Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-06
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 9

TUESDAY FORMING, JANUARY 9.
THE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY THE POLL
CY OF THE SOUTH.
The ascendancy Of the ant.slsvery sentiment |,
the North, and tho increasing prepondersnce of ih
free aol States in the oOnederacy are circumstances
OF very great moment to the people Of the South -
In contemplating our absolute lnierory In pon. Of
political poweri and especially in anticipating tie
widening gap between the two sections, which the
more rapid development of the North discloses 10
our vision, s quite natural that the friend of the
soufh should at first incline to Respondent view Of
the future. Bat this gloomy feeling will soon give
place 10 more rational and manly resolution to
just appreciation OF our resources, and determine
ton to maintain our equality of power at any and
every hassrd.
The basis Of our power and prosperity Is noor.
parably more stable than that of the North Con =
merce aud manufactures constitute tho wealth Of Tho
Northl butoommeroe and manufactures are things ct
mans creation. aud, like all the other works of human
contriyance, are Of brief and uncertain durarion-
Ihsreis not moro striking lesson in history than
that Whloh atteots tho instability of tho fnctious
prosperity OF empires built upon a basis Of humen
enterprise and ingenuity. They rest upon On aoc
dental combination of circumstances, and arc peou.
ary exposed to the violssitudss Of fortune Auv
deterioration In tho character of tho people, any
change In tho commercial political relations Of The
world, brings their un,ubsuntiu power to the earth
FROM Tyre in the age of Solomon, down to the Hol-
land OF our own times, history recounls inuumeraale
Instances Of their aeotng grandeur. Like the cen-
ury plant they burst suddenly into bloom, for
ment enchant the world with their beauty, and then
vanish among the things Of by-gone age.
Very different s the fate Of uatlous who build upon
the mpregnable basis Of agricultural property
Thsy draw support from the inszhausbe bolo,n oi
ns,urei aud though their political system aud the
premacy of their power be not exempt from the VI
cissitudes Of human sfair', YET they never suffer
those sudden aud total eolpses which extnguish the
glory Of commercial empires.
The anti slavery States Of this coufederacy 1--WE
mean 10 exclude the conservative communities OF the
Norbwe,t) arc pre- emiusn,ly ski ii in the mechani
Cal arts, and ncomparably successful iu commercial
enterprise, but their power is Fictitious and must per
ISL With the circumstances which create Il. The ac
cidens of peace and war, Of rivalry, OF an unpropi
tious government: policy, OF the corruption and decay
which bloated wealth always engendsrd 10 oonnu'
nifty, may q, any moment dethroue them from their
supremacy aud reduce them to destitute dependencies.
As they have monopoly Of the natural capabilities
and the human faculties essential 10 success in manu-
factsres they arc equally labs TO DO cut of from
this special source Of their wealth. Their pros.
perity aud their power rest upon an un.table basis
The South is emphatically, il not exclusively,
an agricultural country, and ita people exhibit the
sterling virtues Of their characteristic pursuit. -
While they TIL The soil, the effemusss reauements Of
corrupt civilization will expose them to the
chance Of subjugston. Neither will their wealth
take wings and fly away. The ''Wngless Victory
of the ancient Greek sculpture is su apt symbol OF
the stability of their power 30 far from being eI
posed TO ruinous rivalry in the supply OF cotton the
danger is that their utmost capabilities Of production
will not be equal 20 the growing demand. Besides,
the South produces tobacco and other tropical article
In sufficient measure to make the commerce OF the
world dependent upon its supply. II possesses sn
abundant territory. lts resources are of the most
various character, aud are susceptible Of Infinite dc
relopmsnt. Its energies are now directed With un
exampled earnestnts. OF purpose 10 It's wonderful
manufacturing facilities aud its peculiar advantage
| 70, tho establishment Of Immense commercial in
,srcs,. Within it's own gra-p the South holds al.:he
elements of solid and permanent prospe ity. Moth
ing Is wanting TO the eumpv,enss of its resources
nothing TO Its perfect Independence
| Tn. only danger which The South has reason to ap
preh-nd 10, that In consequence of an accidental cSm
bna'on of circumstances, il may oSe ltd "a aliiy o
political power In the confedu-acy, bs reduced 10
sort Of dep-ndrnce upon the North, and, by an mi
qu,ous policy of Legislation, bs derpoil-d of Its all
vautagss aud restricted IN its development. II ie
then, o the last consequence 10 tbs welfare Of the
South, that it ma;u'an ts .qusi,y of power in th.
Union, SO as fn protect its rights, and prevent an,
urust discrimination against lie in'ure.is In the ac
ton Of the Federal Government But this result car
be accomplished in only way and TINT. BY ytn'iss
ing on the legitimate erpaas,onJ the institutions o.
the South We must keep self protecting power IL
our own hands, and TO that end must demand equality
of representation In the Senate Lei tho people Of The
South, as the last eIpedent for the preservation
the Union, rally upon the principle Of an extension
the pro slavery power part r1ssu with the aggran
cement Of the power of the anti.slavery States
1t is our right under the constitution, and our rgh
OUTSIDE OF tn6 III VI
uf self. protection. Liberated from the illegal re-
strictons and urjust operation of the Federal Gov
srnmsnt, and left free in the Development Of is splen
did RESOURCES and the expansion Of its vigorous In
sti,utous the South would march forward In the ca
re.r of glory with 6str and faster step than
witnessed among na,iors Oppressed byhe burdens o
unequal taxation, discouraged in the cultivation Of II
commercial and manufacturing interests and dwaret
in Its territorial expansion, the South will soon become
the helpless dependency oftbe anti slavery power Th
is The alternative before us-a grandeur without pa
rslsl in history, or an ignominy which one shud
dors to contemplate In the bare conception Will TIT
South choose the career which interest, honor ant
every manly motive beckons 1t, or bc content Will
the 10, of the craven and the save1 The timid foo
NAV whisper that the expansion Of our institutions II
an imprac,cable achievement; but nothing is inpos
sibe with the people Of tbs South. If the North re
,sts upon what stronger ground could We stand thar
upon this issue of the extension restriction Of slavery
If the struggle is 10 come, let it come now. while ys
we have the spirit and the power to defend our rights
If we are to sht, let 6gh for principle which ii
essential to our equality In the Union. or our indepen
dence out of the Union. Hencefor'h let the FREQ II
pausiou of Its institutions bo the u!tlrnauIn OF tht
South.
A NEW TRADE.
Already some palpablo good has come Of th'
Sora a spflnp N