is losing her monopoly. France and
Germany are yearly importing less of her yarns I
and manufactured goods. Her manufacturers j
are becoming alarmed, and her operatives are
turning their eyes in this direction. There can
be no doubt that we will before long supply the
North and to some extent the West and East
Indies, China, South America and Mexico with
manufactured goods and export yarns to the
continent of Europe and ultimately to Eng?
land.
Few realize how rapidly manufacturing has
increased in the United States.
The first cotton factory on, the Arkwright
principle was erected in Rhode Island in 1790.
In 1812 there were 38 mills in Bhode Island
and 20 in Massachusetts, turning in all 48,000
spindles?an average of about 900 to the mill.
In 1850 there were in the United States 1
2,500,000 spindles; in 1868 over six millions, ]
showing an Jttcrease of over three and a half
millions in Is years?almost exclusively in the
North?the South having in the bitter year on-1
ly about 200,000.
The wages paid to the factory operatives in
1838, was over thirteen millions. In 1848, over
twenty-seven millions?an increase of 100 per I
cent, in ten years.
The increase in the South must, hereafter, be I
far more r?pidihan it has been North.
Attention is already directed to our country
as the proper field for the cotton manufacturer. I
Indeed, we believe no astute business man will
engage in it elsewhere, and within a few years
most of those already employed at the North
in this branch of industry, will, as some are
doing now, dismantle their mills and either
move South or engage in other branches of
manufacturing.
It cannot be long before machinery for work?
ing long staple wi 11 be introduced; and Savannah,
Charleston and Wilmington, with their facili
ties for procuring cheap coal, will vie with each
other in the manufacture of our sea island cot?
ton ; and soon the busy hum of the spindle will
be heard on every water-course from Virginia I
to Texas.
It is the belief of your Committee that the
planters mav, with profit to themselves, aid, in
producing this result, by combining together in
joint stock associations, and erecting cotton
mills of sufficient capacity to work up their cot?
ton crops. These mills should be managed, not
by the planters themselves, but by experienced
and capable business men, who will give them
their undivided attention, with experts in
charge of the mechanical departments. Man?
ufacturing comprises so many details, that its
successful prosecution requires the most care?
ful and systematic management. With all our
advantages, inattention to details and careless
management cannot but produce loss.
From two and one-half to three millions of
dollars would be added to the value of our cot?
ton crop, if we were to manufacture it into
yarns and woven goods. Of this, a large amount
would be paid out for wages, and that to a class
that is now. not only unemployed in adding to
the wealth of the country, but for the most part,
a burthen upon their parents or the public.
The enormous increase in the amount of
money received by the South, would be the di?
rect advantage derived from manufacturing. I
The merchant, the mechanic, the agriculturist,
the banker, the real estate owner, and in fact
every citizen of our country would be inciden?
tally benefitted. Business generally would be
stimulated, and property of all kinds enhanced
in value.
What has manufacturing not done for Eng?
land? To come nearer home?what has it not
done for New England? Take the town of
Lowell, for instance. Situated in a cold, bleak,
unproductive country, with every drawback and I
no advantages except its water power, and the
indomitable energy of its inhabitants, it has
grown, within a few years, from a mere hamlet,
with one manufacturing' company (the Merri
mack, organized in 1822,) into an active, thriv?
ing city, with 50 mills turning over 450,000
spindles, running over 12,000 looms, giving em-1
ployment to i4,000 operatives, supporting^seven
national banks, with an aggregate capital of
$2,350,000, and four savings banks, with an ag?
gregate deposit of about $6,000,000, principally
savings or operatives.
Of the entire products of the United States
exported to foreign countries, the South has at
times contributed as high as 55 per cent.
Double and treble the value of our products by
manufacturing before exportation, and we cause
a flow of wealth from the North and from
abroad that must produce almost unparalleled
prosperity.
If we desire to fhlly participate in that pros*
Eerity and hasten its consummation there must
e no folding of the arms on our part. We
cannot afford to stand idly by while foreign
capital and energy, attracted as it will be?in?
deed as it is?by the wonderful advantages we
possess, gradually occupy the field to our ex?
clusion. Then, indeed, would the sceptre have
departed from Israel. But rather let us, while
heartily welcoming the Northern business man
and capitalist, join -in generous rivalry in the
great work of developing our resources.
