Posted on 10/23/2020 5:42:00 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
The census is furnishing another impressive lesson to the South on the ruinous effects of Slavery upon her commercial and manufacturing enterprises; and if the most prejudiced or the least intelligent votary of the peculiar institution can cherish the hope of seeing Southern cities rival those of the North in wealth and importance, after the results of this enumeration are made known, the fact will prove that the Pro-Slavery mania is as benumbing to the understanding as the most degrading form of religious superstition. Our attention has been drawn to this subject by statements which we meet with in Southern newspapers, of the ascertained population of Richmond and Charleston, and more particularly the latter. The career of these places furnishes the best test of the effects of Slavery upon the population and wealth of commercial and manufacturing cities, for the reason that they are located in communities which make Slavery the predominant interest. Richmond, the capital of Virginia, has enjoyed unusual prosperity during the last few years, and its newspapers had led the public to expect that its population, which was 27,570 in 1850, would amount to at least 50,000 in 1860. A variety of favoring circumstances seemed to warrant these sanguine expectations. During the past ten years an extensive net-work of railroads has been laid down over the greater portion of the State, all, or nearly all of which radiated from Richmond. The James River and Kanhawa Canal, starting many years ago from the same point, has, within the decade, been pushed we know not how far West, and with these strong stimulants to commerce and manufacturing industry, the ambitious hopes of its inhabitants seemed not to be unreasonable. But the census has been taken, and their dreams of civic greatness disappear.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Sad news about the murder, but Mlle. Victoria, the magician, sounds like a fun evening.
Very interesting about the census numbers for Richmond & Charleston and their probative value on overall economic health of the same. The South was obviously far less industrialized and was never able to overcome that gap. Once the Union gave up on the ‘quick victory’ delusions and implemented General Winfield Scott’s “Anaconda Plan” to choke the Confederacy’s foreign trade, the weight of industry and population was entirely one-sided. The cost was a long and terrible and very bloody war!
The Anaconda Plan was not the only good idea that the very old (74) but very experienced (46 years a general) General Scott had as he begged and pleaded for his fellow Virginian, Col Robert E Lee (53), to remain loyal to his Army Oath. Scott was the instigator of having President Lincoln offer Lee a 2 star Major General rank in the coming war. As we all know, Lee placed his Virginia loyalty over everything else and resigned when Virginia succeeded from the Union!
“The Prospects of Mr. Douglas” is an amazingly accurate prediction of what the election results would be. It’s incredible that they were able to be so right before modern polling when we aren’t even sure today who will win next month.
When Biden called Trump "Lincoln" last night, someone should have asked him if he thinks that he is Stephen Douglas.
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