Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-30
COTTON is KING.


And cotton is quite much the product Of the
North as of the South 1t great national power
reared up by the Joint industry and capital Of the
two sections But for the commerce, manufactures
and capital of the North, the South would have to
divert Two thirds of her labor from agriculu r Iur
suits, in or Ter produce the ordinary necessares
and comforts of life. She would then have no cot
ton to SELL and cotton would cease to be king. Those
who consume COTTON those who manufacture it, those
who carry it to market, those vino supply the i'm
plements Of industry to cultivate i-who furnish
the clothing for the negroes, and comforts and lux
uries for their owners much the producers OF
cotton as the soil, the mules, and negroes Of the
South.
The North and South share alike the merit and de-
merit of cotton growing. The North brought the
negroes from Africa and the South bought them;
and now the North sustains slavery by consuming
slave products, and furnishing Shareholders with
and facilities to render their business profit
able
Europe needs our cotton and must have it. 1t
has therefore justly been called King But she
equally needs the Wheat and corn, and beef and ba
con of the North west. All agricultural products
are deficient in Europe, and hence the surplus of
America is an element of pOwer-a means of pre-
serving peace, as well as source of wealth
The free labor OF the North and the slave labor Of
the South have become equally indispensable to
Chrisendom. Should England lose India, or be-
crippled in her power there, the products Of
American agricultural labor will become still more
necessary TO Europe.
With the capital commerce, and manufacturing
skill of the North east he agricultural labor Of the
North west, and the slave labor of the South acting
in harmony and unison, and America is the most
powerful nation on earth. But divide these sections
let each set up for isef-each carry independ-
emily all industrial pUTuts-snd We should become
as contemplate China Japan; for we should
produce surplus TO sustain foreign trade or inter-
course.
Commerce has destroyed both sectional and nation
al independence. 1t is fast making civilized
kind common brotherhood, and rendering war
among Christian nations almost an lmpOsslblllty.--
What binds Chrstendom together should surely bind
our Union together; tor here the dependence of the
parts is more intimate. Disunion would destroy
that happy division of labor which now increases
the wealth and productiveness of each section. We
apprehend such event, but think it well to remind
our people of the evils of dsunion and the advan-
tages union in order to foster and inculcate bet
ter feelings between opposing sections and to beget
proper respect and admiration for our institutions.
Any serious change or disturbancein them, would be
attended with baleful consequences not only to us,
but to all ChristendOm; for trade has, in great
measure, made us all mutually dependent
The consequences of the abolition Of Southern
slavery, of Northern commerce, or of Western ag-
riculuure, would be as disastrous to section of
the Union another, and be felt more severely in
Europe than at home. The South is attending, pos
sIbly, too little to- commerce and manufactures. But
no people can do double work she must cease to be
distinguished for her mighty agriculture, if she
dvers much of labor and capital other pursuits;
and agriculture is her natural and proper pursuit.
The Northeast may neglect agriculture too much;
but by over attention To it, she would forfeit her
mercantile wealth and enterprise, and her COM
mercial glory.
In the Northwest the fertile and exhaustless soil
of her praires invites agriculture; and it would
be folly in her quit the healthy and independent
of he tort the close and confined of
the factory OF the workshop.
Each section is following its appropriate and ma
tural pursuits, carrying them on with profit and
success, increasing thereby the dependence of the
different portions of country, and strengthing
the bonds of union.-The States.