Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-22
Can the South be Independent

We have been told by intelligent men that II was
impossible for the South to be Independent, and we
have patiently listened to arguments to prove that such
was the fact. Those who that the South can
not become independent, start with error and end
by repeating nonsense They rehearse the iustian OF
the commune-abolitionp hilanthropist, and dwell with
an JUNCTION peculiarly interesting upon the lack of
terprse the soathfu habits, and the general disncl-
nation developed among Southern men not to embark
in new business connections and unried experiments.
The real reason why this disnclinaton to change is
so manifestly developed is never given We are not
told that the planting is the controlling interest of the
slave Staes-tha the climate, the soil and the charac
ter of the produce are SUCH that with the species Of
labor employed and the gradual increasing demand for
produce has rendered change of labor and diversion
ofcapita hazardous but useless for they both
well, satisfactorily, paid. The policy of the South
has been that best calculated to strengthen the nation
for she has aided the North to build up system that
has furnished employment for population that could
not have been sustained by the produce of agricultural
labor in the sections where they live. The South
produce pound of cotton with less labor and cap
ital than yard of cotton CLOTH The North can fab
rcate the cloth but cannot produce the raw cotton
The South content with the remuneration she de-
rived from her products and would have attempted
change the character of her labor to any extent for
years. fever. The arrogance of the North is making
a change necessary. Is it practicable
We say it is. We can produce pound of cotton
with less capital and labor than yard of cotton cloth
But pound of cotton viii make three yards of cloth
worth 80 cents and 80 cents is average price for
lbs of cotton and the lbs of cotton will make yrds
Of cloth This increase is mathematical and tho in
pursuit of information may figure out the progression
tor themselves. The next question is labor as CHEAP
at the South as at the North 1t is not 1t is cheap
enough however, to be put in competition with North
ern labor While at Mobile recently merchant. one
Of the largest wholesale dealers in the city, showed rs
some coarse manufactured cloths for negro use superior
n every respect to any we ever saw manufactured a
he North. The price about equal to goods for
similar purposes fabricated at the North The goods
we're from some interior town in Alabama and our in
ornant said the company manufacturing that charac
er OF goods, declared dividend of 2I per cent and
mall contingent fund. This is a solitary case. Yet
We can point to Georgia S Carolina Tennessee. Ala
anna, and even to own State as evidencino the
ruth of the position.
In Choctaw county there sprung up a manufacture
az establishment about four years ago Three young
len with capital of about $4,000, set down in
'lldernesS and commenced work One of those Young .
len informed US that the capital of $4,000 had swell
10 about 100000, and that the community of three
ersons had grown to about two hundred who were
"a and clothed by the income of the factory This is
ohcuslve that we can become independent and that
anuiactones when properly conducted viii pay well O.
the South. =