Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-11-01
Vol. 3.-NO. Al.


Tire developemem Of our immense ae-
ricultural resources has hardly yet com
menced, The States of Mississippi. Ala.
bama, Louisiana and Arkansas, contain in
round numbers some 80 millions of acres
each In this State al the lowest compu-
lation 100000 are capable Of profitable
cultivation. At present not more than
100000 are cultivated. The proportions
Ewilaveragc nearly the same in the three
other States. Now, with such immense a.
grlcultural resources, cannot perceive
how the use of foreign capital in theird
velopement can be injurious to either Of
these States; nor do / understand what ad-
vantage they are 10 derive from establish
ing, to use favorite phrase of some poll
ticlans, "comme rcial Independence"
This phrase by the bye, has been very fire.
quent, and deem it not amiss to examine
1t moment. If We can carry on all the
commerce arising out Of our immense pro-
ducts as cheuply and advantagcousy 10
Yourselves as others can do it for us, then
am in favor Of "commercial independ-
ence;" II we cannot, then am not in favor
of it, Notwithstanding the al captandum
character Of the phrase. That others
should carry out cotton to market and
bring back TO US the commodities which
we desire. while we are engaged IN the
more profitable business Of production, con-
veys to my mind no feeling Of vassaIage
or ependance. ! have always been and
still am in favor Of fostering southern
commerce, but not at the cxpense of south
ern agriculture. To u certain extent,
doubt not we may advantageously enter
into commercial competitions; but that it is
Tor our interest 10 Withdraw from agricul-
ture, capital and domestic, do not believe
Whenever the profits Of agriculture shall
be reduced below those of commerce, pri-
vatc interest will regulate the matter
much better than political interference
But how is the Sub-Treasury scheme TO
build up southern commerce? Will ii o.
pen any new channelsY Will it enable
the south 10 import cheaper than before9
Will it add iny thing whatever to the fac
ul,ies we already possess9 No, it will do
none Of these things. 1t will however,
say these sagacious and liberal statesmen,
take away the facilities which the north
has enjoyed, and which has enabled her TO
exceed us in commerce; il will derange
the exchanges, and obstruct the inter.
course between the two sections of the u
Mon; and thus, by rendering northern COM
merco difficult, force us to build up south
ern one. 1t will shut up one avenue and
thereby compel us to take the other. |
cannot give my free trade principle, which
the south has always avowed. Ii is at war
with the great objects Of the Union.
This government was constituted upon
the principle that the different pursuits and
interests Of the different States, had an in
tlmute dependence upon each ollier, and
that under common government, they
could be better regulated for their mutual
advantage. 1t is this mutual dependence
arising out Of diversity Of pursuits that
constitute, at once the cause and bond Of
union. lis not subject Tor regret, but
for congratulation. 1t is not dependence
oil necessity or force, but ofchoicc. When
say, for instance, that the State Of Mis-
sissippi is dependant upon Kentucky for
her bagging and rope, and upon Massa-
chuseus for her Iships and sailors TO take
her cotton tomarket;I mean not that she
is compelled, otherwise than by her own
sense ofinterest, to have recourse to either.
She can, If she pleases, manufacture her
own bagging and rope, build her own ships
and man them with her own sailors. She
only depends upon the other States be-
cause they will perform these services for
her cheaper than she can perform them
herself Such kind of depennance, a de-
pendance Of mutual advantages, is the ce'
ment Of civilization, the index OF prosperi-
ty and improvement. In relation TO this
subject, savages are your only independent
people, | believe there should be fair
competition in commerce; and tho people
will of their own accord, choose the best
market. With uniform currency and
its necessary accompaniment, q low rate OF
exchanges, competition will DO fair; for
| the purchaser will then be able 10 buy
whore he pleases. An unequal currency
and dcranged state Of exchanges, for in
stance, such state of things as has eXI
isted Tor the last year, will undoubtedly
give an artificial impulse TO southern com
merce; bat it will be by destroying com
petition, by cutting off the old channels,
and thus forcing trade into thenew. It
will be in effect a tariff in disguise.
A uniform currency, therefore, lconsld-
or the most essential ally Of free trade and
free competition. Gold and silver arc
sufficiently uniform, but arc deficient in
convenience and quantity Apaper cur
re,ncv Of some sort, take il for gfapte1,
we must have. have never entertained
but ono opinion on this subject, and that is
that uniform Bank paper currency can
not exist without the agency OF United
Statcs Bank believe the State Banks