The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-30
Non-Intercourse.

we do not believe it alone would have, atleast for
some time to come, much effect on the North, III
her crusade against us, we are willing to adopt 1t
as one of the means obedience. We have no
idea that the slavery question will at this time, be
permanently settled. A patched-up sort Of settle
ment may be effected for the purpose ofmomentari-
y quieting the public mind, but the tranquility will
be of short duration. The course recommended
may have the effect of prolonging it to some ex-
tent, but theres only one mode of securing it per-
manently. That mode must be adopted sooner
or later. We are for " Non-Intercourse with the
North" in every shape and form, not because we
believe it will give US "equality'-but because it
will place us in better position to maintain our
independence"
The South has potent weapon of defence
in her hands against the encroachments of anti
slavery, upon her political rights. If she will
WELD it with vigor she can fight the enemy up
on his own ground, and turn the tide of opinion,
or at least the course of political action at the
North in her own favor The blow she can
strike will be at the pecuniary interests of the
North, and through them reach the Judgments
and conscicnccs Of her slavery.hating people.
Thus the South may obtain soma medium of
iustice-some regard for her constitutional
rights-.some forbcarance from designs, whose
ultimate result, If carried out, will be extrpation
of slavery from the United States.
This weapon of defence is Non -Inicrcourse
,rith the Norh Let the South determine to
cut loose, rs far as practicable, its commercial
and business connections with the North. State
legislation can be brought to bear in way,
within the limits of the Federal Constitution,
which will 60 far to effect this. But in ad-
dition to this, or rather in advance Of this, III
diyidual action can be brought to bear i'll the
various communities of the South in a way to
be felt at the " lth,
Every branch of trade aud every department
of business will feel the influence Of a diversion
Of Southern trade from Northern towns and
cities.
We understand from gentlemen now here
from Alabama, that many of the planters III
their section of the State have already notified
the merchants they trade with, that they will
purchase no more articles of merchandise mau.
ufacturcd, or imported from the North. Here
after it is their determination to give the prefer.
euce in all cases to articles Of Southern or OF
foreign manufacture.
If this example were generally followed
throughout every slaveholdng State-if non
intercourse associations were formed for the
purpose of carrying out these views-the re.
suits, Independent of State legislation, would
tell powerfully on Northern interests, and
throughout them on Northern political opinions
and action. The pocket nerve would admon-
isb the people of the North that the North
would soon be reduced to the alternative of Civ.
ing up their anti-slavery propagandsm-thelr
well matured schemes for hemning in and final
" abolishing slavery, and nsolent intermed-
tjlinr with the institution as it exists i'll the
States. and with the relation of master and
sluye-their organized societies for decoylng
slaves from their masters and for protecting
the runaway, or they must give up the South
ern trade. The Southern people should have
rs little as possible to do with people from
whom they receive nothing but insult and
wrong. -. ~, =,
We can adopt State regulations which could
efactuollv cut off the cotton and other products
Of tbc South from our Northern ports, and thus
strike an impressive blowRtan important North
ern interest, while the markets OF the whole
world besides would be open to us for the sale
of this great and necessary staple
We can in the same way keep out of our
Southern market thousands of articles OF North.
ern manufacture. Manufactures among our
selves will gradually spring up to supply the
the cxirencies thus created. ln the meantime
the most active encouragement should be given
TO direct trade with foreign countries, and d.
rect importations. Lines Of steamers direct
hptween our Southern cities and Europe should
he established. These would soon render US
less and less dependent on the North ana give
TO our pcople the control of their own business,
without the Intervention of Northern merchants,
and ship.owncrs, with their attendant commls-
sions and profits, which have built up North
rrn cities. and are now u fruitful source OF their
prosperity. Already move has been made
in VIRGINIA for direct trade with Europe A
convention was held on the 9Th of July last, at
Old Point Comfort, for the purpose OF organ
izipc Steam Navigation Company, to ply
direct between Norfolk and Liverpool. lMs
is but the beginning of the end. Let the good
North 90 on, and the South may yet control
her own political destinics-be independent OF
tbc auti.savery States, and reach to point OF
prosperity hitherto deemed unattainable'
Legislature of New Mexico.
The LEGISLATURE OF New Mexico convened at