A new era is upon us. The policies atten?
ding the institutions of the past no longer con?
trol our actions. The industrial pursuits to
which we were wont to devote our energies no
longer claim our undivided attention.
. NO COUNTRY EXCLUSIVELY AGRICULTURAL
EVER GREW PERMANENTLY RICH.
We have shown the world that we could per?
form the full measure of our duty to our coun?
try during a long, bloody and disastrous war.
Property and life were freely^urrendered. No
sacrifice was too great to be cheerfully ? offered.
Farthers and sons, mothers and daughters vied
with each other early and late, hi season and
out of season, in acts of self-abnegation. Let
the same spirit actuate us now. Let each one
of us rise to the mission before us. Let there
be no idlers in our streets. Let honest, manly
labor be clothed with its proper dignity. Let
agriculture, manufacturing, mining and com?
merce alike command our efforts. Let energy,,
method and careful close management, attend
us in our various pursuits.
In building up our waste places, and in secu?
ring that prosperity a benificent Providence has
placed within our reach, we are firmly convinc?
ed that the cotton manufacturer will perform a
prominent part, and we express the nope that
the Southern people will give this matter then
serious attention and do what they can to fos?
ter and advance this branch of industry.
We append detailed statements in support of
the propositions advanced.
Respectfully submitted :?
John B. Palmer, Chm'n.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES.
Your Committee, feeling assured that the
'very comprehensive character of tho duty as?
signed them, viz.: that of reporting on the in?
dustrial resources of the State, is, itself, an
evidence that no exhaustive treatment of the
subject' is expected by the Convention, nor
even a specific account of what has been done
towards the development of their resources,
limit themselves to a few general considerations,:
as to their nature, and the great policy for pro?
moting their development.
From South Carolina to Texas inclusive, the
climate.of the Atlantic and Gulf States is of
that intermediate kind which embraces the
features both of the tropic and temperate zones,
and while exposed to many of the ev?s of both,
likewise enjoys in combination many of the
advantages of each. It is precisely in such a
climate that the utmost diversity of industries
can most easily flourish', provided the markets
of the world be open to it, anti there be a pop?
ulation sufficiently dense to make division of
labor possible. Indeed it may be safely said
that no other climate but one offers equal op?
portunities for "diversifying labor. The natural
products of our country exhibit this diversified
character; we have here side by side, the ani?
mals and plants of the tropics, and those of the
temperate zone, pines by the side of palms,,
wheat growing in sight of rice fields, apples ri?
pening in the same orchard with orauges, crows,
bears and foxes inhabiting the same swamps
with the ibis, the vulture, the parokeet and the
crocodile, though our forefathers, unacquainted
with tropical animals, gave them the names of
cranes, buzzards and alligators, which make us
forget their equatorial character, and prevent
us from reflecting when we read of such things
in books of foreign travel that they are, in
truth, nothing but what we see about us every
day. In our waters is found equal variety.?
The herring, which is peculiarly a Northern
fish is sold in our market by the side of the
fishes of the Carribean Sea, and the muscle, the
clam and the oyster, all useful as food, are
found even where the Peninsular of Florida is
built up of coral reefs, like the South Sea
Islands. Even in the domain of the miner
there is something to remind us of this com?
mingling of temperate and tropical features in
the aspccts.of nature by >vhich we are surround?
ed. For d5es not the guano of the equatorial
islands find its counterparff'in our phosphate
beds ? And does not the coal, which is rather
characteristic of temperate climates, show it?
self not far from these highly prized depos?
its?
In short*, the climate of the Southern States,
their geological structure, their great rivers, and
the seas by which they are washed, offer every
incentive which climate can offer to a develop?
ment of the utmost diversity of physical and
intellectual labor.
But it is perhaps feared by some that a cli?
mate like this may be incapable of supporting
such diversified industry, in consequence of the
very variety of its products?that what yields
everything with facility will yield the best of
nothing. Such a conclusion, however, is for
biddenby a simple array of facts. The cotton
and the rice we produce are the best in the
world, nevertheless the wheat has likewise been
recogUized as having no superior. And in the
opinion of your Committee there can be no
doubt that the difficulty of obtaining the best
of any grain product in a climate of so catho?
lic a character, is precisely s<>ch difficulty as is
necessary to incite the human intellect to the
exercise of patient and minute observation,
coupled with reflective ingenuity.
