Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-14
DEFErwED ARTICLES.
From TIE Baltimore American.
CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

CONF LtLIlRO iNl .
A North Carolina paper had recently
a good paragraph in reference to wbai
are called conflicting interests of the
North and South" 1t showed that there
was not production of the Southern
States which did not in some way contri
butte 10 the prosperity OF the North, and il
ike manner that the manufacturing, me.
chanica, and commercial enterprise o.
the North was continually adding directly
or indirectly to the wealth Of the Southern
planters.
The truth is that the very diversity
which marks the respective productions
Of the North and South, constitutes bond
Of union between them cemented by mu-
tual interest. If cotton, rice and tobacco
were grown in both regions there would
be competition and rivalry and II both
aimed at superiority in manufactures
similar feeling Of contention would exist.
In course of time when the South will
have to depend upon home market for
the sale Of mos: Of her surplus productions,
the identity Of interests between the two
sections will become still more apparent.
That this period is rapidly Fastening on,
most observers, who sec things as they
are. will freely admit.
There is some conflict Of ideas between
the North and the South---a contrsriety
of notions, political and otherwise. The
people OF the North are practical race
quick to perceive and prompt to act IN
all that pertains TO their substantial inte-
nj
view of political questions, and resolve
them accordingly looking TO useful re.
suits. They are inclined to interpret the
constitution so as to render its provisions
beneficial to the country--not aveise there
to. In word, the people OF the North,
taken generally, are IN respect 10 enter.
prise, improvements, qulckness OF tact,
busincsslike sagacity, fully up with the
age. They are quito aware OF what is
going on in the world at this present time,
and they can give shrewd guesses con-
corning the future course of thngs-in so
far as coming events may have reference
to their own concerns.
Il is not to be denied that different
CLASSES of habits, notions, and modes OF
action, are to be noted South ofthe Poto.
mac. Without going into particulars il
may be remarked that our Southern peo-
pie are inclined, as general thing, to
think pretty highly of themselves and RAJ
Their inditferently of other people. y!
their own political wisdom they have
strong conceit; and the opinion prevails
among many, especially in Virginia, that
sound doctrine on the subject OF the con-
stituton, is not to be found north Of
Mason's and Dixon's line. 1t is said by
some, although we do not vouch for the
truth Of the assertion, that the Old DO
mnion has been stationary for the last
thirty or forty years, having been wholly
taken up during that period in teaching
and preaching and expounding the Reso-
lutions of '9S. 1t is beyond question
the firm belief Of many in that favored
State, that human intelligence, IN the
way Of politics, reached its elimination
when those famous Resolutions were
given to the world. This beliefs thought
10 be strongest among those who never
read the Resolutions. The patriotism OF
these acute politicians is Of the most SUBJ
Emated kind. Toe Federal Government;
being recognized as the direct antagonist
of the States, since it possesses no powers
except such as the States were deprived
of in order to furnish II out and set 1t up
in the world it follows that the true aim OF
every genuine States Rights man ought
to be to get back these powers into the
possession ofthe States again, or at least
to prevent as much as possible the exer-
else Of them by the General Government.
Hence comes strict construction. The
public prosperity would no doubt be great
ly promoted by the prompt and ethcient
use Of the powers Of the General Govern.
mcnt, but then the sovereignty of the
States would be so much endangered by
granting it the use Of any powers that
can be possibly withheld, that with uncom-
mon disjnterestedness the public prosperl-
~ is sacrificed for the sake OF the abstract
principle of State Rights and strict con-
structon.
Such arc some OF the conflicting points
between the North and the South. Real
tiles are contending with distractions, not
the interests of one section against those
of another in proportion as intercourse be-
comes general, and the means OF inter-
communication increase, and the people of
one region become acquainted with the
people of the other, these differences will
disappear. Every year sees them dimin-
ish. Let US hope that the coalescing pro.
cess will go on with increased rapidlty.
-z--us--.u-
TIM Nrw TARIPF IN New DIRK