Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, April 20, 1852, Image 2
The Expedition to Japan.
The-Epglish and French papers have been quite
enlogistic ofonr Governmen t for the proje cted e.\peditionto
the Arctic seas and Japanese coast:?
They appear to entirely misconceive its objects.
They suppose that it is the purpose of the Government
of the United States to force a commerce
with Japan by an exhibition of a large
naval force. In the hope of participating in the j
advantages ofsucii an intercourse, wane me ?uvantages
of such an intercourse, while the expense
and responsibility fall on us, the English journals
can see no criminality?no wrong in such
an enterprise, yet they read us frequently lessons
on our lust for territory, if, in pursuit of lawful
purposes, we acquire dominion in any other
part of the world. The annexation of Texas and
the conquest of California were gross and irreparable
offpnees against Mexico. But to compel
the Japanese to open their ports to the admission
of foreigners does no violence to the equality
of natioas. To compel them to abandon a long
cherished system of policy docs no national
wrong.
We cannot comprehend such political ethics.
The Japanese have the natural right to exclude
from their ports all whom they choose to exclude,
and to discriminate between one class of foreigners
and another? to admit Hollanders and refuse
to admit Englishmen and Americans. If this
right is theirs, there can be no justification inf>rcing-them.to
abandon their peculiar policy.?
^' ? ? ? tv*"*.....1 fliA i.fli/tiipu nnd.ftrou'ciif
llicy lire WUII Vi W/ HCUli IUV VMJVX. ivj MMU VI v??ww?
vessels cast on their shores conformably to the
usages of civilized nations. The Japanese Government
should be compiled to conform to those
usages. Further than this, there can be no
right to enforce on them our notions of commercial
intercourse.
The English journalists would be glad of the
support to their own plea, in the example of the
United States, as relatives to China. The Chino^were
enforced to admit foreigners to trade
with th<*m. byEnglish great guns. It was made j
a question of ]>ower. Still we think that more j
will be dote by bringing tbc Chinese, as well as
Japanese, into a perception of the benefits of
commercial intercourse by the appliances of peace
than by those of war. The contact of Chinese
with Americans where they meet on a common
theatre of wide enterprise, as they do in California,
will do more to spread the knowledge of
these benefits, than the law of the strongest declared
at the cannon's mouth.
Now if this plea is good, in the case of China
or Japan; it is equally good in the case of Mexico
op the Island of Cuba. The ground of interference
in Chinese policy was its exclusiveness? j
its injury to general commerce. It was not urged
against the Celestials that they entertained
schemes of conquest against other nations.?
They simply shut themselves up from intercourse
'with other countries. There would be no right
to force an individnal to surrender his misanthropical
views if he fancied exclusion froin all communion
with society. He could not be rightfully
punished for his anti social disposition. So with j
nations. J And if China and Japan are to be visi- ]
ted by the penalties of bomb and congrevc rock- |
ets, for refusing intercourse with the rest of the ,
civilized world?if freedom of commerce is to be
enforced by the cannon's mouth, and not accomplished
by negotiation, in the case of countries
which have no naval means of resistance, what
is the difference between the close monoply which
Mexico and Spain have adopted in ever}* portion ,
of their territories and the exclusiveness of these
Celestials? Why is there not the same right to
make Mexico relax her commercial policy, and
Spain to do the same as regards her colonies, as
to bombard the cities of China and Japan, for
tne samp enaf.
But, as we have said, tliere has been a total
misconception as to the object of our Government
in planning this expedition. It is not to compel 1
the Japanese to unseal their ]x)rts?to reverse 1
their peculiar system of international, or rather J
non-national intercourse, but to make a fuller ex- '
ploration than hitherto has been done of the Po- 1
lar Seas?to indicate the points of danger to 1
navigation from reefs and shoals that fill that 1
sea, and on which several of our whalemen have 1
been recently shipwrecked, attended by a great ]
loss of life. Another object is to induce the Ja- <
panese Government to treat with humanity such t
of our mariners as may be driven on the coasts j
of Japan, and as subsidiary to these purposes, to i
effect, by negotiation, not by force, any arrange- ]
rnents by which intercourse can be establiehed be- j ,
tween the islands of the Indian Ocean and our 1
possessions on the Pacific coast, of the highest
importance since acquisition of California.