But that such a climate as we possess is real?
ly capable of developing and supporting this
diversity of occupation may be established in
another way. There is no climate in Europe
exactly comparable with ours. If we travel
Eastward in search of a counterpart we shall
pass over the whole of the old world until we
reach China and Japan. Here alone, do we
find all our chief characteristics repeated,
though, of course, irr forms which, belonging
to the old world, are so far different from those
of the new. But our extremes of temperature,
our cold winters and hot summers, our com?
mingled tropical and temperate fauna and flora,
are as familiar to the Chinese as to ourselves.
The United States and the Flowery Kingdom
are what the physical geographers might call
homologous parts of the two continents. The
same relative situation to the equator, the same
coast configuration, the same great rivers, the
same warm oceans' current like the Gulf Stream
flowing Northward along the coast, the same
system of hurricanes, which the seamen of
those seas know as typhoons. I
And what is the aspect which mdnstrial pur?
suits present in that country, physically so like
our own." We see there> the densest population
on the globe, whose existence in their crowded
Btate is only renderedpossibleby the diversity
of their industries. There is not land enough
in China for its hundreds of millions to culti*
vate, and the consequence is that millions are
engaged in manufactures of many kinds of rare
txcellence, and when even so, ell cannot find
the means of living, the rivers and the seas are
made to yield tjjeir harvest, whole villages are
built upon fhe water, and on the water whole
populations are born, live and die, as their
neighbors are born, live and die upon the land.
Now such is the similarity of climate that it
is not too much to say that there is hardly an
important product of China which may not be
equally well produced in the Southern States.
We have already surpassed the Chinese in the
culture of cotton, rice and sugarcane, and
without 'doubt, whenever, with. the proper
means, we set ourselves seriously to the task,
we will surpass them in the culture of tea ana
silk, both which it has been demonstrated we
can prdduce.
That the white race is both intellectually and
physically the superior of the wonderful Mon?
golians of whom we have been speaking, has
never been doubted. If in their hands the cli?
mate of China can do such things, in the hands
of the white race, the similar climate in which
we live can do much more. -The difference lies
in this, that in China, increasing density of
population has created industrial diversity by
necessitating it, while we are striving after a
?diversity of pursuit but are foiled by scarcity
of population. It may be laid down as a uni?
versal economic principle, perhaps without an
exception, that no scanty peopled country,
whatever its advantages, ever exhibited a really
diversified industry. Tne problem We are stri?
ving to solve, if it is not insoluble, is atr least
one of the most difficult in the whole circle of
human endeavors, and if we do solve it suc?
cessfully, we shall be greater than success in
war, however glorious, could have made us,
feeing without that density of population which
could of itself create diversity of occupation,
arid which our Northern neighbors have nad so
long, we are striving to exhibit such a diversity
of resources and capacity of development as
will attract capital and the streams of immi?
gration poured out year after year from Europe
into climates more like than is ours to that of
the home of the white race. Your committee
do not mean to report that the thing is impos?
sible, but to point out its true difficulties as the
best preparation for surmounting them. If
ever we succeed it will only be by the union
and concentration of all the intellect and all
the capital there is among us upon the one
great problem. And it is this very union and
concentration which is so hard to maintain,
when the few thousands of our population are
scattered over so wide an extent or country.
Your Committee would then suggest that
there iff no way in which our people can so well
provide for the future development of the al?
most inexhaustible resources of the climate,
the soil and the Waters, bestowed upon them by
Providence, as by providing for a consistent
and permanent unanimity of purpose and con?
cert of action, by frequent gatherings, like the
present Convention, by forming and sustaining
local Clubs and Societies, and by maintaining
periodical publications devoted to the discus?
sion of the industrial resources of the South.
The attrition of mind against mind attained by
such means, while it tends to produce unanim?
ity of purpose, conduces also to a division of
labor, and diversified industry is only the full
development of division of labor. They must
also learn to value those scientific methods of
investigation which alone can be sure of event?
ually reaching precise and trustworthy results.
They must, too, be willing to risk something in
the investment of capital upon experiments.
