Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-12

# her own people. She entirely re-
,erses the maxim, that charity begins
It home. She incarcerates her own
,oor on a diet altogether intolerable;
nd sends missionaries into foreign
ands to preach universal emancipation.
She pays one hundred millions of dol
ars 10 liberate the negroes Of her
West-lndia islands, whilst want and
misery Of the most hideous kind cover
almost the whole Of her own soil.
The resolution of her conduct will
be found in the fact before mentioned
from the Edinburg Review, that only
one-lenth Of her population are in
comfortable circumstances, the other
nine-tenlhs living from hand to mouth
and this tenth, that holds the power, I'M
der the plea Of benevolenoe and reli-
gion, IS, in truth, influenced by the
most selfish and inhumau political mo-
tives.
If the British West-India islands
had been situated in any other part of
the globe, we should have heard less
of their freedom. Britain takes no
steps to remove slavery from her pos
sessions in India. But the negroes in
the West-Indics are near the Ameri-
can coast, and may be made efficient
agents in an invasion Of our Southern
States; and her arisiocracy, who feel
the Fictitious foundation Of their wealth
and power, are anxious, at any cost,
to cripple rival.
Unable TO raise a sufficient supply
Of bread for her population at home,
whenever a season the least unfortunate
occurs, she is compelled to purchase
largely from foreign nations. This her
extensive commerce now enables her
TO do. Blu! il any thing occur to cur
tail that commerce, she will no longer
be capable ofbuying from abroad, and
then her starving millions will rush in
to revolution. Her commerce rests
chiefly for its support on her naval
supremacy, and she therefore looks
with extreme anxiety towards every
people whose marine is at all likely to
rival her own. From the nations OF
Europe she has little to fear in this re-
speet; but the United States have
shown capacity to beat her on the
ocean;--and their large and increasing
nursery for sailors, with their rapidly
advancing population, and growing
resources of every kind, are constant
ly adding to their power in this res
pect.
To cripple such a people is an OBJ
ject exceedingly desirable to England;
and experience has taught her that this
cannot be done by a war waged in the
ordinary manner. Should, however,
a large portion of our population unite
with her in hostile efforts, the prospect
would be much better. The slaves
constitute the only part from whom
any cooperation could be expected
and they would not join a white army;
yet, five were invaded by black force
under British command, they possibly
might. This has led her 10 arm and
discipline the negroes Of the Wesf-In-
dia islands, and TO throw a network,
with her steam packets, in this direc-
ton. Not that she is destitute of white
men and mer-ol-war in abundance fol
such purposes,--her redundant popu-
ation at home, and her "wooden
walls" abroad, prove the contrary
and it would be far more humane tc
employ her able-bodied paupers a:
soldiers, than to incarcerate and starve
them, as she now does. But they
would not serve the purpose Of excit-
ing instruction in our Southern States
and therefore are not suited 10 bel
views. Sending her regularly fitted
men-ol-war into our smaller and les;
protected ports, would EXCITE suspicion
! Therefore she builds d new class o.
men-of-war; calls them steam packets,
but puts her navy officers to command
them that they may learn the piIotage
the strength, and weak points Of oul
han bors--and be ready at any time
and at the shortest notice, to foment q
serviIe war. And the people of the
! South are so infatuated as 10 be actual
| Iy lending her q stick to break THEN
own heads;' for cracked they already
are, if we may Judge from the eager
ness with which facilities, inducement:
and persuasions are held out for these
vessels to touch at Southern ports
! There are now, or soon will be, no les;
+ than fifteen or twenty Of the larges
class of English steamers-aU man Of
uar, built and commanded Jy Britisl
nary officers, actually running, a:
packets, in and out Of the Gulf o
Mexico, and plying between the
West-Indies and the Southern States
Thus our own people are actually as
sisting Great Britain to maintain 4;
steam navy, which in case ofwar, sh'
will turn against us with tremendou
effect. With the knowledge which
her officers in command will soon pos
sess Of our Southern coast and Its har
bors, the 10000 black regulars whicl