Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-03-18
tion, our exports are s1S5, 5,000,0n0, leaving

In addition to this, We send to the North
s30,000,00O worth of cotton, which is not
counted in the exports. We send to her
sS,000,0 900 worth Of tobacco, which is not
counted in the exports. We send naval
stores, lumber, rice, and many other minor
articles. There is no doubt that we send to
the North s4O,0O0,O00 in addition; but
suppose the amount to be s35, 100000, and
it will give US surplus production Of $780,
100000. The recorded exports of the
South now are greater than the whole ex-
ports of the United States in any year be-
fore 1855. They are greater than the whole
average exports of the United States for the
last twelve years, including the two extra
ordinary years of 1856 and 1857. They
are nearly double the amount of the average
exports of the twelve preceding years. If
am right in my calculations as to $780,
100000 of surplus produce, there is not
a. nation on the face of the earth, with any
numerous population, that can compete with
US in produce per- capita. 1t amounts to
s16.66 per head, supposisg that we have
twelve million people. England, with all
her accumulated wealth, with her concen-
trated and intellectualizcd energy, makes
under sixteen dollars of surplus production
per head.
I have not made a calculation as to the
North, with her s95,0OO, 900 surplus; but
admitting that she exports as much as we
do, with her eighteen millions of population
it would be but little over twelve dollars a
head at the outside. She cannot export to
US and abroad exceeding ten dollars head
against our sixteen dollars. I knew we'll
enough that the North sends to the South a
vast amount of the productions of her in
dustry. take it for granted that she, at
least, pays US in that way for the thirty or
forty million dollars worth of cotton and
other articles we send her. I am willing to
admit that she pays us considerably more; !;
but to bring her up to our amount of sur
plus production, to bring her up to $780,
100000 of surplus production, the South
must take from her s125, 100000; and this,
in addition to our share of the consumption
of the $3.50, 900 worth introduced into
the country from abroad and paid for in part
by our own exports. The thing is absurd !;
it is impossible; it can never appear any
where but on census statistic book
With an export of s220,000,000 under
the present tariff, the South organized sepa-
rately would have about S4O,0O0,O00 of
revenue. With one fourth the present
tariff she would have revenue adequate to
all her wants, for the South would never 60
to war; she would never need an army or a
navy, beyond few garrisons on the frontiers
and few revenue cutters. 1t is commerce
that breeds war. 1t is manufactures that
require to be hawked about over the world,
and give rise to navies and commerce. But
we have nothing to do but to take off re-
strictons on foreign merchandise and open
our ports, and the whole world will come to
us to trade. They will be too glad to bring
and carry for US, and we never shall dream
of war Why, sir, the South has never
yet had just cause of war. Every time
she has seized her sword it has been on the
point of honor, and that point of honor has
been mainly loyalty to her sister Colonies
and sister States, who have ever since plum
dered and calumniated her.
But if there were no other reason why we
should never have war, would any sane
nation make war on cotton Without firing
gun, without drawing sword, when they
make war on us we can bring the whole
world to our feet. The South is perfectly
competent to 60 on, one, two, or three years,
without planting seed of cotton. [ believe
that if she was to plant but half her cotton,
it would be an immense advantage to her,
am not so sure but that after three years
cessation she would come out stronger than
ever she was before, and better prepared to
enter afresh upon her great career of enter
prise. What would happen if no cotton
was furnished for three years? will not
stop to depict what every one can imagine,
but this is certain: Old England would
topple headlong and carry the whole civil
lied world with her. No, sir, you dare not
make war on cotton. No power on earth
dares make war upon it. Cotton is King.
Until lately the Bank of England was king,
but she tried to put her screws as usual, the
fall before last, upon the cotton crop, and
was utterly vanquisbed. The last power
has been conquered. Who can doubt it
that has looked at recent events? When
the abuse of credit had destroyed creditand
annihilated confidence, when thousands of
the strongest commercial houses in the world
were coming down, and hundreds of mil
lions of dollars of supposed property evap-
Grating in thin air, when you came to dead
lock, and revolutions we're threatened, what
brought you up? Fortunately for you it
was the commencement of the cotton season,
and have poured in upon you one million
six hundred thousand bales of cotton just
at the crisis to save you from sinking. That
cotton, but for the bursting OF your specu-
lative bubbles in the North, which produced
the whole of this convulsion, would have
brought US s100,O00,000 We have sold it
for 100000, and saved you. Thirty
five millions dollars we, the shareholders of
the South, have put into the charity box of
your magnificent fnanciers, your cotton lords,
your merchant princes.
But, sir, the greatest strength of the