Charleston Evening Ncxcs. \
\
Presidential Cauccssino.?The letter from ,
Washington in this morning's Mtircnry, is a ' i
forcible appeal to the people of the State to ke< p ,
clear of the entanglements of the Baltimore 1 j
Convention. It comes from one who has a
right to advise them in such matters, and we ,
earnestly invite their attention to his reasons.? |
Until very recently we had seen no cause to ]
doubt th^t by nearly universal consent, the State
would pursue the course which she has hitherto
deemed the dictate of principle and duty:?to
give no sanction of participation, to those irregu-,'
lar convocations of party politicans, called Na- 1
tional Conventions; which, having neither a legal
existence, nor any measure of responsibility, I
have at length usurped to an alarming extent;
the entire functions of.the people as a political
body, and of the government as their agent.? 1
We mast remember too. that those who <.au>e
themselves to be represented in these Cotiven- '
lions, are considered as under a pledge to abide j1
by their decissions. Are the people of SouthCarolina
prepared to give such a pledge ? We j
cannot believe it, or that more than an iticon-,
Biddable minority of thein, feel any temptation
to plunge into this vortex of intrigue, for the
spoils of office. But we need not attempt to
add to the force of the arguments which our
correspondent has so strikingly arrayed against
our participating in this corrupt and corrupting
game.? Charleston Mercury.
Wholeasle expulsion.?Twenty-five students
of the the sophomore class in Yale College
have been expelled, in consequence, it is said,-of
the Kappa Sigma Theta Societies to which they
belonged having published several cat natures
abusive of some 6f the officers of the faculty
The affair seems to have occasioned some exritTrrnrtw#
New Hwven.
THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL.
TUESDAY EVENING,- APRIL 20, 1852.
_____ L_
- THO. J. WARREN, Editor.
Our Cotton Market.
The Cotton market continues inactive, the receipts
being light. We quote extremes at 5 1 2 to 7 7-8.
Charleston quotations, 6 1-2 to 8 1-4.
Rain and HaiL
On Saturday last we were visited by very copious
showers of rain and hail We hope the fruit trees and
vegetation generally will suffer but little, although we
are apprehensive that they will to some extent, be retarded
in their growth.
Resources of South-Carolina.
A good article on this subject may be found in our
paper to-duy. There arc good common sense, practical
ideas in the communication, which are worthy of
consideration. . :
Death from Lightning.
Wc learn that on Saturday last, during the storm,
two Negro Men belonging to the estate of Jamks C.
Doby, were struck by lightning, and one of them, (Joe,
an old and faithful house servant) was instantly killed;
the other was badly injured, but may possibly recover.
Hon. J. A. WoodWard.
We thank Mr. Woodward for his recent favors. We
are indebted to him for a copy of Senator Soulc's speech
on Non-intervention. Also a copy of the Secretary
of the Treasury's Report on Commincrec and Navigation.
General Adams.
This gentleman declines the nomination recently
made through the columns of the Fairfield Register.
Laurens Rail Road.
We sec by the Laurcnsvillc Herald that this road has
been completed as far as Martin's depot, fifteen miles
from Laurens Court House. Already have the farmers
been benefitted by the road. Those on the corn-buying
list have been enabled to save considerably by tho
operation of the road.
Rabun Gap Rail Road.
We have received a circular from a Committee appointed
at a recent meeting held at Anderson Court
House in reference to the Rabun Gap Rail Road. The
Resolutions contemplate the holding of a Convention
in July next, with special reference to this important
matter. We have been requested to call attention to
the matter, tlvat our citizens may, if they think proper,
appoint delegates to that Convention, which will meet
at Anderson on the first day of July next. "We do
not propose to discuss the importance of this measure?
it must be obvious to every reflecting mind, and merely
allude to it to comply with the request of the Committee.
Lancaster Ledger, Ac.
This excellent paper comes to us quite improved in
its tvpographieal appearance, besides with a good selection
ef reading matter, several original communications,
and the usual variety of editorial, making up
quite an Interesting issue.