Knowledge and money are two different forms
of power which go on accumulating much fast?
er when they work together than when each is
left to toil alone. We must learn to organize"
for a common purpose the administrative skill
of the successful man of business, and the skill
in research, which is the gift of the successful
man of science. And for this purpose we riiust
combine scientific education as far as possible
with education in business-.
. One of the Ways by which a people may be
forced into a full development of its material
resources is by foreign conquest, shutting out
from it every other avenue of progress?and it
may emerge from such subjugation the con?
queror of its conquerors.
Respectfully submitted,
R F. CrAxtost,
For the Committee.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
The following report of the Committee on
Agricultural Education was read by the Chair?
man, Hon. N. R. Middleton:
Production, we all know, is the chief element
of national prosperity; food and raiment are
essential to human comfort, and, of course, the
more* directly and certainly these are supplied,
the more room and the more encouragement for
higher attainments. As a general rule .men
must be placed above the pressure of daily need
before they can have either the leisure or the
desire for mental cultivation.
. We are not how to learn that mind rules the
world. The history of this country, until the
late revolution, has left us no doubt as to this
position. It was to the leisure for mental cul?
ture which the predominance of agriculture,
under peculiar circumstances, afforded to her
first men, that our State owes her acknowl?
edged supremacy in the Federal Councils. It
was the fertility of her soil, combined with per?
manence of labor, that enabled her to live and
prosper under a system of partial and oppres?
sive legislation, to which the world knows no
parallel.
We have been bereft of our peculiar advan?
tages, and are now thrown upon the resources
which we share in common with all mankind
Nothing is left but our soil, our climate and
ourselves; but these are left, and .they consti?
tute a fund of material which renders us fully
competent to regain our lost position, and com?
mand the attention and respect of- the world.
Indeed, we are not sure that, in the long run,
our misfortune may not prove an advantage to
us; for while "Cotton was King," and our
great staples were furnished to us with a facili?
ty and certainty which defied competition,
there may have been, perhaps, too little of
mental effort in the department of agriculture,
and a sense of security, which tended to foster
our natural indolence, and the still more natu?
ral pride of our hearts, we had insensibly be?
come both dependent add exclusive. This was
not a wholesome state of things, and the euer-,
gies which are now demanded, and the co-Op
eration and mutual consideration Which have
become absolutely necessary to our success,may
eventually place us upon a firmer foundation,
and elevate us to a higher platform than we
have yet enjoyed.
While the returns of our labors have been so
abundant as to call for little or no improve?
ment in our system of agriculture, the stimulus
of necessity has driven others to exertions, both
of mind and body, which have reacted upon
themselves, both in character and fortune, and
it would be ? matter of stirpris?> and perhapd
of mortification to some of 118,10 find the has
bandmen of other lands surpassing us, not only
in physical energy, but in scientific knowledge
6nd mental ?c^mplishmeht. The farmers of
other legions are practical chemists and intelli
gent naturalists, and they have thus learned to
wring-from rocks and barren sands more abun?
dant results than can.be obtained from the neg=
ligent and superficial cultiyation of more favor?
ed spots.
It is important that the standard of agricul?
ture should be elevated among us, and that it
should be looked upon not only as an econom?
ical element of the Coinm on wealth, but as an
honorable contributor to bier dignity and pros*
perity, so that athletic men" will "not be com?
pelled to occupy, behind desks and counters,
the .positions which legitimately belong to the
gentler sei, but will be able to meet the demands
of patriotism, as well as of manhood, by grap?
pling with fortune in the hard labors of field
and forest.
We have lost our differential j element, and
now need a substitute, and we doubt whether
that substitute can be found anywhere else than
in the application of mind to the science of
Agriculture. Availing ourserves o( the advan?
tages furnished by . chemistry and natural phi?
losophy in all its branches, bringing to bear
upon our labors the mechanical ingenuity
which is so rapidly furnishing' a substitute for
manual operations?above all, engaging the in?
terest of the operative by according to him the
respect due to honest labor arfd his legitimate
share in the proceeds of his toil?and we see no
reason why our State should not resume her
rank, and even, surpass her ancient renown. It
is not necessary- to refer again to our soil and r
climate, there is -nothing in the world superior,'
and for many productions nothing eqczl to
tuem, and while our Maker, with one hand has
deprived Us of an element of strength, which
was - also to some extent a source of weakness,
it is a circumstance worthy of special gratitude
that, with the other he has laid bare, in our
soil, an unexpected treasure far more valuable
than mines of gold.
