The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30

free intercourse which exists with the North.
1t is the height of absurdity to suppose that the
cities of the South will be enabled to soar aloft
on the wings of commerce, by clipping those
wings of their plumes.
We admit that English and other foreign
shippers would divide the commerce of the
South with the Yankees to greater extent
than they now do; but the people of the South
would be able to command no more of it,
and even less, than at present, for the reason
above stated. The effect of dissolution of
the Union would be to restore the South to the
condition of colonial vassalage, with divided
allegiance between the North, England, and
France and the hostility of the shareholders to
to the Allies, in their present contest with Gus
sian despotism, will by no means predisfose
them to lenient exercise of power to say
nothing of their long-established Anti-SlaVery
policy, which policy is in fact but the offspring
of deeply-rooted public opinion and feeling.
Allowing, therefore, that the South will be
able to raise millions of revenue by departing
from her free-trade policy in the establishment
of high tariffs, what will it avail against the
combined power of the Northern Confederacy,
with that of England and France? The South
could not, against such odds, extend her area
an inch beyond its present limits, and might
| thank her stars for the privilege of retaining
those limits intact. She would at once, by dis
solution, abandon all interest in the Territories,
including Kansas, the Indian territory west of
Arkansas, New Mexico, and Utah. She would
lose the benefit of the Fugitive Slave Lew,
and of the clause in the Constitution on which
it is founded; which, if less effective in recap.
| turing runaways than she could wish, is still
great hindrance to escape. The effect of disso-
luton would be to bring Canada to the very
borders of Slavery, on a frontier line extending
from the Atlantic to the western extremity of
Missouri The latter State would be surround
ed on three sides by population not only bas.
tile to Slavery, but armed with laws to affced
every protection to fugitives.
We have shown that the South Carolina
pamphleteer vastly undertakes the exports of
the North, which we are willing to allow is the
measure of the imports; but there would be
another class of imports which the North could
resort to for revenue, in the event of dissolu-
ton of the Union. These are the Southern
products which are now consumed in the free
States.
The tobacco of the South is crop of much
Importance to Maryland, Virginia, Missouri,
and Kentucky. 1t is consumed to large ex-
tent in the free States, and, being a luxury, is
fit subject of taxation. 1t is also produced in
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and probably will
be in Kansas, and will therefore demand pro-
lection against Southern competition. The
English Government lays tax on tobacco,
| amounting to some five or six times the value
| of the article; and if the example of that
country should be followed by the Northern
| Confederacy, a revenue of some millions might
be raised from this article. &.
The grain of the South, particularly of VIZ
| ginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky,
and Missouri, is consumed to large extent N
the Northern cities, and, coming in competit n
with similar articles produced in the free Stats s.,
will be a subject of taxation. So of a huh
dred other raw products.
| 1t is we'll known that the sugar crop of Loa-
isiana and Texas could not live, but for the
monopoly it enjoys in the Northern market !;
and here is in the first place an almost insuper-
able argument with the South against disun-
ion {; but supposing it overcome, and the po-
litical Union dissolved, it will afford most
| - sO~rOO Va~avIUn, unless 1t shall
be made the basis of free.trade treaty. SINH
lar to that which we have formed with the Brit
ish Provinces. The truth is, that the great
sugar interest of the South will be sacrificed,
unless such an arrangement is effected
The sugar interest, the tobacco interest, and
the grain-growing interest, of the South, are
therefore dependent on the North for a marka,
and must be sacrificed by dissolution of lie
Union, unless they constrain the Southern &C l.
| federacy into commercial treaty on the bas s
of free trade with the North. With free trao !,
OF course, the commerce of the South won
remain, as at present. in the hands of the NORTH
ern merchants.
We have al. along spoken of the dissolutie n
OF the Union as possibility but the mary
strong pecunisry ties which bind the South 10
the North, tn necessity of the Northern ma.
| kets to sustain some of her chief interests, and
the necessity Of union to the very existence Of
Slavery in the border States, to say nothing Of
the dangers and humiliations to which the South
would subject herself as a separate-we will
not say an independent Confederacy, must for
ever prevent the contamination of the despe.
| rate hopes ofrth South Carolina and Missis>
sippi fire-eaters. G.
EX-GOVERNOR HUNTS CONSERVATIVES. =
Ex-Governor Hunt, of New York, in his ~
| cent letter, says:
1T is contended, however, that the repeal 1T
| the Missouri Compromise not only iustifes brt
demands dissolution of national parties, ara
| the formation of Northern party. We NUT
admit that this feeling is natural, for the prov,
4 ocation was great. But, in discharging or
public responsibilities, as in the personal and
social relations of life, moderation is virtue,
and reason is wiser than revenge. The viols~
ton OF the Missouri compact was greSs
wrong and an unmitigated calamity. If it hsl
been the deliberate act of the whole Southern
people, separation would have become unavoits
able. But it was the measure of party, and
not of a section. 1t was the work of politicians
and demagogues from both sections, aided BE-
a faithess Administration. 1t was forced
through Congress, by party discipline and Ex-
ecutive influence, against the general sentiment
| of the whole country. It was not called for by
the people of the South. On the contrary thou.
| sands of conservative men in the slavehodng
States condemned the measure as dangerous,
unjust, and aggressive. Instead of proclaim
ing sectional war against the South, let us
hrst appeal to that portion of the Southern peo-
| pie who are still loyal to country and faithful