The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-31
VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

y
years INDUCED the most bitter hatred of the
North, and would gladly, at any time from
from 1892 to 1850, have severed the tie which
binds them to the Federal Union. They made
every possible effort to awaken similar state
of feeling in the entire South, with only partial
success. Virginia and Georgia, Mississippi and
Alabama, though full of wrath and fury could
never be induced to take the fatal leap; and
at length the Compromise of 1850, which was
not only to pscify the country, but to qucll all
"sgitation of the Slavery question, was adopt
ed; since which period, South Carolina; to do
her justice, has become one of the most peace
full, industrious, and order-loving States south
of Mason and Dixon's line. They appear to
have forgotten their distractions altogether,
and are employing all their energy and intelli-
gence in making railroads, building factories
and warehouses, and improving the soil. We
are happy to say that the progress of liberal
opinions in politics is equal to the industrial
enterprise which we have noted. 1t is true
that their presses and politicians are yet
sound on the Slavery question" and reiter-
Abolitionism, when it comes directly in the
way; but they have ceased to make business
of hating AbOlitionists. They have ceased to
ELL their columns with invective against the
Yankees, or equally idle enoomiums upon the
policy of Mr.. Calhoun. They have begun TO
realize that the most perfect theories of trade
will avail nothing, without industry and enter
prise, and that the high duty of extending and
perpetuating Slavery, however important, is
not the only essential to public prosperity. We
gave specimen, last week, of the liberal SEN
timents which are beginning to prevail in
South Carolina, relative to the education of the
colored people--including slaves-as well as
the rational ideas of the Southern Standard
upon the subject of manufacturing and the
mechanic arts. We quote as follows from the
same paper on that subject:
awe think that in virtue of our institution
of domestic slavery we have powers of progress
the North does not possess. We think that in
virtue of migration to the Northern States,
that section has surpassed as in absolute ad-
vancement and we have commended, and VIC Go
contend, that notwithstanding the immense
advantages we enjoy in virtue of our institu-
ton of domestic slavery, to preserve present
physical and political equality, we must have
foreign labor We will take free labor and if
it is objected that this will oppose our institu-
tions, we would have an addition of slaves q o.
Without this we can claim no share 40
vacant territory By natural increase lone,
the South will advance to the condition to oc-
cupy another State in about ten years. The
North receives the population of another State
from foreign countries every year. Under these
circumstances, equality is impossible, and we
must take the remedy or submit to tho dis
ease"
We are sorry that we are unable to give 30
good an account of Virginia. II is true that
great progress is making in internal improve
ments, and in every branch of private indus
try; but unfortunately, just in proportion as
the people of the Old Dominion have begun to
initiate the North, has been the increase of
Pro-Slayery maIgnity. The journals of that
State far excel all others in the South in bitter
hatred of everything Northern, while every
nerve is exerted by her people to become
Northern in character. Virginia has now
nearly thousand miles Of railroad completed;
she has commenced manufacturing on large
scale at Richmond and other places, and
would compass heaven and earth to estab-
lish direct commerce with Europe; and yet,
after making this practical Acknowledgements,
that agriculture is not the only interest of 80
ciety worth caring for, and that industry must
be diversified before the State can become rich
and powerful, how strange that we should con.
tinue to witness spirit of bitter sectional hate
against the North South Carolina is out
growing these sectional prejudices, which seem
to be consuming the ablest minds in Virginia
like devouring fever.
We will not undertake to explain the anom-
ally, but will respectfully call the attention of
philosophers to the subject, and ask of then, q
solution of the problem. We however throw
out a suggestion or two. Can it be that the
frequent escape of fugitive slaves serves to keep
up the irritation Of feeling and to intensity
hatred of the North IF this were the cause
of the bitterness to which we have alluded It
would be still more strongly felt in Delaware,
Maryland, and Kentucky, and also in North
ern Virginia; whereas, the seat of the inflsm-
nation seems to be at Richmond and Peters
burg. We win not be SO invidious as to hint
that envy can be at the bottom Of the anti
Northern feeling though that unworthy mo-
tive may to some extent enter into it. We are
rather inclined to believe that the very fact
that Virginia is becoming free by the immigra-
tion of freemen from the North and from Eu-
rope, and the emigration or deportation of
slaves to the South, has in some mysterious