The southern press., 1851-09-05
For The Southern Pres.

see that there are persons lii the South, in al
ua'ace OF Northern action, putting their faces
against the very laudabe and efficient movement
now going on in the South for direct trade
with Europe According to the position taken
by those parties, the question 10 be settled is d
startling ore. The South, driven from all her
high grounds---her Southern rights" position
her "State sovereignty" platform---her as
sumption of the right TO equal protection aud
equal privileges in territory acquired mostly by
her blood, (beside being taxed unequally TO pay
for the war with Mexico)-the South, driven
by her own devotion to this glorious Union and
the intrigues and political power of her enemies,
is, AS a last hope, forlorn hope, turning her ef-
forts to " direct trade" hoping by the develop
ment of her resources to acquire, without the aid
of the North that influence which she has grad
ually lost through the supremacy of Northern
ommerce-commerce founded upon Southern
staples And what is now the watch-word
Why, that il is treason for the South so to act,
and that she has no right to engage in direct
trade 10 the injury of her dear neighbor, the
North, or her dearer friend, England, Friends
of the South-friends Of direct trade-I beseech
you to beware how you allow this dangerous
doctrine, under the endearing title of 50 loue q
Union" to gain foothold in your minds. The
friends Of /" direct trade" are as good Union men
as live. Many of those men have voted the
Union ticket througl out, but they believe,
sincerely and honestly, that they have right to
enter into any commercial engagements they
may deem fit ! have looked through the Con
sttution, and read many arguments from able
jurists upon the manner of constituting it, and
can find nothing in that instrument which COM
pels the planter to buy his goods from the
North at outrageous prices, consigning his pro-
duce to hin for speculation, Especially as the
| benefit of the speculation never reaches the
planter or farmer.) am totally unable to find
any constitutional objection to direct trade"
by any State, county, or individual of this coun-
try. Has not New York direct trade? Why
should not Norfolk, Alexandria, Wilmington,
Savannah, Charleston, &c. &c, have it also I?
Does not New York every day, yes, every hour,
extend her commercial operations-changing or
modifying them to suit her o,Un convenience !?
Then why cannot we do the same! Is not New
| York sapping the New Orleans trade by her rail-
ways and agents upon the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers? I? 1t is not treason nor disunion with
her! Oh, no! nothing she does is disunion
nothing. Her agitatons are merely religious
that's all. But if the South assert her wrongs,
under persecution which originated in the
| North--if she assert through her State legisla-
lures what she considers to be her rghts-if
try, and asks only its provisions to be carried
out-if. indignant at her outrages and wrongs,
she speaks of her sovereign independence, she
is patted on the head like little child-a little
candy is given her in the way of a Buffalo plat
form-then she is accused of agitation-her
State resolutions even by her own after action
| made ridiculous-the Constitution pronounced
submissive to the higher law, (her conscientious
perceptions not being consulted,) and her" STATE
sovereignty given up. "Oh! how falen!"
Where, where is the genius that captivated
the world-the heroism that established Wes-
tern empire? Where is the blood of her mighty
dead! Are there no veins through which it
courses! Is there not one drop in some great
heart that thrills with sympathy while reading
in burning letters, the history of her wrongs
Where is her majesty and her strength! Why,
under the iron wheels of nammon Yes com
pIetely bound up and secured in the commercial
and manufacturing greatness of the North, and
her ally England The South sees this. Her
statesmen, her mechanics, her merchants, her
planters, the very boys in debating schools, per-
ceive it, and this feeling spreading, and her
wrongs continuing she at last determines to
strike at the root of all her evils-break up her
commercial alliances with New York and Eng
land, and attach herself to more friendly and
Treason Treason! Disunon! Disunionl And
the war of opposition begins aye, even in her
own midst. Oily persuasion--bribery in the
way of facilities"-threats to the timid-po-
litical power to her leaders "You will en-
danger the Presidential elections" "you will
arouse the North, and they will crush you !"
I" stop this direct trade movement, and we will
stop the "nigger question !" give us your
cotton and we will let your Doolly heads alone; y
J . believe u.s." believe, says the North. "We
{ have deceived you often, very often we have
broken religious faith with you we have broken
political pledges; we have speculated to your
: ruin on your produce we have taken advantage
, Of your extravagant and confiding notions, and
, made immense fortunes out of you; but, but
believe us this time Trade with us--we love
the dollar more than the "nigger." Shall we
listen to these things longerl Here is an issue
} upon which the South can stand firm as a rock
You political humbugs cannot distort it, We
have certainly right to trade direct and a
well established commercial policy would give
us all we ask, and, at the same time, check the
principle Of concentration illustrated in New
York and London, and beginning to be felt
| throughout the world. IL would give another
and safer channel for the excited state of feeling
in the South. II would develope her latent re-
sources 1t would furnish employment to her
mechancs-build up her shipping interest
induce capital from abroad to be invested in
her internal improvements, and reduce the
balance standing against her of more "imports"
than exports" and which balance, bye the bye
is more of qualify than quantity the balance
going in to the pockets of active intermediate
parties in England and the North. The ques.
ton (as above stated that ia now put to the
South is a fearful one. Before answering it,
look at your past history--look at your CON-
merce--your social and political positou-at
the result Of your elections Areyou going TO
be driven from this Legitimate platform by the
cry of disunion" or persuaded from 1t by po-
htieai aspirants and political organs, aoho are
more interested IN the general result Of the Presi-
dental election than in YOUR fate This move
ment is purely and entirely commercial, and its
friends do not desire any political influence to
bear upon 1t; for a movement Of this sort must
tta and