Our brother Ledger will accept our acknowledgments
for the kind as well ascompliinentary notice he has 3een
nrntuir tn tiikn of 119 Altlirmirh wo mnv difforon oer
tain points of State policy, that is no reason why we
should think the less of each other. We admire independence
wherever we see it. Freedom of opinion is
one of those great fundamental and inalienable rights
which Is allowed to every man, in a goverment like
ours. Destroy this, and liberty is but an empty name.
If our brother of the Ledger desires to discuss the
Homestead law, wo have no objection to a few words
upon the subject.
In this connection, we may as well remark, that we
liavo recently had the pleasure of making the acquaintance
of Mr. llailev, of tho Ledger, during a brief soiouni
in the village of Lancaster. We observe that
considerable improvement has been made, and is being
nude in this place. This is clearly evident from the
act that a paper, with alreudy a fair circulation, has
jccii established, new stores have been erected, and
ire in progress of erection, and there is a decided improvement,
evidently from the prospect of a railroad
connection. The people are wonderfully awakened on
this subject, and that something will be done before a
,'rcat while, admits of scarce a doubt. We have heard
i great deal said upon the subject?a majority of tho
people we believe, prefer to connect with Camden,
whilst some give Chester the preference. Of one
tiling wo are certain, an effort on tho part of Camden
would secure the road, beyond the shadow of a doubt.
We arc not, however, sufficiently satisfied of the practicability
of the scheme to urge the matter?nevertheless,
we would not if wo could, throw an iota in the way
-.f' .... ..-la,. ?rc. niiu.P imiw.rtmwn Our /.PI I./.I.
by (whether we shall ever have the pleasure of riding '
an it or not, we cannot say.) stretches along before our
imagination in the great distance. Unfortunately thero
is no '"enchantment in the view." We believe such a
road as wc have advocated for the last two years will
be of inlinitely greater service to Camden than the best
railroad in the country. Ifa plank road is made, Camilen
must make it. The people of Lancaster do not
rare to be deceived any longer, and they have determined
to tako their own cause into their own bands,
and mend their ways. Success to tliom.
The people of Lancaster arc remarkable for their
promptness in paying debts. We judge from the fact
that we have been paid, generally speaking, better in
Ibis District than any other, except, as a matter of
course, our own.
Court-week, in all our country villages and towns,
devclopcs the character of a people better than any
other means; in this regard we think Lancaster lias
improved; during our stay, we did not perceive any
unusual demonstrations or dispositions on the part of
the people to engage in hostile recreations. "lis true
now and then, one here mid there might be seen somewhat
over, as the saying is, who had indulged too freely
in the ardent. The Juries were intelligent, and the
Grand Jury, be it said to their eredit, threw out of
Court, many cases, which too often are allowed to disgrace
tho records of our Courts, and draw within the
halls of justice, promiscuous crowds eager to gratify
depraved curiosity.
The Court was occupied by a number of tedious cases;
some of those long and uninteresting land cases,
which often require evidence as far back as tho time
when tbi Aborigines gave up the land.
His Honor, Judge Frost, is a most excellent and
amiable gentleman, but wo imagine his patience was
taxed to its utmost capndty in being obliged to liston
all the while to these casos, which wore enough to vex
Jvdje, tTt;rv, and even- one else
Temperance has done much for Lancaster, and ttu
success of the cause is to be attributed to the zeal hnd en
ergy of such men aa,are at the head of the work. W<
know it might be thought invidious to discriminate
.yet we must be allowed to say that Dr. Richard E. Wy
lie is A. No. 1, far in the advance of any ono else ii
point of zeal and energy. lie has been tbo devote<
| friend of the cause, and nothing daunted, he has stocx
forth at alV times as the inflexible advocate of truth.
On Tuesday last, Lancaster Division celebrated it
thirii Anniversary, on which occasion a procession wa
formed of the Sons and Cadets under the direction o
P. W. P. Belden, and marched to the Methodist church
j where, alter prayer by Rev. D. W. Seal, an address wa
; delivered by Dr. W. W. Moblev, who gave a philosoph
i innl view of the subioet. and treated it with considera
bio ability. W. Thurlow Caston, Esq.. also addresse<
the meeting, upon an invitation from Dr. Galluchat
I the W. P. Mr. Caston made but a few remarks; the;
were, however, forcible and to the point. Having ex
hausted our limits we must close for the present.
