Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-11-13
THE SOUTH AND THE WEST.

IhE SOUEd AMI ThE WEST.
There is no feature in the grand total of the late
election more gratifying to the southern people
than the result in Illinois and Indiana These
great agricultural States have repudiated the un-
natural alliance proposed to them by the North,
and now stand side by side with their natural al
ies--the tilIers of the soil in the South. While
these are firmly united, we have the strongest
possible guarantee of the perpetuation of the
Union.
So far as the war of the North upon the South
has any political significance, beyond the mere
abstract question of slavery, it is simply strug-
gle of the great manufacturing interest of that
section TO obtain the control of the government,
with the distinct purpose of imposing burthens
upon the agricultural and planting States for its
sole benefit. There is an antagonism between
the two sections which respectively represent
these great interests, and SO long the Nor tn had
hope of success upon the abstract question of
protection through the agency of high tariff, to
be levied upon the producing States, so long did
the princely manufacturers of New England keep
in check the bloodhound spirit of sbolitionism--
But as soon as it became manifest that the agricu-
tural and planting interests united could by their
political power in the government, reduce the ia
riff of taxes to a reasonable standard, it became
the settled purpose of the North to divide the
South and West upon another issue, and thus
once more secure the political preponderance.
The traditonsry fanaticism and intolerance of
large portion Of the population of New England
was stimulated into absolute hatred against the
South, by the most atrocious and deliberate sys-
TEN Of falsehood and fraud ever attempted to be
palmed off upon an excited people. Southerners
who feared no ordeal to which their peculiar in
situations could be subjected, stood appalled, by
the enormity and magnitude of the falsehoods
which, thicker than the loousts of Egypt, black
ened the political and moral atmosphere of New
England. Every newspaper and orator of that
party seemed to be magazine of atrocious ibels,
and good men of the South did not know whether
to wonder most at the mslignity which conceived
and uttered, or the stupidity which gave credsnce
o their ISLANDERS.
Many superficial observers find it difficult to
comprehend the motive which could induce the
weshhy citSens of the North to propitiate Sec
tionsl movement which if successful would &C.
complish srch infinite evil to the country and
which would involve them in the common ruin
that would ensue, bat men even in the possession
of great wealth are disposed 10 hazard much to
increase their worldly store, and IN opening the
hoodgstes OF isnaticism they doubtless did not
intend TO prosecute their damning purpose further
than to effect a union of numbers against the
South sufficient to transfer the control of the gov
eminent from the agricultural and planting to the
manufacturing interest.
Thanks to Indians and Illinois, this purpose has
not been accomplished. A majority of the citi.
zens Of those great States have proven true to
their country, to the constitution, to themselves
and to the great agricultural interest they repre-
sent by refusing TO enter into combination against
those who, in conjunction with themselves, are
alone capable of securing to the country the
blessings of equal laws and light taxes All
honor to the people of these great States who
have rolled back the tide of fansticsm from their
borders and stand shoulder to shoulder with the
South, against the insidious encroachments of the
pxmpsred money power Of New England. The
material interests Of the South aud the West are
identical Geographically they occupy position
in reference TO each other which increases the
necessity Of cultivating feelings of fraternal
gard, and it is srdently to be hoped that the pre-
sent attitude of Indiana and Illinois towards the
South may be maintained and made perpetual.
We are satisfied that after tins has been given
for calm reflection, tens of thousands of the cti.
zens of the Western States will be sstonished at
themselves for the unnatural and suicidal position
they assumed in the late exciting contest, by en-.
gaging in the ruthless war of the Northern manu-
facturers against those who are alone capable of
successfully protecting the rights of the tiers of
the soil.
When they fnd as they surely will, that the
South asks no other protection for her peculiar
institutions than such is guaranteed by the con.
stituton- that while she will submit to no sggres-
sions upon her rights, she will faithfully respect
the rights of others--thst she asks for no exclu-
sive privileges and would accept of no superior
advantages even if il were in her power to obtain
them, and when the influence of the foul false
hoods and strocous csumnies by which they were
seduced into the Preparation of injustice towards
the Southern people, have been disspAted by the
light of truth. we satisfied that feelings of mu-
tuAl good will and permanent alliance Of fraternsl
friendship will bind together still more closely the
great West aad the great South in common bond
against the Entertainments of the manufacturing
and money power of North