The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON, D. c. JULY ~ 1854

very. In the first place, this scheme, If prac-
ticable, which it is not, would operate directly
to the prejudice of that class of Northern men
| lamentable extent, have been its friends and
apologists We allude to the merchants. They
have already done all that their customers can
in conscience exact of them, in order to put
down" the Abolitionists; aSc now, viii il not
be most unjust for the slaSaholders, in their
unreasoning fury to punist their Northern
sympathizers for their i'll sur cess? The mer-
chant class have tolerated 81 very in order to
oblige their customers; and the latter cease
to be customers, is it not matt esl, is it not GER
tain that the former will witt draw their coun-
teuance from the hated instit alton? Nothing,
therefore, can be more absu d than the pro-
posed plan of cutting off numerical inter
course.
But in point of fact the scheme is as imprac-
tcable, while the Union lasts, as it is impolitic.
The laws which regulate trade are as natural
and certain in their operation as those which
govern physical nature. 1t il as certain that
men will buy where they can bay cheapest,
and sell where they can command the highest
prices, as that water will run downwards The
law of trade, it is true, may be counterseted
and overcome by legislation and men may be
constrained, BY tariffs and non intercourse laws,
In ike manner, the hydrostatic principle May
be counteracted by various devices, such as
dams, force-pumps, &C.
Il is idle therefore, for Southern politicians
to call on the people to buy and sell to disad-
vantage while the Union lasts, and while its
most tangible benefit, free trade, is untrammel-
ed and unrestricted by laws. Southern men
of practical turn Of mind are beginning to
understand all this, as well as to see the abb
surdity Of the proposition in other points Of
view. A Georgia paper, entitled the american
Union, takes q sensible view Of the subject,
and demands to know where the South is to
trade, when it cuts off intercourse with New
York and Boston? Will it trade with Eng
land and Franee-countries equally Astounding
in Abolitionists Or will it cease all foreign
intercourse, and abandon the expectation of
cotton, tobacco, and other products? These
might reach the common sense of the veriest
abstractionist.
A kindred measure, designed to q crush out
AbOlitionism " by Withdrawing Southern sup
port from Northern newspapers and periodicals,
if more feasible in the execution, would be still
more unfortunate in its effects. What is it
that keeps any Northern newspapers, except
such as live upon Federal patronage, in lead
ing-strings to Slavery? Is it not Southern
patronage? Would certain widely circulated
mOnthlies, and quarterlies, and weekly family
papers, remain neutral, if ali Southern support
were cut off? Would they not emulate the
zeal of the most ultra Anti Slavery journals, if
they derived all their support from the North
We say, then, Let the people Of the South act
upon the advice Of the Richmond Enquirer and
others, and cease to patrOnize Northern jour
nails They can do nothing so we'll calculated
to promote a healthy Anti-Slavery sentiment
in the free States, and thereby to purge the
National Councils of the demon Of Slavery
Propagandsm. G.