Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-15
The S0Utb--Its Position,

Much has been said of late in regard to the South
and its position, not its political, but its commercial
position 1t is matter pregnant with reflection, in
wiling inquiry into the that have produced the
present dependence upon foreign and eXtraneous aid
and the probable and ultimate result the present pol
icy be persisted in by commercial and trading
To enter upon the field advocate of protection
Home industry-we speak in sectional language be-
cause we mean Southern industry-s one of the lead
ing maxiIns of this paper, and shall present
views in language not to be misunderstood misap
piled by the adversares Of the South, the
actionists and the enduring submissonists We are
for severing wherever it practicable of the many
bonds of commercial vassalage that binds the energies
and cripples the industry of the South Were it prac-
ticable, would sever every bond that interest did
not prompt to SUSTAIN and enter advocate for
direct foreign trade Apprised that much objection to
radcalism vii be made we are prepared to meet it at
the threshhold Radical opinions are becoming more
popular the they canvassed, and to dis
that is deep seated and corrodng the very life
blood of social Institutions requires, in the opinion
of large and growing class, radical remedies 1t is
them our province speak, that expect to effect
much good but cast, ike the OF old, bread
upon the waters with the hope that will not be lost
Custom and association have drawn imperceptibly
nearly the whole of the trade of the South to North
ern marts. Northern merchants, money lenders and
bill shavers have become the factors and commission
merchants of the South. Northern mechanics and
artisan laborers supply the South with nneteentwen-
teths of all the materials consumed here Why is it
that the South is thus dependent upon the North
Is it because inferior people, is that the
power of the federal government, aided by Southern
men, has been so welded to render the North in
dependent and the South subservent We take the
later the true position While the South has beer
fighting distractions and intensely excited upor
immaterial points, the North with calculating cool
ness has gathered the substantial fruits of party d
visions. Her policy has been to nourish home indus
try, to aid individual enterprise, and to increase in
cry conceivable form diversity of labor. State pride
has been used lever bounties thrown out auXil
aries, and added to these her have
for the advancement of these industrial arts, govern
mental protection.
Strange may appear, there has ever been very
intelligent and strong party at the South clamorins
for protection to Northern manufacturing and 9th
industrial pursuits The cry has been that would
render a nation, independent of foreign labor
and our Northern brethren free from the pers Incl
dent to pauper competition The South has aided the
North in her efforts render the nation independent
she has contributed her Millions is still sustaining the
north, and what has been the sequel We are indie
pendent of Europe, bat the South has simplyhed al
arms-ength foreign power while she nourishine
and strengthening domestic foe to her Institutions
While England was buying of us domestic produce
to the value of 100 millions the North took only or
millions. While we purchased of England nominally
nothing, sent to the North for brooms, whetstones
and such other things to the value of many Millions
This patriotic, and very national but it has
ed at our hearth-stones viper We have raised uE
beside US instead of neighbor who is willing to ale
and be neghborly to US, domineering master mas
ter that has grown pleothric on the money and pro-
duce of the South In numerical power our superior
in financial and commercial facilities, our superior
in navigation, in manufacturing and artisan labor our
SUPERIOR in short, in all the facilities ard appliances
that go to make up the material for rendering comm
mites independent and prosperous, superior The
South has reared by its bounty and confdng lberalt,
interests that being welded against her slave
institutions with deadly effect. She has strengthened
with her wealth the shipping and importing interests
ofthe North. The trade of the whole Union is in the
hands of Northern men, and the cities and towns Of
the South studied with interested in KEEPING
up policy calculated to end in rendering the South
hopelessly dependent.
The commercial connection between the North and
the South syery intimate and we are appraised that i
itbe dsturbedwith rash hand that much injury to the
interests of few may be DONE We deprecate that
hmidy that dares not pierce subjects because forsooh