Death of the Young.
The young must diel the cold and cheerless boson
of the earth must receive back again, that which firs
; it gave. Tho bright, the beautiful, the gay, must al
fade, must all die.
The smiles of youth, its merry laugh, its loveliness
must all pale at the approach of the grim tyrant. Tin
Trail flowers of 3*outh and beauty cannot withstand thi
chilling breath of decay. The brightest are the fleetest
j -These thoughts are suggested by the death of one c
' the fair and beautiful of earth, who, like tho mornin)
cloud has passed away?Miss An.vee E. Bitvso.v. o
i ?
.AllgUSUl, UlU
"Thou wert unfit to dweir with clay,
For sin too pure lor earth too bright;
And death who called thee hcnco away,
Placed on his brow a gem of light."
The beautiful lines which follow were written on he
| death, ami published in one of the city papers:
ANNE E. B .
Abne, first thy magic beauty
From an iuliintfacc did beam,
As it broke upon my vision,
Softly like an angel dream.
Then I watched it open gently
As the petals of a flower,
Neath the smiles that lore had kindled
In thy home at morning's houi.
Early there death's shadow lowered,
, And like dew upon the rose
Came the tears to dim thy childhood,
Stirring thy younglifc's rcjyoso.
But it passed, a morning shower,
And the rainbow spanned the storm;
Lovelier still from clouded sunshine
Stole the brightness of thy form.
Then, perfected in thy beauty,
Thou did'st seem unto our eyes
Something lent from lleaven to mortals,
Clothed awhile in human guise.
Blessings followed on thy footsteps;
Lovo was kindled at thy tone;
Scarce a stranger heart could know theo
Ere 'twas linked unto thine own.
But we saw thcc fading, Anncl
Earth was not thy genial soil;
Thine was but the early sunbeam,
Not the heat of noonday toil.
Gontly, as thou inoved'st among us,
Did'st thou pass in peace away:
Like a wearied spirit hasting,
Scarcely could we bid thee stay.
On thy Savior's love reposing
Sank his trusting child to rest,
Lovely in thy last deep slumber
As upon thy mother's breast.
May we meet thee, angel Anne, '
In thy robe of beauteous light,
"When for us the morn is breaking
O'er the gloom of Death's dark night!
II. C. 13.
Lady's BookThis
interesting Monthly for May has reached u;
quite in advance of the Queen month. Jt brings it!
usual variety of literary treats. January and May an
aptly illustrated in the picture of the old man and hi:
young1 wife?youth lcsining (age shouldlenn,) upoi
tho arm of decrepitude. Mrs. Xeal has beautifully ex
plained the picture. A proud mansion in the bad
ground, with stately terraces overlooking a fair land
scape: a home stately enough even for tho ambition o
the poor proud Alice Middlcton. But the lorcgrounc
is strangely contrasted by tho figures representing tin
January and May of life?nu old, decrepit man toilirif
along in second childishness, his stops upheld by i
.staff, and tho arm of a young girl crowned with flow
crs, and clad in a velvet boddiee, guiding his uncortair
stops, but with a sad, listless glunce. Beneath, th(
artist has written '"January and May." This was pre
fcrred by Uio weak girl to tho discomforts of love in r
cottage.
? . Democratic Review.
The March rtumber has come at last. Better late
than never.
The present number contains a portrait of tho late
Col. DuxcaK, whose eminent services in the war witl:
Mexico has enrolled his name "in history with the
great captains who have conducted armies."
We like the Democratic Review for its manly indc
pcndence, and whilst we roeognize no party as ours
such as whig and democrat, who are opposed to out
institutions, we admire nobleness nnd a high-toneii
spirit and independence wherever we find it. Tin
Review is an anient advocate of tho Democratic jwrty
The following correspondence will servo to show how
matters are managed:
Clarksvillk, Marcli 15, 1852.
