The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-30
i. From the Charleston Standard
THE SLAVE TRaDE-THE WANT OF OPPORTU-
NIFTY TO ENTERPRISE.

THE SLAVE TRADE-THE WANT OF OPPoRTU-
NIFTY TO ENTERPRISE.
In showing yesterday that some, at east,
of the evils OF slavery have been occasioncd
by tho want OF slaves. we presented the
reasons for believing that the inequality Of
the Soutl, to the North has been occ,sioned
by tlu suppression of the slave trade, and
tl,nt equality would return, with all its con-
sequences, upon its restoration. 1t has
been asked, however, why, il we make up
our minds to quit the Union, should there
he any bother about equality? "lf not
equal to the North, we may be equal to tho
eXigcncies of independence, and that is
enough" We have no doubt but that we
will DC equal to al the exi"encics of poiti
cal indep, nhcncc without the slave trade !;
but there will be this difficulty. In spite
of all we may !!,ink Or say about it, the
whites and slarc, i;tvc Il necessary reference
to each other; they are the natural corrcia-
tives and com dement's OF one single sys
ten, and to the efficiency and order Of that
system, there is II Necessity that they shall be
combined ia due proportions. But, while
there are only about three millions and n
half Of slaves, there are more than six mil
lions of masters, and this excess of the rul-
ing race is necessarily i'll IN uniiXed aud
unnatural condition. They are tccming
with energy and enterprise, for which there
is no opportunity. In consequence Of the
restricted quanii', Of Labor, it Is dear be-
yond al! precelcIt in any other country;
there is 10 possibility and no hope Of CHI
ployng it III competition with the cheaper
and more ;il.untant labor clscwhcrc; and
while, in virtue of our valuable poducts, we
stand alone in field, of agriculture, We are
cut of from lie whole roumd Of collateral
cmploymcnts.
This fact has already been demonstrated
ly experience. We have public spirit
enough. Perhaps no people ever had SO
much of it; the books Of our merchants
anG planters will show Investment after i'll
vestmcnt in undertakings that have failed
of any profit. Hotels, factories, sugar re-
fincrics, mills and Ikshops are erected
road; are built, canals are dug; they are
undertaken witt, spirit; they arc coll
conducted with pu.!cnc aud indclati tiyable
energy. Men stake lite and fortune on
them, and I'LL but those that are necessary
TO The local wants Of some particular COM
munity, go down. The great business Of
agriculture gives support to Il few necessary
divincs, teachers, journalists, nilers an,
maciin>ts i'll the immediate vicinity, to
perform Offices about this one great bu>i
ness; but there are no spheres of indepen-
dent enterprise, and when these offices are
all crowded to the limits of u bare subsis-
tencc, there is no opportunity beyond, and
in the nature of things there cannot be-
without increase Of labor.
The cti;.cts of this state of facts are en-
hiLited all over the country. At the North
men make fortunes, and retire from bust
ness. Merchants, tradesmen, mechanics,
land owners. proprictors and operatives are
enriclled by their emplov,ncnts, and by the
rise in value of all kinds Of property, and
building rural and city residences, become
men OF leisure. But there are compara-
lively no capitalists and men Of leisure
here. Merchants and planters acquire
wealth i'll the pursuit of their legitimate
business, and some arc able to retire, but
few acquire wealth in any collateral profess
sion. Mechanics work until they can work
no longer. LAWYERS and doctors die in the
harness. Nome become :;c!. hy the .is. il.
the value Of investments Lands that have
been held Tor thirty years have not adj
vanced in price. One or two millions OF
dollars lie buried in the Santce C.na.-
Factories, Railroads, hotels, and foreign
commerce companies, mark the tolnl,s Of Az
much more. In consequence Of this be-
c,liarity in our condition, we have only the
sinking side to the wheel of fortune turned
to us. Its rising rim is with another pco.
pie, and, if contcntcd with this condition,
we must he contcntcd whether in the Tn.
ion or ont of it, will, the consequences which
necessarily result; and, for at extended PC
Rod of time, one half the people must
want, rs for fifty years they have already
wanted, opportunity. But give them la
Dor, and we give wealth and the ability to
mako other investments to ali the land
owners OF the State; give them labor, and
we give them :llc ability to compete enter
prises, elsewhere; give them this, and we
give local and a more abundant marl-.f ,
we render investments additionally produc-
tive, and we give capital, leisure, letters and
refinement to the whole country.
We lave no doubt but that there would
he great material advancement in condi-
tion Of political independence. Willie Ia
bor at least would come in and would be
gradually shaped to collateral objects, and
works would rise and interests would cx-
pand, but it would come slowly. It would
be drilled slowly into new lines of employ
,nent. These l;:cs Of employment it would
require to be kept free from the competi-
ton Of the slave. TO do SO, it would re-
quire legislation, and slavery then, even in
its own home, would come under the re-
strictions Of an extrinsic sentiment. Such
would be the result, at least, if the acces-
sions to tie number Of our white la5orino
population should be as rapid as our wants
for labor would require. That advance
lhent therefore, would come with indppen-
dence to the Southern States, there can be
little question. A new centre of CONNER.
cial and mechanical enterprise would be es
tablislled, but without the slave trade, this
will not be tie natural advancelneht of our
institution The danger is, that withou;
the slave trade, il viii rather be depar.
ttEe from it - Interests would l,e huiIt m,