Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-05

in our midst. 5ia.,~ a
But tho uniform conduct of England and
France towards other slaveholding powers since
the emancipation of their slaves is the strongest
pledge tina. could be given, Of their real indispo-
sition to meddle with slavery. If they were so
intensely interested in the freedom of the negro |
race. they would have sufficient power, to induce
the distracted kingdom of Spain to emancipate
her slaves. Yet they have never once seriously |
attempted to molest her in the enjoyment Of her
peculiar institution, for slavery is now peculiar
institution to European power. Cuba is also
one of the most delightful Islands on the globe,
and presents the most tempting allurement to the
mind of the politician or conqueror of any spot
that was ever blessed by the munifcenee Of
Heaven. Brazil is permitted to enjoy her slaves,
in quiet, and she has not particle more power to
repcl foreign insult and aggression, than South
Carolina would possess. 500:
There is ono argument, which, to my mind,
is alone, sufficient to repel the idea that the great
manufacturing kingdoms of Europe would at
tempt to interfere with slavery in any of the
States at the South. It would be directly con-
trary to their interests to do 80, and those old
governments are not apt to abandon their perna-
nent interests, to any great extent, to pursue a
phantom-to minister to the spirit of depraved
phianthrophy. The manufacture of cotton alone
affords employment and bread to many millions
of the people of England and France and other
countries on the Eastern Continent, and if it
were once suspended, on account Of the scarcity
or want of the raw material, it would produce q
state Of starvation in those countries, that would
create revolution in government, in q single
month. am not over estimating the 'impor-f
tance of our great staple for the purpose of car
rying my point. A writer of some, distinction,
has observed that, at least two thirds of the.
commerce of the world is supported by the:pro-
ductions of the Southern States; and it is evi-
dent, without proof, that Cotton constitutes the
chief article of our export trade. Imagine now,
that by some dreadful calamity, the: growth Of
Cotton in the Southern States should be entirely
hindered for twelve months, land ryou will be
able to form some conception, sdequatei though
it be, ,.ofs sthernin which would follow vast
! andssplendid Cotton nlnnufa acturiiing sstabllsh.
uents Of England France and The rparts Ittts
it6EE EEElroPs, ,sWodld ymmediateI1s 90 hnsipesa:
the operatives, to the number of millions, wonid
be discharged to. die Of hunger, for their being
no longer call for their craft, they would be
unable to earn livelihood 1.-The losses on eapital
would produce state Of universal Bankruptcy
and dstrust, and famine and pestilcnce would
drive the people to such frenzy as would over
turn every government, and exhaust. the whole
revenues of Europe. The vast shipping Of Eng
land would rot on the wharves-her commerce
and that of France would languish and die, and
their sailors would perish by thousands.
Now this reason could be obviated in plausiT
bic manner, if cotton could be well raised with
out slave labor. But, think, it is pretty well
established that it could not. The plant grows
indifferently except in hot climate, and the in
capacity of the white man, for constant and hard
labor, in warm regions, is generally admitted.
On the other hand, it is equally agreed, that no
sun is 80 genial to the African as the sun of the
South. Indeed, he droops and dies in North
ern latitude, whilst in the South, he attains to
his greatest strength, intelligence, and general
development.
The evils therefore that would result to Europe
from the abolition of slavery are incalculable.
Its abolition in single State would produce
crash, and its gradual abolition in all the States,
though white labor should be substituted for that
of the blacks, would be attended, with general
ruin and commotion thathas no parelel in history.
tits idle then, to listen to the story that England
and France would interfere with the slave nstitu-
ton Of South Carolina, or would attempt toreduce
the value, in any respect, of slave labor They have
been taught by some dear bought experience to
let slavery alone. The islands of the West In
dies that are now dropping to decay, and that
have been brought to that state by the mistaken
philanthropy of a part Of Europe, were the most
productive and profitable islands in the world
under the institution Of slavery.
But, for argument, let us admit, that on our
seeding from the Union, and establishing sepa-.
rate, indepcndant government, England and
France, in opposition to their interests, should
concert measures for the forcible manumission of
our slaves. What effect would such an inter-
ference have on the other slayeholding States
of the South. Would they brook such an insult
to themselves, even if the fanaticsm Of the.
North prevented the iptcrposition of the arm Of
the Federal Government Would those States,
then, blind and Indifferent as they now ap-
pear to be, not see their own doom and that
Of their property, written in the future, in
legble charaoters2 In that event, their
could be no mistaking the course, which they
would be bound by their interests, their honor,
and their safety to pursue. They would imme-:
diately make common cause with South Carols
ma in spite of all that the terrors Of the threats
of the government Of the United States, and Of
the arms Of Europe could inspire. : ss't'' -
am sometimes inclined to the belief, that,
that would really be for us the most happy turn
that affairs could take. Cireanscribed IS the