The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-22

Is " miRnt 60 up 10 more tinn my mtitOuot
before it becap,e ss dense a. that of the State
OF Maryland In these States, slave labor IL not
30 Improbable that its oKners are willing vol
UNFAIRLY to give it up, or even TO take the high
prices which it comnnds further South. Yet
these States are not supposed to be remarkably
adapted to the proftab use Of slave labor
nor are they rs n whole, above the average fer
tllity OF the slave holdingStates. Not only,
too are they able, permanently to maintain their
present population, but nobody, think, doubts
but what 1t might be- greatly increased. without
a material change in their condition or prosper
ity. Is there any reason to apprehend that the
Southern States are incapable, as a whole; Of
sustaining population proportionally as great,
even much greater! II il the opinion of y
friend Of mine, on the other side of the House.
from the State of Mississippi, that in a single
bend in the river Of the same name, there IL a
body of land yet untouched, sufficiently extern
sive and fertile to employ profitably ia the cul-
ture OF cotton. all the slaves now existing 10 the
State of Virginia. That our population would,
in time, become too dense for comfortable ex-
istence, do not question But the period must
b. longer, than that supposed. Before that time
has arrived, possibly the slaves may, in the OPT
Mon OF some, disappear in another mode
But does any man imagine that We shall not
fifty years. Why, Mexico even now seems to
be on the eve of falling to pieces should not
be satisfied, at any time, to hear that the ad-
venturous gold hunters now in California, had
organized an expedition and seized upon the
Mexican provinces Immediately south of them.
When Texas is filled up by our emigrants. they
cannot be prevented from passing the Rio
Grande and revolutonizing the neighboriny pro-
vinces They are destined to be occupied by
our slaveholdng population. 1t will fill up all
the country around the guilt, including the PEN
insnlar Of Yucatan, and perhaps the northern
portion Of the South American continent This
state of things will be likely to occur even be-
fore our interest requires it. That whether It
be desirable or not, there is no power on this
continent to prevent it. Mexico is altogether
too feeble. This government itself cannot do
it. II had as well attempt to curb the waves Of
the ocean. say boldly, that ifthe government
makes the effort, it will itself perish in the at
tempt. As soon as we feel the actual want of
additional territory, We shall occupy it either
with or without the aid Of this government.
Our right to take it will be neither better nor
worse than that by which we have driven back
the original Indian population. Even now. wa
are strong enough to take care of ourselves
against any forces that can be brought TO bear
upon us, and we shall be getting relatively
stronger for come time to cOac Sir, the re-
turns OF the census for tho past year will pie
sent condition of things not anticipated bv
many persons. Within the last ten years some
two millions of foreigners have arrived in this
country. They have almost all become residents
Of the Northern States They, of themselves.
were sufficient to have given the North more
than twenty additional members of Congress
under the new apportionment But, in point of
fact, if you except the two members she gets
by the admission of California, she will gain
nothing, or at most, but two or three members.
Notwithstanding, therefore, this great advantage.
as well as Others which the North has had the
South will nevertheless very nearly, if not quite.
hold her relative strength. This is due to the
fact Mt our people, benr mostly agriculturists.
ENJOY more OF the comforts Of life, and are ir-
creasing in numbers faster from natural causes
The condition of society at the North is less
favorable to this progress because of the num.
bers engaged in manufacturing, and as seryants
to the wealthy, who are without domicils. and
who are frequently reduced to pauperism.
The next decade will show a large increase
in our Southern population. We are now near
ly ten millions, and there ia no BODY Of pec-
pie OF the same number upon earth, better
able to defend itself against attack Slavery
instead of being an element of weakness. is one
OF positive strength The amount of force
which any nation can keep in the field in time
of war; depends not merely on the number Of
its men, but also on the amount of its produce
tons. Few countries, if any, can sustain per-
manently in the field more than one-sixth of
their adult male population. We have a popu-
laton intelligent, enterprising, high spirited and
brave, and ever ready to embark in military ex.
petitions.
1t is due to truth to state, that from the form.
alton OF the government down to the present
time, IN all our wars, the South has, in proper
ton to its population, sent into the field n laroer
number of soldiers than the North. Nor have
those men in battle, either where the SHOWS Of
Canada lie, or under the tropical sun of Mexico.
exhibited any such want of courage or conduct.
as to justify this government in branding them
as inferior to the men of the Northern section.
or in depriving them of their proper share Of
the benefits of the Constitution ll
Our population is large enough to supply any
call that could be made on it for soldiers and
still leave at home sufficient number for indus.
trlnl occupation. We must have nearly one
million Of free men capable of bearing arms.
Our slave population, too, because it is all con-
stantly employed in labor produces probably
more than the same number of free men in any
part of the Union, because large portion Of
the free are unemployed during much, If not
the whole Of their time. No sane man can i'm.
agine that we need have serious fears of nm at
tack from either the Northern States or my for
eign power. When our numbers are swelled
to thirty or fifty millions. will we be relatively
less able Sir, we shall have the power and
the VIII TO tike possession of "a much Of the
American continent ms is necessary for our
co = Portable existence lfthis government shall
take position against our progress, it shall be
overthrown Great as are its powers, they are
not sufficient to enable it thus TO destroy u.s.
Whether il shall continue to exist or not. he
who lives longest among us will see the South.
ern States IA
"Stl free and beautiful, and far &
Aloof from desolation.'' fat ah
But this government was created to wage no
such war against u.s. II was made by the States
for their protection, and that of their existing
institutions. They intended to invest It with |
no powers to destroy their existing State of
society or to foment resolutions among their in
ha hitrntu Shou11 - Ia. ,b,nl.c;o,. "a