The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-02-14
1866

lOO
duties, the revenue has been swollen, and profit
gate expenditure resorted to, to get rid of it.
Thus the South has been oppressed and the
Government corrupted
The tables will show that this is no fancy
picture. The Secretary Of the Treasury sets
down the amount of revenue from duties on
imports for the last 80 years at 81 900 600, 900.
The average duty has been during that period,
ut least thirty-three and one-third per cent,
which makes the value of imports for that
time $3,OOO,O 900, 900. During the thirty years
referred to- the cotton, tobacco and rice of
the South furnished more than two.thirds of
the expectation in exchange for which the inn
ports were received. The South thus contrib
uted more than $750,O00 900 out of the
81 900, 100000 which the Government, within
the last thirty years, has levied upon the pro-
ductive industry Of the country. History, in
after time, in telling the story Of the Union,
will write down the startling fact that com.
mon governmental agent, created by common
struggles and common sacrifices, by its posi-
tive financial acts, within thirty years coniis-
Gated $500, 5000, 900 Of the property Of one
portion of those who reared it up; for at least
that sum, by unjust duties has been distracted
from the South.
While the Government revenue has been
drawn mainly from the South, the Government
expenditure has been mainly at the North. In
spite, however, Of this injustice and oppression
covering a period Of sixty years. the South
still furnishes more than two-thirds Of the ex-
ports Of the country. Tyranny has not been
able to bennmb her energies Confscaton has
not dried up the sources Of her prosperity.
Are not the resources of the South, then,
abundant to establish and maintain separate
and independent Government? With an en-
portation Of $500, 900, 900, (for $50 600. 900
OF cotton goes to the North, n duty of fifteen
per cent, less than half Of what she now pays,
would give her revenue of 100000. 900,
which would be more than sufficient for all the
cxigencies of government With the great
nerve of commerce in her hands has she any
thing to fear from the Powers OF the world?
The loss OF the cotton crop would cover Eng
land with blood and anarchy, and shake down
the strongest thrones of Europe. The South,
then, has nothing to fear from the Powers of
Europe. What she has to fear from the North
! will let others discuss.
We have seen. Mr.. Chairman that in pop
ulation, in territory, in commercial facilities
and in material resources the Sonth is alum
dainty able to establish and maintain separ-
ate and Independent government. Can the
North do 50? will leave her to determine
that, for If this Union is dissolved my destiny
will not be there. and care not to trouble
myself about her resources.
Sir, this Union is in mortal peril. The
clouds betokcn coming hurricane which will
sweep the deck and may swamp the ship We
are now touching the foam line of the breakers
and the spray is already npon our PROV A
wise and bold statesmanship may save the yes.
sci; compromise and Cancellation will ingnlf IT,
Enemies must he beaten down-not tempo.
rized with. The administration which attempts
to consolidate party without establishing n
principle-which compromises the future for
the tranquility of the present. will perish
The Stotcs-Rights party of the South are done
with compromises; they stand upon the Con-
stitntion, and there they will continue TO stand
though imporing administrations should top
pie down and parties perish around them
They have yielded the 'lnst iot and tittle'
that they mean to yield, and if more be re
qnired they will fight A 'mnistrations and par
ties, and II need be- the Union itself. The
institutions Of the South must and will expand
into the tropics, and You can no more rcpress
her expansive energies than you can throw
back the bursting seed into state of "torpor
and undevelopment" The South has her dcs-
tiny to fulfill, and it is carving her with the
steady tread of a Roman Legion into those
southern countries on her very borders, where
Governments are falling, and societies melting
away, and men lapsing into barbarism Around
her are lands on the main and and in the sea,
opnlent in resources and admirable in geogra-
phy-land which have been sconrgcd with II
tyranny as terrible as any in the annals of
Mongolian conquest, and they spread open to
her civilization and institutions, while her en-
pansion over them is necessary to restore the
equilibrium Of the government and arm her
with self protection. The States Rights party
will be true to this destiny--will close round
the car of progress, and resolve that whatever
else may perish the South shall be sared.
Our HORSES IN ESGLAND-So far from Lee