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

fore II n their interest 10 buy the article whch
IS ch eApest in m lrket without reference to the
place u its production. Nor 90 they derive
much IT, any advantage from the home market
its neneiSt being confined 10 those 10 the n'ne-
date vicinity of the establishments. What com
fort is it to farmer, who knows that he Is pay
ing too much for his iron, cotton, and woolen
cloths and other articles OF consumption, ana
who is receiving little or nothing for his pro-
duce, TO know that other farmers who are living
five hundred or a thousand miles from him in
the vicinity OF a manufacturing establishment,
are getting good prices for their produce. re-
peat, sir, that / am DESTROYS of seeing manutac-
turing establishments spring up throughout the
country, and am gratiied to see the extraor-
binary progress made in that species ofindustry.
The North has made great mistake in getting
up the late anti-savery agitation. Instead OF
endeavoring to limit slavery to the territory
where it now exists, they had consulted their
interests, they would have consented to its
extension even to the shores OF the Pacific by
thus allowing the slaves and their owners to be
diifused over wide extent OF country, they
would have been kept employed in agriculture,
and the competition OF their labor would there
by have been escaped, and they would have con-
tinued good customers But by limiting them
us to territory, they will be driven whether they
will it or not, into manufacturing for themselves.
The conduct of the North, while in my judg-
ment crime to US, was like Napoleon's inva-
sion of Spain, a blunder for them. What they
intended as an injury, like many other seeming
evils, may prove in the end a benefit. So wise
and benevolent is the system ordained by Prov
idence, that it usually depends upon ourselves
whether particular occurrence shall in its re-
suits be an evil or a blessing. In the language
of Burke, sour antagonist is our helper" The
energy which we have summoned to our aid to
enable us to resist threatened danger, will give
us strength for forward movement. A great
impulse has been given to the Southern mind
within the last twelve months. Much of this is
due to the direction, pnrposely given to the de-
bates Ofthe las; session by some ofthe speakers.
While, therefore, cannot too strongly denounce
the acts of the last session in relation to the
Mexican territory, do not. nor have | ever pre-
tended that thew would be followed by any grea,
immediate practical injury to us. Undoubtedly
depriving us ofal share in the public territory
and Uniting slavery to the area it now occupies
is the greatest injury, with reference to that in
terest, which the government could possibly in
fct on us, until it shall have attacked the ipsti-
tuition in the States themselves.
The other measure proposed by the Ado ion
lists are comparatively insignificant in their ulti-
mate practical efforts. do not pretend that
this exclusion could be claimed as a political
victory by the Free-soil or Abolition party That
party had staked itself on the passage Of posi-
tive act of exclusion, viz: the Wilmot Proviso
or Jcffersonian ordinance. After few weeks
discussion it was driven from this ground being
defeated on direct vote. 1t then fell back on
what was called the Presidents plan, to wit: the
admission of territories rs free States In this
movement after long struggle, they were frus.
trated and foilcd by the dilatory motions which
the minority resorted to, End which it was seen
could and would be indefnatively prolonged 1t
is true, however, that the measures actually
passed. did in the end practically give them the
exclusion Of slavery which they desired. This,
however WINS owing to the action of Southern
men, who by their votes consented that this
section of the Union should be excluded
What have right to complain Of is, that after
the Abolition party stood thus defeated before
the country, Southern men should have been
willing to give them practically all the fruits of
the victory. 1t is said, however, that the South
saved its honor-So did the Mexican armv at
Monterey But though it capitulated with the
honors of war, it surrendered up the city,
the object for which the battle was fought If
We had been overpowered and defeated by this
party, could better have borne their seizing the
fruits of the victory. BY giving up thus all the
Mexican territory to them in addition to that
previously held by the government, and made
free by acts of Congress, we have put it in their
power to call to their aid. at future day, twen-
ty or thirty additional free States If we have
found them troublesome now, will they not be
more formidable when thus strengthened, should
they be reused to another attack 1t is this
view of the future which has produced the deep
dissatisfaction existing in the South. Our PEG.
pie feel that the posts have been surrendered
to our enemies. and that courage and frmness
can alone protect them. Even those among us
who have defended or apologized for these meas
ures, have tactly acknowledged the peril to
which they subject US, by insisting that the
North should be held under the most rigid OBJ.
legation not to renew the attack Calling them
selves par excellence Union men, and stigimatised
by their opponents rs submssionsts, they have
nevertheless found it necessary to lay down
strong disunion platform | say strong dis
union platform because they have declared
their purpose to Dissolve the Union upon issues
and contingencies which no one, not even the
most ultra thought of making year ago. I'll
the Abolition party encouraged as it probably
will be, by these great acquisitions, shall mike
another Formidable movement against us, it will
most probably result in the overthrow of the
government, and the disruption of the confed
eraey. do not apprehend, however, that they
will be able to succeed in abolishing slavery.
Two plans are entertained for affecting this OBJ
lect. The first is immediately and directly by
legislation to atnck il in the States This mode
has not now advocates enough to excite much
apprehension in the public mind The other
plan, by which they expect to accomplish the
same thing, at day not far distant in nations
progress, is the following They say that the
slaves of the country, being confined to the
States where they are now held, will so increase
in numbers in connection with the multiplication |
of the white race, that heir labor will become |
Improbable, not yielding more than enough for
their bare subsistence, and that their owners |
will find it advantageous to abandon them as |
and allow them to 90 free They do
not stop TO calculate how vast will be the nilery
inf cted by thus crowding together our popua-
ton. When the pressure has become so great
that the labor of the slaves will no longer sup
port them, what will be the condition Of the
free laborers under the same rate of wages {! |
TO carry out their fanatical aud wicked obec's
fh,v ,arf,