The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-16
Non-InteIcourse.


A large number of the Southern papers have
recently put forth views similar to those we sub
join from the North Carolina True Sou,hron, OF
what they term the @terrapin policy" of Non-I In
tercourse. ..ttbaDt ASta 2n9 ia-i ga#3g 4-
SO 1T sEEmETH TO us.-Are you in favor OF
non-intercourse, cessation of trade between
North and South? asks one. We reply emphati-
caliy, that we are but as a soar measure, not a
peace one. 1t is preposterous and absurd to talk
OF perpetuating the Union, under a system of
retaliatory measures-the North continuing to
attack the institution of slavery, and the South
commencing and keeping up a war of non-inter-
course-=non-trade. You might as well call two
nelghbors friendly who were continually tearing
down each others fences, killing each Others
cattle and firing each others barns as to suppose
the Union could exist or be worth any thing
during such a state of things as would spring up
upon non-intercourse being generally adopted
by the South. ~ @'| Boz 5asEel nn,r#t1e17
n. Suppose Britain should lay an embargo on the
trade between herself and her colonies, would
the British Union be worth any thing? Would
it not cease TO exist How then can we suppose
our Union could exist with the two sections,
North and South, sundercd in their commercial
relations s. sl. s1n# .rE,la.a. u,.r,l,r.'"'l I
I<cV 10 iittNS HOi-iutcTCOuTSc, Uub lcI us IOI
blindly suppose that the weapon which cuts the
samese tie, also carries healing upon its point.
The Republic of this city also, in stimulating
the New York merchants to their public demon
stration, also showed where the shoe would
pinch, as follows; s@a @.a. g'.- 3oG aas.4 $780,,
g The voice Of the commercial interest must
always be potent That interest is ever the
most vigilaat. It is the first to feel the conse-
quences OF tmisgoyernment or of social disturb
anee. 1t was the interest which made the first
resistance to the oppression OF the Stuarts 1t
was the first to perceive, to feel, to denounce
the tyranny Of the Guel pin. Even in England
it was the wisest adviser of the arrogant admin
istration of North, the consistent friend of lib
eral measures, and restored relations with the
colonies. In all arrangements of the finances,
in all distractions Of tho trade, In all discour-
Arguments OF the productive energies Of the peo-
ple the commercial interest, us it is the first to
be affected, Is the first to demonstrate. The
consequences ofunwise Legislation upon the inter
est OF the manufacturer and the agrculturist are
more Indirect, and are not so Immediately aobyi-
Gus in their effects upon those interests The
merchant is at the masthead of the industrial in
terests of the country. The Interruptions 10 lie
intercourse Jet,oeea the Southern and Northern
STATES must .jaH aoih great force upon those ,cho
hare stocks Of merchandise, or who have invest
ments dependent upon the fact that the mer-
chant and customer are citizens of the same
country. Interrupt this relation, and the conse-
quences are ruinous. death" says the maxim,
sis nothing but a bad cold ? and an embargo is
nothing but compulsory non-ihtercourse."
These arguments, and others like them, proved
potential with those to whom they were nd-
dressed, and they demonstrated accordingly
The result of the elections throughout the
North has proved the value of that "imposing"
demonstration. ', "