Drar Sir? I nin ho mucli dissatisfied with t'-.e course
taken in the January and February numbers of the
Democratic Review, that I am unwilling longer to be
considered one of its patrons. You will please, therefore,
discontinue it. Should there be any balance or
your books against ine, you will please forward tho ac
count for pay. I presume however, thero is none. ]
am respectfully, Ac. C. Johnson.
D. W. Holly, Publisher Democratic Rcviow.
The following is the reply of the Publisher:
Hon. Cave Johnson: Sir?Your letter of tho 15tli
inst, is received. I nin directed to say that the Reviow
reoognircs no one as its "patron." It is oonduoted on
the principles and to suit the tastes and requirement
of tho Democratic pnrty of tho nation. It decidedly opposes
n general "restoration," therefore woaro not surprised
at your being displeased. Wo find that tho Rcviow
has been patronizing you for years. Your bill it
$8, which wo will bo glad to receive by return mail
Your's, respectfully, D. W. Hoxxr,
Publisher Democratic Review.
1 1 " ?1?
3 We have only copied this to show the preaompt&n |
- which some men have. Wo have encountered, in our j
3 abort editorial career, such specimens of the human <
i, race, who, because we have not consented to play 1
- second fiddle to.their tune, have ordered a diacontinul
ance witliall the affected dignity and peremtoriness of a I
1 military order. Such occasions, we have the pleasure <
i of saying, seldom occur, and those which have, really
only relieved us of some dead matter?which is only
s another term for those who read papers without pays
ing for them.
Gentlemen: I desire through the columns of
8 your paper to correct a misstatement, personal
. to myself," which appeared in a report of the
. proceedings of the City Council of Charleston, <
j published in the Charleston papers of the 20th i
ultimo. These proceedings were in reference to j
! the measures proper to be adopted in view of i
certain lectures which a Mr. E. Leahey proposed
to deliver in that city upon certain alleged practices
of the Catholic Church. In the speech
made by Mr. Leahey before the City Council of
a Charleston, and forming part of the above-named
t report, he is reported to have said, " lie has in
j his pocket a letter from the Mayor of Washington?the
Capitol of our Republic?inviting him
to go there and lecture." I deem it proj>er to
* make known, in this public manner, that the
above statement is not true. Mr. Leahey is an i
c entire stranger to me. iVo letter has ever been
written by me, or by my authority, to Mr. Lea- i
lf hey upon this or any other subject; and in fact
' 1 have not written a line to any one in relation
^ to Mr. Leahey or his lectures.
WALTER LENOX,
\t c fK*..
itiityui 01 uiv v,iij i/i <i iHiiiu^iuui
April 7, 1852.
The above, Mr. Editor, is clipped from the
r National Intelligencer of the 8th inst., and I send
it to you from the fact of your having written
an article on this distinguished individual some
time since. "The principles of Eternal Truth
are firm and when those principles embodied |
in an organization have stood the shafts of infidelity
and the storms of ill-guided paganism,
for eighteen hundred years, it ill-becomes such
men as Mr. Leahcy to pitch straws against the
buckler of the church. LIBERAL.
For the Camden Journal
Internal Resources of South Carolina
Love of country, patriotism, and public spirit,
so commendable and manly, are but other terms
fyr that divine injunction, " Love thy neighbor
as thyself." And though so liberally professed
in every day life among men as right and proper,
is not practised yet more than it ought to be.
And while it affords an excuse for so many of
our actions that a mere superficial observer might
suppose its influence almost universal, candor comjk?Is
us to admit that there are occasional instances
of naked, undisguised selfishness, and yet we
must believe in charity, that the majority of men
?iiin wifli morp or liv? Hjirnpstne.s :if. flio enm
mon good. All those who djvote their time to
religion, politics, literature or professional callings,
obviously tend that way.
At the public good we aim, is so frequent an
expression, that-we may consider it almost every (
mail's motto. Therefore, when we speak out our (
reflections and call upon all concerned for a ,
hearing, respectful attention at least, is due. '
t leas and opinions are as much and as naturally (
the forerunners of expression, jus seed time is of \
harvest, and humble as the pretensions of the (
author may be, some thought might escape him, ,
that others of more ability than himself, could
take up, unfold atid improve upon resulting finally,
in great benefit to mankind.
lieginings are usualk small; indeed, we may !
sav in every thing that is or has been, there was 1
a feebleness in its beginning, which should teach 1
us to examine closely any new project before we .
reject or condemn it.
