Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-15


as he supposes that his tricks dscovered-bu
he passes along prospering there turks about the
ner Of his eye witchng aud interesting expression
that says I've got cm and they don't know it. 1t is
not our purpose to assa existing commercial relations
with the North. We shall point out the way howev-
err TO better system one that will render the South
Of the North, that will sever the bonds oil
vassalage and quiet the agitation of the slave question
by showing the North her best customer is the South
e1n planter 1t will be our duty inform the South
planters who for continued agitation and South
ern vassaage We will inform them who favor the
non intercourse and the taxing policy who are the "a
vowed advocates of direct trade and who its concealed
foes In short will be plain in our language, and
shall favor that policy that promises to render the South
independent, not only in name, but in fact
As a means to the end proposed it has been sugges
ted that convention of Southern Merchants be called
take into consideration the present state of trade
and inquire into the proprety and feasibility of change
in the existing commercial relations of the South.
Union meeting of the merchants recently held IN
New York, and to meet that on halfway ground
'there should be convention of Southern merchants
We are satisfied that the people would aid in every
possible way Southern merchants, and it is entire
ly susceptible of demonstration that, if move combn
ing anything like concert of action be brought about
the trade of the Union and the commercial relations
can be so modified that the South will be enabled to
dictate her own terms The prosperity OF the North
is completely dependent upon the patronage OF the
South that whenever shall appear apparent that the
Southern trade is likely to seek other than Northern
markets. unless justice shall be done, shall see the
Northern putting their shoulders against the wheel
of the abolition in earnest, and the swelling tide of
fanatcism rolled back. There is power wrapped up
in this matter more potent than argument. move
that seeks but justice and addressed to the meat and
bread of people carries something of conviction very
terrible about it. Let the Northern merchants under
stand that resolves and platforms not the weapons
for future that non-ntercourse is in fact the gun
that is rolled out, and that the commercial men of the
South have entered the field backed by the people, and
that effort dictated by faternal relations shall be
unemployed to establish sound and healthy of
feeling without which intercourse must cease 1t is
clearly demonstrate that the Union meetings at the
North are mere shams got up by interested men from
interested motivesthat there is heart in them but
''self.' They very like the Southern Union
meetings that one is the type of the other They have
worked their purposes though 1t has given the South
ern trader whose business existence depends upon his
servy to Northern interests to talk. Yet it is
probably true that many these traders dependent
upon the credit extended to them by Northern mer-
chants, and that they traders upon sufferance o.
course they will defend these Union meetings and OBJ.
ject to convention of Southern merchants as revou
tonary and suicidal. The Union meetings have par
italy succeeded in luing the people of the South II
is the calm before the tempest The timd trader who
for present profit has cried peace peace may find when
it too late, that his business relations are DESTROYED
by the very means he has sought foster them. Wis
dom dictates prudent forecast. Under the present
calm there sleeps tornado The North, unless reach
ed and checked by interest will abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia. The sequel has yet to be writ
ten
1t is not denied that the Northern merchants keep ur
system of the servile and degrading espionage
upon Southern merchants. Their habits, their as
sociatons, their business capacity and sovency even
their domestic habits do not escape the pyng curos
ty of the Northern trader. 1t is unnecessary to point
out how this system is sustained it is known to exist
and is known too that the credit the Southern ira
der is materially affected by the information that the
Northern trader CLEANS through this dishonorable chan
mel. Through this same channel the Northern mer-
chant will be informed who of his Southern customers
are sound Union men who among them favors South
conventions and equality, and who Northern vas
salage. The Union will be fiattered and caoled
when he goes North, and return with sense of his
own Importance commensurate with his lack of brains
The man who is for equality will be treated just ex
actly according to the length of his purse and will re-
turn home no wise iattered.
Apprsed of the agencies at work to thwart the South
and keep her in deenseless and dependent state OH
opinions will reap their harvest of and threats
from the interested 1t is just what we ask. To be
compelled to rend corrupt carcase limb by limb with
out resisting struggle, is labor we do seek We
shall thrust the knife deep into the present system
of trade, that they who desire to see the hooks thu
North has fastened upon the vtas of the South NAV de
so, without the aid of glasses. This will arouse tina
now dormant faction of trading men whose business
existence depends upon Northern sufferance trade
conducted upon healthy principles will not suffer from
scrutiny; it will strengthen and expand under it.
tsp-shod business that controls the trader tina
fears scrutiny From such will come bitter words on
~ With good sound and growing public opinion
behind us, we shall push on.
Non-intercourse be rendered efficient and prac
teal only through merchants The effort of thu
consumer without the aid othe merchant must be fruit
less. The press commenced by bringing the consum
er up to the standard Let the merchant take the frs
step and each succeeding but hastens the hour
political and commercial Southern independence /
is believed that the merchants of the South as body
are ready to act know that there is sound am
conservative state of opinion existing among them i
Is argued that they but await further developments and
aggresslons Now before another step taken by the
iS hnt ipna+