The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-05
THE SOUTHERN PRES.
Direct Trade.

/ We shall rejoice exceedingly il the mo 'ment
in favor of direct trade shall be successful Iii
the only measure, in our view, that can i've in
/ dependence and power to the South. here is
i no instance on record of nation under he com-
mercial control of another, being otherthan the
servant of that nation. And from bling the
servant she must inevitably become The slave
| and dependent, if she does not of her ,wn will
look for liberty through her own exerions and
A energies.
One of the tendencies of capital is to5bring
4 Others under its control, and to hold them So
and those possessing capital know only their
Interests, it behoves other people or classes TO
make the best and fairest bargain for themselves,
lest they be overrun and eaten up. ...
Let us look for one moment to the exam
pies. of Scotland and Ireland relatively to Eng
land. The first is highly prosperous, independ-
ent and happy, SO far as country can be under
the laws which prevail in Europe--and she is
accordingly respected by England. But the
case of the second is widely different. English
enterprise has overrun her, exhausted and ruined
her and by no country is she 80 despised as by
her spoi'er.
All this has arisen from the simple fact, that
the Scotchman would allow of no interference
in his affairs, nor permit English capital to OBJ
tain footing in his country, 80 as to control his
industry. And so jealousy did he guard every
avenue to English encroachment, that it was
matter almost of impossibility for an English
man to get employment there. Not so in Ire
land. The Englishman took possession, and
used the country and its people for his own ex-
elusive benefit, until they had drained it of its
wealth, blighted its industry, and made its fer
tty valueless-at the same time that foreign
population, English and Scotch, has been grad
ually driving the Irish out of Ireland by Selling
upon all positions and occupations of profit in it.
The South, in maintaining with energy her
State rights, must not fatter herself, that be-
cause the North has felt it her interest to retreat
from the attack upon her political and social in
stitutions she will continue always TO respect
them. The North has gained something by the
struggle, and though frightened at the attitude
and resolutions of the State Rights party, will
moi fail, knowing her commercial weight and
influence, and urged by the abolition passion
here and in Europe, to return to the charge.
We should be sorry, indeed, to see the beauti-
ful South-that land of plen,y-howing indeed
with milk and honey--become mere dependen-
cy of the North Such a state of things would
be contrary to the vulgarest principles of human
liberty, and contrary to the very Laws of nature,
which have almost invariably planted the great
est ard weathiest nations in sunny climes.
Oriental despotism, and oriental bigotry-
those heresies of the olden time-have alone des-
plated Southern Asia and Europe, and driven
West and North into tho cold and dreary lands
of Germany, Gaul and Britain, the energetic
spirit of freedom. Thence have industry and
freedom crossed TO this hemisphere, to descend
and occupy those richer countries and climes,
surrounding the Mexican Gulf, which are des-
tined one day 10 be the centre of the highest
Civilization, and Of the greatest commercial
movement and industry that the earth has ever
yet seen.
We can already watch this tide rs il advances
The South is already becoming the point OF at
traction. The discovery Of California has but
fastened the development Of this progress and
IL would never do for those who possess the
luxuriant fields and abundant staples Of this re-
pion,to allow themselves to be trodden out by the
emerpriss of another section Of their own PEG.
pie, when they have in their hands the power to
control the markets Of the world.
It's almost useless here to go over the ground
30 ably exposed by many pens Of late, Of the i'm
portance to the South Of direct trade with Eu
rope, as a means of developing its resources
and giving il that political influence which it !.
entitled to. We shall simply point out here
that unless the opening now made, be taken ad
vantage Of, English and New York capital vii
n.ressarily continue to control the markets fol
Southern produce. And two results, appear tc
us to follow inevitably,--frst, England viii
gradually supplaut our Southern staples in be-
own and the continental markets; and secondly
the trade Of the South will get altogether into
Northern hands, and the country generally ap
proach 10 Ireland In enertness and unproductive
ness-until the North shall come in really and
fully 10 possess il, as the Englishman and Scotch
man have in the latter country.
This process may be slow, but it will be inevi
table II, however, the South wakens up, and
accepts the openings offered her, she will main
tain and extend the markets for her produce ia
spite Of attempted opposition; and raise herself
rapidly to that ervied position Of wealth and
prosperity, which is her destiny sooner or later.
IB- The National Era charges us with ia
natcism in expressing, as we did some days ago
sympathy for the oppressed and a wish that lh