The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-06
Manufactures North and South-The RI
valry OF the Two Sections,

We have made frequent mention, for some
months, of the rapid increase Of manufactures In
the South-particularly OF such as have been erect
ed for the purpose Of making the coarser kind Of
cotton fabrics Many short-sighted people have
supposed that the establishment of these manufac-
torres would make it the interest of the Southern
section, who have SO long complained Of the un-
business of protective duties, TO advocate tariff for
protection, and that it would not only tend to this
beneficial result but that it would harmonize the
Eastern and Southern sections, as both would be
directly interested in manufactures.
This is much mistaken idea, though extremely
prevalent among many friends of the South and
her prosperity, both in and out of it. The very
opposite result will be the consequence, and in
stead of harmony, the interests will clash riore d.
rectly than ever. We are justified in drawing
such conclusion from the following premises
We have given ... the Herald statistical tables,
clearly showing that the manufacturers IN the
South can compete with the Eastern, and produce,
with white labor, goods equal and cheaper than in
New England. Slave labor has not yet been ex-
tensively introduced into the Southern manufac-
torres, and when that is introduced, it will demon
s,rate that the South can drive the Eastern manu-
facturers out of their own markets in the manufsc-
ture of coarse cotton goods. The average cost of
slave labor Gao per year,, which, by experiments
made at Columbia, South Carolina, Is shown TO be
better adapted TO manage machinery than even hired
free labor will not cost them more than halfthe price
OF labsr IN the Northern manufactures and the
snd the water power of the South, of which
they have an unlimited supply at all seasons,
would cost, as we have shown in former Heralds,
comparatively nothing. These advantages will
eventually deprive the Eastern and Northern ma
nufacturers of the domestic market, which pro-
lection has enabled them 10 monopolize and real
ize immense fortunes from IN former years. As
by the tariff that drove the South OF the supply
Ing Of their own market by changing cotton for
cotton goods with the rest Of the world, the low
rate of wages resulting from the system that
caused it, WILL in turn, enable the South to drive
the North out Of their own market by manufac-
curing cheaper, in consequence Of the reduction Of
The profit upon the capital and labor cause, by the
productive system. A distinguished senator from
Massachusetts, (Mr. Choate) said, in discussing
the tariff Of 1872, in the United States Senate,
that the question "was a question Of bread or no
bread TO his constituents"
So far, then, from any harmony being produced
by the extension of manufactures IN the South,
we dread the result, and ara fearful of the
quences. To the South they will prove Of imme-
date and Of great ultimate benefit, for they tend
TO develope the resources of the South in other
branches than those Of agriculture and commerce.
ship building and chip owning at the south would
not be more DISASTROUS to Northern aud Eastern
ship owners and builders than Southern manufac-
tories to Northern and Eastern, and so FAR from
healing the breach between the North and the
South, IT makes il still more wide.
The Eastern people generally arc bringing dis
tress to their own door-sills by their mad lanati-
clsm towards the Southern section, and they should
take warning before Il is too late. Their proiec-
tive policy has forced the South into manufactures
for their own preservation, and their devotion to
the Wilmot proviso and anti-slavery agitation vii
drive them, ultimately, TO separation. Wespeak
plain. II ls cur duty to do SO az an independent
journal, and having the harmony and prosperity of
the whole Union, and not any particular section OF
il, at heart, forces us TO adopt this course. We
will do Justice to al, and cannot do it more ef-
fecrualy than by seeing fair play, and showing in
heir true coors some of the grievances inflicted on
the South, and urgiag iorbearancc.