Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-05-26

turer, who is always thoroughly informed, stands
aloof A fall in price of cotton, and then ir
negroes, would ensue. And as the effects o
the surplus would be disastrousy multiplied
upon the sensitive price of cotton, so the eHets
of the latter would be disastrously multiplied
upon the sensitive value of negro property.
1t will not do to talk lightly Of the danger
of over-production. There is danger. The plan.
ter feels it from the promptness with which he
takes advantage of good market. So does
the speculator, from the carefulness with which
he weighs every little accident to the crop, and
accurately notes the shipment from each port
At any time during the last season, if it had
been made known that the last crop would at.
tain 100000, the market would instantly have
been depressed. 1t has often been said that
the Southern planter is the most independent
man in the world. So he is, if the demand for
cotton exceeds the supply. But when the sup
ply exceeds the demand, he is slave to the
British manufacturer. There is no estimating
the loss the South would have sustained in the
last monetary crisis had it occurred with crop
of 3,5OOOOO bales-which would be the amount
of good crop. Nothing gave them the cour'
age to withstand it but the security they felt
from small crop. Increase the cotton supply,
and create surplus in the market and you
make the planter q mere operative Of the Brit
ish manufacturer. You rob him Of his indie
pendence.
Who, then, should call for this re-opening Of
the slave trade2 The consumer and the manu-
facturer of cotton, not the producer. If self
interest were consulted, the whole world would
be calling for the re-opening Of the slave trade,
while the Southern States should be opposing
it. Strange to say, the reverse is the case. 1t
is q matter Of doubtful policy whether even
Texas should call for the re-opening. But
whether it be policy for Texas or not, that i,
not our business. We arc to look to ourselves.
South Carolina is under no obligation to Texas.
If there be any obligation, it is the reverse.
wealth with bountiful hand. Let Texas repay
the debt by opposing measure which would
deal such blow to her prosperity.
10 the up-country Of the State, in particular
does this matter present itself with most solemn
significance. The lower country can produce
rice and long staple cotton-they are articles Of
general consumption and require natural adyan-
tages OF peculiar nature. While the reopen
ing of the slave trade would furnish them with
cheap labor, it would not greatly increase the
supply of their staple products. Far different
would it be with the up-country. Let the up
country take care, then, that South Carolina
be not committed to policy that would be so
disastrous to her interests. If we were told
that an army would pass through our State
that it would depopuIate the country-that a
plague would pass over that would blast it with
unproductiveness, the State would be up in
arms to meet the invading foe. while prayers
would be offered up for the aversion of the ter
rible calamity These are the consequences
which this measure will bring upon US, We
sde.ae*abelieEelit ggeRation- 4thst
it would result in the inevitable destruction OF
our agriculture, and with that of course our
commercial and mechanical interests. These
revolutions in commerce. and agriculture are
constantly taking place. Sometimes the causes
arc unavoidable; sometimes they are brought
by recklessness from supposed security or tue
pursuit of fatal dclusion. 1t is natural that
a people should bc alarmed under the prospects
of adversely, and that they ahould try to arort
it; it ia natural that producers should be alarm
ed at the prospects Of IL gluttcd market and low
prices; but it has been reserved to our age OF
wild and visionary schemes, with its restless
spirit of agitation, for people to take alarm at
remunerating prices for their produce and to
try to build up competition against themselves
and dcpreciatc their own property. Venice
once commanded the commerce OF the world.
Asa and Africa are almost rugged with the re-
mains of cities that have crumbed to ruin from
q departure of commercial influence. Compe-
tition in agriculture, as in commerce, builds up
one empire with the trade of another. If this
trade be re-opened our agriculture would be
revolutionaized our industrial elements would
be transferred to the West; our cotton culture
would be destroyed. Destroy that and you
strike blow at the very pillar of the institu-
ton Of slavery in South Carolina. With our
railroads running into the great grain-growing
Middle States to pour upon us the contents OF
their pethoric granaries, can we hope to be-
come great by competing with them ? Can we
hope to grow great competing with Virginia in
producing tobacco? If it he said that it will
give the South more political power-wc reply,
South Carolina cannot pay so dearly for it. If
it be said it will bring more land into cultiva-
tion-wc reply, it will have the contrary effect
to cause more to be thrown out and abandoned
until taken possession Of by freesoil colonies.
There is no aspect of the question which would
compensate for the injury it would inflict on
South Carolina As South Caroinian we
cannot, therefore, give it our approval.
There never existed people with such ad-
vantages as we of the Southern States. God
has blessed us with country aboundng in re-
sources, favored with hoalth, and beautitied
with scenery. It produces rice sugar, tobacco
and the cereals In addition, we possess the
monopoly of the cotton culture. By wise
provision, lie adjusted our supply Of labor SO
nicely to the demand for its produce, that they
have increased pari pasSn with the slightest
variations But for this providential adjust
men,, we have shown that wo would have been
strangled in competition. 1t is staple that
will always furnish subsistence to the Southern
States, and in addition so amply has it protect
ed US, that with the whole world combined in
one overwhelming majority against our institu-
ton, vet this simple fbrous staple has been a
greater defence than armies and navies could
have been. Let us remember that so far US
power from numbers is concerned, the South
can never have it. She has no cause for fear OF
numbers opposed to her, so long as she has cot
ton for protection. The population Of the
Northwest may grow to 100000, 600. That
will only strengthen the South by creating next
door to rs most consumptive market, If the
people of these States would only appreciate the
blessings which as people they possess, they
would smile at outside opposition, and enjoy
within themselves most perfect reign OF peace,
prosperity and happiness,
CURIOUS SpRINa IN ALABAMA.-The Tallade-
ga Watchtower, in an interesting review Of
Professor Tuomey's last report on the Geology
Of Alabama, states that near the line between
Hancock and Lawrence, there is spring o.
LIQUID bitumen or mineral tar, which is said to
,L,h Ia Co.. ~,