Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-21

nation. what would be the result? The products
Of slave labor would cease; and produce a vacuum
in commerce and manufactures the world could not
flL determination and barbaiism would ensuc and
the South, now teemiDg with the richest proooc-
TONS would become a desolate land. The stoppage
of the cotton-mills of Great Britain alone, to say
nothing Of her tobacco monopolies, with her accu-
mulating debt, would reduce her to fourth rate
power and put an end forever to her dominion in
India. She will find ready to supplant her, her
new and favorite ally, and Russia her most fvrmd-
able foe. The free States have many things to lose,
and nothing to gain. The wealth Of the South pas
SEES annually through the hands of the Northern
merchants, subject to reductions revolving to the
feelings and interests Of the producers. 10 stem
current so broad, so deep and rapid as our coast
trade, and thereby render powerless abolition as"a
tors calls aloud for such energetic action as can
only result from imperious necessity and great Dan
ger. Something must be done, and that promptly,
or the Union will be dissolved. The veto-power
cannot protect u.s. What then is the proper course!
A suggestion only is allowable. Let the Legsla'
lures of the slaveholding States confer with eacn
other call Convention in which all shall be repre-
sented and resolve that the products OF slave labor
cotton, tobacco and naval stores especally-shaii
be shipped direct to foreign ports, on assignment
until We can build ships OF our own. Many OF our
merchants are opposed to importing They say
they can buy cheaper IN New York, Philadelphia,
and Boston; unmindful Of their thus Gripping the
planters in the remttance-as it will take probably
ten ships loaded with cotton, tobacco and naval
stores to pay for the dry goods one ship Twill bring
to our ports. This is equally disastrous TO both
The importing merchants, with their once dgnified
and lofty MEN, are no longer seen in our towns ana
ctes-they are cut down to shopkeepers IL they
have inherited the pride of their ancestors they will
be ready to make an effort to regain the dgnified
station they so probably occupied 1t has given to
the North a tonnage which must exceed that OF all
other nations, and commercial marine, at our ex-
pense as formidable it is unfriendly. Take from
them the products of slave labor, and, except nu-
merically, they are poweress. Let the worst come,
and they could pay neither seamen nor soldiers. 1t
is needless to disguise it. the Union only be pre-
served, apart from the workings of superintend.
ing Providence, by Conventional movement on the
part Of the savehoding States called and protected
by legislative enactment. Such alliance violates
neither the letter the spirit gf the Constitution;
it is to preserve. not to destroy. Under our patri.
archa system they possess lever Of unprecedented
power. If properly economised, and wisely direct
ed, they may defy all opposition, either domestic
or foreign. Cotton is king"-t is treasure more
commanding than that which all the bankers Of Eu-
rope possess. Mr.. Turnholm, in his abe report to
the Chamber of Commerce sitting in Charleston,
IN April, 1854 states that the transportation OF cot
ton alone employed four hundred ships; and twelve
millions of dollars This statement is from memo
ry. The inference then is irresistible: withdraw
from the North the products of slave labor, and
rapid decIension will ensue, and the cities OF the
South will become great Emporia of Commerce.
Such a movement will arrest attention and ex-
cite enquiry. New England is utterly unprepar-
ed for such All event-interest, and not humanity,
is st to her heart. To pay cash for cotton or
stop her mills-to be cut off forever from supplying
four millions Of slaves, with their increase with nine.
teen twent,ths of their clothing-her tonnage de-
prived Of the transportation and driven abroad for
employ ment, mr osing considerations. 1t will
cause the fanatic pause, and business TO act.
Boston, New York and Philadelphia, absorbed in
commerce, in exporting and importing for the South,
and dispensing treasures that have destroyed the
equilibrium of the government and opened the door
to alaI ming centa,sm, hath dcgned to DIV ell
for moment the weakness and uncertainty Of
the tenure. The question arises, what are the re.
sources and powers of the South? Her stat,
now called on to portray tLem-,o reduce them
to order and give them effect.
LAKE JOHNSON