We lack now but one thing to ensure unlim?
ited success?the application of science and
mental cultivation to our unequalled resources.
Let Us not tie lay to supply this want* extd in or?
der to make a beginning, we propose the fol?
lowing' resolutions r . .
Resolved, That it is importantto the welfare
of our State that her agriculture should hence?
forth be regarded as a science.
Resolved, That measures be immediately ta?
ken to organize agricultural institutes among
us.
Resohted, Jhat an effort be.made to procure
and set in operation a model -farm, in some
healthy portion of the State;
B. Mtddletoit, :
- Chairman.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DI?
RECT TRADE
The Committee on Direct,Trade appointed
by the Convention, have given the subject, as
much consideration as the-limited time allowed
them to report, but by no means as much as its
importance demands. The city of . New.York
has for years been the great emporium and
centre of trade for all sections of .the Union,
of which She is the metropolis. Thither tend
all the streams of wealth to pour their largesses
into her coffers, already full to .Overflowing.
And it is ? well known fact that the South is
more than all other sections a taxpayer to this
exacting commercial autocrat \ ear by year
as the earth brings forth her increase, and the
planter is rewarded for his.toil by an abundant
harvest of the fleecy textile by .which humani?
ty is clothed, a largo proportion goes as.tribute
to the Northern manufacturer, banker, ship?
owner and importer. The question arises, why.
should this be so ? Why should the' Southern
people, with the spirit that animates them, thus
supinely submit to a state of things so mani?
festly against their best interest*, when, by ac?
tion, united, determined action, they may cast
off these shackles which have'.hitherto bound
them, and become independent of the great
metropolis.
The Committee on Lnmigratioh^mlly .alive
to the importance of the subject, will doubtless
bring forcibly to view the many advantages to
be derived from an 'enterprise, looking to the.
introduction into the South of a class-of thrifty
and industrious immigrants) and will point Out
the facilities and perfect practicability of such
an enterprise. Such a scheme as this will again
build up the waste places of the South, and.fill,
them with a numerous and happy population,
and co-equal with this enterprise in impor?
tance, is that of direct trade with Europe,
whereby our produce may find a'foreign mar?
ket by the most direct and expeditions route,
and our imports, from theheu to supply the
wants of bhr people be brought direct to our
doors, without first paying a tax to the banker,
the importer, and jobber of New. York.
We would proposed therefore, that a compa?
ny be formed, having a capital sufficient to
construct and equip four freight and immi?
grant steamers, and that the shares in such
capital stock be placed at an amount which
would bring it within the power of the greatest
number to participate.
Your Committee have assurances that not
only individuals in this country and Europe,
but wealthy corporations, are willing and ready
to subscribe to this object
They therefore recommend. the adoption of
the following resolutions:
Resolved, That this Convention recommend
that a company be . formed for the establish?
ment of a permanent line of freight and im?
migrant steamers to a point ill Europe, in
shares of $25 each..
Resolved, That a Committee lie appointed by
the Chair to obtain subscriptions from the va?
rious Railroad Companies and Corporations
interested in commerce; and also take meas?
ures for the establishment of a company on a
permanent basis, to form a line to consist of
four steamers.
Resolved, That, the Chairman of each dele?
gation be charged with the duty of obtaining
subscriptions, in their section, with power to
appoint. snb-Committees. who will report to
the Chairman appointed by the-Convention
the names and amounts subscribed.
Respectfully submitted,
Roit't. Mure, Chnfn,
REPORT ON CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
The special Committee to whom was referred
a resolution* oh the subject of Chinese labor, ask
leave to report:
That the limited time allowed will not permit
the preparation of an elaborate report, but they
believe the subject well deserves the due con?
sideration of the Convention^
Your Committee are of the opinion that the
introduction of Chinese labor would be of great
benefit to a large- portion of South Ckrotrnir,
In the lower partof tiie^itateand on the islands,
where rice and long cotton is cultivated, and
where it is supposed white labor cannot be per?
manently or profitably employed1, it, would seem
to be a jrreat acquisition.
The (^niuaanis reported to enjoy almost
perfect health on the. low river lands in the