Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-05-12
LIBERTY, ONLY SATURDAY. MAY il, 1898.


''knowsno reaux." With this system, 9th
er influences were combined, all havin,
the same object in view, and tending t,
produce the same general result. o.
these, time does not permit us to DWELL
tbs sufficient for us merelyto mention th
long credits--the auction systematic cen
tralization Of the exchanges; and the con
centration Of the whole patronage, power
and influence Of the Government in fay6
and the North, and especially Of the city 0
New York--causes Of themselves abun
dainty Sufficient to secure them those ad
vantages against which we so long strug
Igled in vain. The calamities under WHY
the South labored, under the operation O
this system, belong to that class which ont
Iof the ablest writer's on political economy
has declared to be worse than "barrennes,
of the soil and the inclemency of the Hea
vens;"--for If our fields were fertile anc
the heavens propitious, the harvest wa.
for those, "who reaped where they haG
not sown." Under these circumstances
so far from Its being matter Of surprise
1t was the result almost of an invincible
necessity, that the commerce of the South
and South West should be thrown into
the hands of the Northern Merchants
that exchanges should be centralized
at New York; and that we should be
rendered TRIBUTARY TO OUR NORTHERN
BRETHREN. To show, that we have not
mistaken the character, or natural effect
OF the causes which we have mentioned,
we will advert 10 one among many facts,
illustrative of the truth of our position
Before the introduction of the protecting
duties, large and profitable direct trade
'oas actually carried on, between cities of
the South and ports of Europe, by Southern
merchants, and in Southern ships. For
several years prior to 1907, for instance,
our imports into the city Of Charleston
amounted to several millions of dollars an.
nually. From this period, under the oper-
alton Of the "restrictive SYSTEM" they
gradually dwindled down to less than alf
million. From the period, however,
when the American system received ia
tai blow, and the Government commenced
retracing its steps, back to the free trade
system, our imports began to increase, and
have been steadily increasing ever since;---
thus showing conclusively' the true sour
ces Of Southern. depression on the one
other. -FREfDoM is the very element Of
the South, in which "she lives, and moves,
and has her being" Freedom in ''all the
pursuits of industry" is essential to our
we'll being. We look back with surprise
to the fact, that people possessed of such
vast advantages, should have so long and
so patiently submitted to state almost OF
"Colonial Vassalage," and we hesitate not
to say that the page in our history, which
shall record the rise and progress Of the
"American SYSTEM" $50 called will be re-
garded hereafter as disreputable to the in
tellgence of the age, and to the public
spirit and virtue of the American people.
But, happily for our prosperity, and we
will add, for the peace and harmony of the
Union, this system has been broken down
we trust and believe forever; and we are
coming back, by slow but sure steps, to
the great principles Of FREE TRADE and
UNRESTRICTED INDUSTRY. To avail our
selves, however, of all the advantages OF
this great and salutary change in our sys-
TEN, it is indispensably necessary, that we
should free ourselves from the trammels OF
long established habits, opinions and pre-.
iudices. 1t is one Of the greatest evils OF
misgovernment, that its effects continue
long after the evil itself has been corTec-
ted, and in all commercial operations, the
influence Of established usages, is extreme
" difficult to be overcome. Todivert cap
ital from its accustomed channels, to intro
duce new associations and habits OF bust-
ness among men, is one Of the most diff
cult tasks which any people can impose
upon themselves; and fit were not for the
high spirit and Intelligence Of our people,
we might distrust our success. When we
survey the actual condition Of the Southern
and Southwestern States, however, VINO
can fail to perceive that we possess I'M.
N use ADVANTAGES in this contest, which
properly improved, must, in the enc
crown our efforts with triumphant success
/ Ii is true we have but few ships, but we
have ship timber in abundance, ofthe chcic
est description, and surely no Southern
man can be insensible Of the vital imPor
lance Of securing a mercantile marine
which in the future changes and chances
to which our country must sooner or "a
ter be exposed, may be essential not only
to Gus prosperity, but to our very exis
tence as free people. Wewunt also 1t i
said commercial capital and credit, anc
cannot it is supposed furnish such an ex
tensive market for foreign goods as WI
enable ussn enter into successful competl
ton with the cities Of the North. Now w
. base all our calculations, and rest all ou
hopes upon the fact, that il is the naturG
.n,rss of frndP to axnhaneya, direcLIU. TIL