Evety good citizen is in a measure, bound by
his relations to society to exercise his mind in
looking out for the ways and means of bettering
himself, his family, and his fallow men. Though
* his tribute be but a mite, let liirn throw it into
3 the common stock of a progressive age. When
5 chanc? offers grcjit things to attempt, we should '
3 not let them pa*s, but lay hold of them vigorous1
Iv?but they arc rare, while less things are often
* seen and and as much required jus the greater, '
i to make up the whole.
With this preface, iind with a sincere desire
f to be useful, 1 submit what follows to my fcll
low citizens, asking them to discuss the matter
, I fiip tlniin<r>lv<--< niirl consider it. Lmiillv tmvnrdc '
: -r
| Ours is a small state compound with other j 1
Southern States, hut our bounds are fixed, and,
as was once observed in Congress by a member
from this state, " We occupy a surface prodigiously
larg comp r.- with our numbeis."
The area of iSoutii Carolina in round numbers,
is nineteen millions of acres and the population
j under six hundred thousand, giving over thirty
| acres of land to every individual, old and young,
>' black and white, and 1 think we may safely say
i there is one hundred acres of land for every per)
-on engaged in its tillage. If then, we esti,
mate that by unv means, one half of the land, .1
, or nine and a half millions of acres is capable '
i of culture, there is room enough in our borders
yet, to plant ten times as much more as wc now i
I laut. ]
Admitting then, that we have nine and a j
I half millions of act s of tillable land, of which
allow one half for grain and pasturage and plant
only the balance, four and three quarters mil|
lions of acres or one fourth of all our surface,
: and were to make no more than half a bale of
| cotton to the acre, it would give us a crop of
( nearly twenty four hundred thousand bales equal
> to the present whole crop of the United States,
> '1 Ilia i* stnrtlinnr ntirl eimin ?
throw back their heads and raise up their hands i
J in amazement. At first, it does look incredible, i
that so small a territory and but one fourth of t
i it employed making only half a crop should i
I turn out so much,?but here are the figures and i
| competent calculators say we havo the land. I
' I feel that this is a sort of new idea and some t
one may say if South Carolina can do so much, j
the other cotton states can do it too, or that (
South Carolina is looking ahead to making all s
: the cotton wanted. But observe, I am not tell- ^ s
' ing what we are trying to do, or what we are i
; going to do but what we could do if we would, and t
j what duty to ourselves requires that we should j
' boidlv attempt for our sake and the sake of f
:hose who arc to come after us, if we wish to
improve our condition by using our resources or
sven maintain our present standing before the
^vorid.
Union or disunion, secession or submission,
this is our present home; here we find our lots
cast; here our abiding place. And the Mighty
Maker's command to Adam in Eden to subdue,
to dress and to keep it is a command to us. If
not so audible from Deity, we hear it from interest,
from nature's first Law from the desire "to
provide for those dependent npon ns, and to enlarge
our blessings.
Let our rivers be straightened?throw all the
water into one straight channel, that .it may run
ofl quick and wash out deep?thus securing their
deltas free from freshets, and you open up an
immense mine of agricultural wealth, which
must adiJ to your capital, increase your productions
and comforts, employ your labor and skill
to greater advantage, invite an increase and re"
tain your present numbers?which if something'
is not done, must look out for other fields to opcrate
in. To effect this purpose, is worth an effort?
for if we lose them, we lose the essentials
of strength, capital and population?when the
opposite course will encourage them to remain
with their energies, means and productionsSmall
streams are ditched drained and redrained,
as we will see on almost every plantation?then
why not the rivers that are worth
so much more; ; <
From Camden falls to Santee is about 40
miles?the swamp will average at least two'
miles?many places it is four miles across--16ut
say two miles all the way and you have eighty
square miles or upwards, fifty one thousand
acres of land, of which there is not now under culture
above 15,000 acres, thus adding 30,000
acres of new land ; or say an increase of value
on the whole of ?20 per acre, gives us 1,000,000.
