Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-16
PRESERVING THE UNION.

shoulders to its wheel and push it forward. Re-
solves and declarations have come to amount to
nought, unless backed by acts and deeds, Ca
nails, Rail Roads, and the Telegraph, with their
attendant influences, have become more power
full upon the politics of the country, than wordy
disquisitions upon the Constitution, or high
sounding declarations in regard to abstract
rights. "Commerce Is King" now a-days, and
it is Just as well to recognize and acknowledge
the sway of the new potentate, soon as late.
It is upon the recognition of this great truth,
that the proposition of Captain Pike to the
Charleston Convention, touching the racine
Rail Road. rests. 1t is because it is great truth
that the proposition should meet the cordial and
earnest adoption of the people OF the Southern
States. 1t is folly to blind the question any
longer We must be, in a fair and natural de-
gree, commercially independent, or prepare our
selves for that subordinate rank IN the Union
which is the inevitable result of continued apa-
thy towards the means which have given the
North her prepondefance. We have no choice
of a middle ground. We cannot, if we would,
choose to be less enterprising, and therefore, on
" less wealthy, than the Northern States. We
must make ourselves their equals in all, or pleld
to the fate of mere provincial dependencies
Ore or the other of these results is unavoidable.
The "Resolutions of '98" are poweress to ex-
tricate us from the dilemma, for, in the end, 1t
is question of material strength and physical
power Without these bulwarks resolutions ana
declarations no matter whence emanatlng,
are but breath.
The highes; interest and the first duty, then,
of the Southern States is to increase their mate
rial strength, by development of their latent re-
sources ofintercommunication, of commerce, OF
manufactures-of all the elements, in short
which enter into the domestic independence OF
any people For this they have peculiar advan
tages and facilities. They have soil and CHI
mate more varied in capabilities OF production
/ than any equal area of the earthS surface, with
/ wonderful variety of all the mineral treasures
which enter into the worlds use. Above all.
| thew have the absolute and sovereign control OF
| q LARGER amount of labor than any other people
under the sun. They can, if they riH it defy
and distance all competition by their northern
brethren in the race of acquiring complete and
perfect independence.
The proposition already referred to, to aggre-
gate southern capital and combine southern en-
ergv. with view to securing Pachc Ran
Road South. is a touchstone, test OF whether
our southern people are equal to the high destl-
nv Providence has put within their reach
/ WLefevet that road shall debauch unto the Mis-
sissinni Valley. in that latitude and section OF
the Union will be the seat of wealth, the focus
of enterprise. the centre whence will emanate
the substantial power of the Union, The world
has never been so potent an agency as that road
will be. in modifying and changing the previous
order Of things, THisagency, 1t within the
reach of the people of Southern States to enlist
in their behalf, in aid of their struggle to regain
their Just share in the commerce OF the country
The best and shortest route-if not the only
practicable ronte-lies invitingly at their very
doors, offering to pour the commerce OF the worlo
into the lap of the South, i they will but put
forth the energetic resolve to be indolent slug
CARDS no longer.
But it is to another aspect Of the question tba
we invite public attention to the expectancy anc
necessity of laying hold of and carrying into
feet the suggestion of the Charleston Conver
ton. We mean the preservation oft Union
We have a strong conviction that the Tranquil
Union of these States depends, essentially upor
! their equality of condition as to the elements o
, domestic independence, and their mutual abilit,
to maintain their Just rights. 1t is ever a pro
cliyity of the strong to encroach upon the veal
more. perhaps sim States than in individuals
Already we discover disposition growing W
among those who are the opponents of the ultr;
sectionalism of the North, to calculate the abill
ty ofthe Slaveholding States to resist AGGRESSION
upon the institution Of Slavery. The New
York Tribune, of recent date, has an article
this character, breathing throughout the spr'
which insolence of conscious power ever engen
ders. That spirit will grow, or die out, just
we may remain weak and INDECENT or as we sc
: to work like men to place our section ofthe I'm
: ion in the equal rank for the attainment Q
t which it possesses so many advantages. ifw
9 would exact the respect and friendship of tn
hardy, energetic people of the North, we mus
deserve it, by proving ourselves their equal Il
= energy and enterprise. In such case, the Tn
| ion will be perpetual; for the temptation to JeoT
ardize it will have no existence in either Of 1t
great sections Memphis Eagle, 10th.
Tho Charleston Courier of the 18th inst. say