And this in a short distance of Wateree
alone, in the centre of the State, while there is
Santee Congaree, the Pee Dees, Lynches Creek,
and several other streams adding in all, ten or
twenty times more.
As we know more about Wateree River, and
we believe that no other would yield so much at
so little expense, we can say more about it, and
would respectfully ask particular attention to it,
from Camden to Santee. In a straight line, it is
about forty miles?as it runs, 125 miles or more.
The fall 18 inches or more to the mile, as it
could not run with less. Reduce the length to
forty miles, and concentrate the fall, gives ns
five feet, and if the flow increases in proportion,
it would run off in one day as much as it runs A
now in one week, and the single channel give
sufficient vent for all the water.
The old river beds could soon be planted,?
the creeks, lakes, and ponds could be drained by
ditches into the deepened channel, and all or
nearly all rendered secure from overflow of water
wliii'li 1ms been en freemen t the Inst few
years as to discourage the few that plant them.
The crops and stock lost in the last ten years
would be a sufficient sum to pay for the woik I
propose.
These lands are greatly needed, for wliat was
naturally fertile of the high lands, has become
much worn, while these lands once made free
from freshets, are almost invaluable, the quality
of the soil being the very richest, and lying so
as never to wear out Producing cotton, corn,
or small grain equal to any lands on earth. These
great advantages would not be for a few years
only, or require a periodical expense to keep
th^ni up. as most improvements do, but they
ivill tell and tell well for all time to come.
An expenditure of $100,000 by the State win
add one million to its wealth. Lands now valued
at five dollars, will be worth fifty dollars per acre;
it is too large an undertaking for individual^
though they have done much in baukiug out,
which docs not answer the purpose. To erabank
all the way would cost three times the
money that straightening it would, and then
to the embankments are always liable to break or
be undermined, while the water outside of them
must lie on the ground which is often an injury
fn prr,i? fn t)?r> rrmnnd ftnrl ft binr?rftn<?r? frnm
work. The enterprise is so inviting to the State,
!? o much can lx? done with so little money. Let
it be surveyed by ft competent man,?count tho
cost, make all the calculations, and go to work
as soon as possible. Here we have rich mines
which are certain nev er to fail. They ennnot be
worke d too soon ; objection' might be made to
this magnificent improvement as redounding too
much to the benefit of a few, which I answer by
asking wh?*t work of its kind has not the same
tendency! Where a railroad4pas?es land rises in
price. Town property and rents increase in value.
where the facilities of trade and travel are
enlarged ; and what is good for a part of tho
people is good for the whole. The State belongs
to the people, and without the people it could
not go on. We insist with great confidence,that
this enterprise is practicable, and that it could i,
not fail to result in eminent good to all.
It looks like this acquisition had been reserv*
>d for a later day,?a day when necessity would
lompel a movement towards it. To the writer,
ivho must confess himself sanguine on the subect,
it presents itself as a cheap means of neary
doubling the wealth of the State.
It may meet the common cry of humbug or
risionary scheme; may be deuounced as too ex- ""t
pensive or impracticable; and so it may be, for ^
*rcat allowances are to bo made in exploring y
tew grounds. We are liable to make over and "*
inder estimates, but let it be looked into; if
worthy of the trial, let the Legislature move
in tho subject, and move earnestly; here is
lomething worthy of its aid, and just in charac*
'or with th<? ontprniliin nf rrnr rwv>nlo wh^n thev
nove nt all, and in which our public men have
dways been disposed to join. Our State pride
s proverbial. See how much has been spent in
mproving the navigation of our rivers, by canals
ind clearing out obstructions. And now when ^
hey are made safer and better than they ever
ivere before, is nearly superseded by railroadsv
vhich have also been cherished into usefulness
>y the aid of public money. Beside5, see what
he State has done to preserve and promote the
wospcrity of her citizens; rebuilt the city of
Charleston ; built Hamburg; see her Atlantic
team navigation company ; her College, her
md, might cause confusion. There is some
veight in this, but second reflection blows it to
he w inds; " where is the man w ho would ob-.
ect to having the value of his property increased
ivc hundred per cent * If such an one can b3